Childcare Business Counselor

Job Description

IRC Background:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 24 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities.

The IRC’s Center for Financial Opportunity (CFO) helps newly arrived refugees and other low-income individuals reach self-sufficiency by finding entry-level employment and progress to living wage jobs, learn basic financial management skills and build assets, and start small businesses. The Center then helps families move sustainably out of poverty by offering high-quality, culturally-and linguistically accessible, integrated economic empowerment services.

Job Overview:

The Childcare Business Counselor will support the IRC Small Business Development Program. The Childcare Business Counselor is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Refugee “Assistance to Childcare Entrepreneurs” (ACE) Project and the new Family Child Care (FCC) Business Provider - Train the Trainer program within the context of the IRC’s CFO. This position will play a lead role in interactions with family childcare businesses in Farsi/Dari communities, providing services directly and acting as a bridge to early learning quality improvement at Southwestern College

Major Responsibilities:

- Assist in the outreach and recruitment of program participants; screen and assess interested City of San Diego residents for program eligibility and participation; - Conduct thorough eligibility review and enrollment of clients; - In the Spring 2021 semester, attend Southwestern College’s Child Development training with IRC clients to serve as a bridge to early learning quality improvement; - Develop the institutional knowledge to provide ongoing entry-level, non-threatening, easy to access, and interactive learning sessions around relevant early childhood development topics; - Provide one-on-one technical assistance to eligible and enrolled refugee clients in obtaining the State of California family childcare license and in starting a licensed family childcare business; - Provide classroom-based family childcare and microenterprise trainings to eligible and enrolled refugee clients and coordinate with external instructors and/or interpreters as required; - Coordinate stipend disbursements with the Finance Specialist; - Provide ongoing twice monthly post-licensing trainings in collaboration with the Women’s Business Counselor and ongoing post-licensing technical assistance; - Enter relevant program activities (trainings, technical assistance touchpoints, stipend disbursements) into database system; - Participate in regular meetings with the Asset Building Program Supervisor and other CFO staff; - Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

- Undergraduate degree in business or related field; business experience in lieu of formal business education is acceptable; - 1+ years experience with microenterprise development or operation of a small business; or other related experience; - 1+ years experience in the non-profit sector strongly preferred; - Prior experience working with refugee and immigrant entrepreneurs is desired;

- Knowledge and experience with an array of business topics, including marketing, management, financing, and entrepreneurship;

- Familiar with business software and technologies, especially low-cost online marketing strategies; - Excellent organizational skills; - Strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to make presentations; - Proficiency in English and Farsi/Dari/Pashto required; - Ability to work independently, be a self-starter and maintain responsibility for multiple tasks.

Working Environment:

- Hybrid, professional office environment and home-based remote work; - Regular travel to off-site locations is required; - Offices hours are scheduled as Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm; some evening and weekend events required; - Access to a reliable vehicle to travel regularly throughout the service delivery area.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement****: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity****: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer****: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $120 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

#LI-GR1

Qualifications