Cultural Orientation Coordinator

Programme & Policy

Overview

Oversee all aspects of Cultural Orientation activities in the Asia region.

You have:

• University degree in Education, Instructional Design, Social Work or other relevant field required; advanced degree is preferred.
• Five years of progressive program management experience, including experience in managing a multi-cultural staff.
• Four years' experience in adult education, training, and facilitation, and/or curriculum development. Prior work in a limited literacy context (such as ESL) is highly desirable.
• Four years' experience working in a US resettlement agency required; Experience providing cultural orientation to newly resettled refugees preferred highly preferred.
• Previous financial management experience, including budgeting.
• Fluency in both written and spoken English required.
• Working knowledge of a refugee language helpful.
• High level of computer literacy and proficient in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook) is required.
• Experience with START helpful.

Job Description

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states. In this capacity, we work to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted, struggling to endure and wishing to advance on a path of development.

The Resettlement Support Center Asia (RSC Asia), funded by the US State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), assists persons throughout Asia seeking permanent resettlement in the United States. Responsible for a portfolio of 37 countries, RSC Asia: prepares refugee applications for the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) using START (a State Department–managed data system that supports the arrival and resettlement of refugees through technology); provides information to resettlement agencies about arriving refugees and offers cultural orientation training to refugees bound for the United States. RSC Asia is based in Bangkok, Thailand, with sub-offices in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Cultural Orientation Coordinator is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Cultural Orientation (CO) activities in the Asia region. The CO Coordinator represents RSC Asia in CO Leadership Network activities supported by the Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange (CORE).

Major Responsibilities:

Cultural Orientation

• Oversee the logistical planning of CO schedules accounting for pipeline projections and staffing needs in conjunction with partner agencies and in collaboration with other RSC and IRC departments.

• Ensure that CO curriculum course content remains relevant and accurate through communication with CO teams, CORE, the CO Leadership Network, and other USRAP partners as needed.

• Assess needs of target refugee populations and develop/provide materials as needed.

• Manage the development, design, and implementation of the CO curriculum. Ensure they address the needs of specific caseloads such as urban refugees, unaccompanied minors, and other vulnerable populations.

• Oversee and strengthen current monitoring and evaluation activities and tools in line with PRM and CORE guidelines to ensure program consistency and accuracy in messaging across all CO sites.

• Maintain a current understanding of the overall USRAP and resettlement issues related to CO.

Communications

• Assist with developing informational materials on RSC Asia for USRAP partners and visitors as needed.

Key Partner & Donor Relations

• Represent the RSC CO program to USRAP partner agencies including UNHCR, IOM, the Regional Refugee Coordinator’s Office, and others as needed.

• Serve as the RSC Asia’s primary liaison with CORE and participate in the CO Leadership Network activities.

• Prepare quarterly statistical and narrative program reports internally and for PRM, CORE, IRC or other agencies as appropriate.

Staff Management

• Maintain regular and close contact with all CO sites, including annual site visits to field offices.

• Provide supervision and support to CO Managers in all sites. Ensure feedback is provided on a regular basis and in a timely manner.

• Maintain close contact with Malaysia and Bangladesh SMT, especially as it relates to CO programming and staff.

• Monitor performance and conduct mid and end-of-year Performance Management check-ins for CO Managers in all sites.

• Facilitate staff meetings including regular discussions among CO sites.

• Identify training needs and recommend development opportunities for CO staff.

• Encourage staff participation in CORE online activities.

General Program Delivery

• Develop and monitor departmental budget, spending plans, and procurement plans in coordination with CO Managers, Finance, and Supply Chain.

• Ensure adherence to all IRC and RSC policies and procedures.

• Participate in monthly staff, Senior Management Team and other meetings as required.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Key Working Relationships:

Position reports to: RSC Asia Director

Position directly supervises: Thailand based CO staff.

Indirect reporting: Management in Partnership for Malaysia Bangladesh based CO teams.

Other internal and/or external contacts:

o Internal: RSC Senior Management Team; Operations and Admin support staff

o External: USRAP partners, including IOM and UNHCR; CORE

Job Requirements:

Education:

• University degree in Education, Instructional Design, Social Work or other relevant field required; advanced degree is preferred. An equivalent combination of education and direct experience will be considered.

Work experience:

• Five years of progressive program management experience, including experience in managing a multi-cultural staff.

• Four years’ experience in adult education, training, and facilitation, and/or curriculum development. Prior work in a limited literacy context (such as ESL) is highly desirable.

• Four years’ experience working in a US resettlement agency required; Experience providing cultural orientation to newly resettled refugees preferred highly preferred.

• Previous financial management experience, including budgeting.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Familiarity with the US Refugee Admissions Program, preferably experience in a Resettlement Support Center (RSC) or domestic resettlement agency.

• Ability to collaborate with staff and colleagues in multiple locations and consider various perspectives and priorities when making decisions.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills; including the ability to work effectively with colleagues and partners in a cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary environment.

• Solid organizational skills with the ability to multi-task, set priorities, effectively manage time and meet deadlines.

• Ability and willingness to travel both domestically and internationally, including remote locations; prior experience living abroad is preferred.

• Experience planning work based on a pipeline and experience overseeing planning of logistics for travel to international locations.

• Flexible and able to work well under pressure in a fast-paced team environment.

Language and Computer Skills:

• Fluency in both written and spoken English required.

• Working knowledge of a refugee language helpful.

• High level of computer literacy and proficient in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook) is required. This role requires the ability to create spreadsheets and analyze large amounts of data.

• Experience with START helpful.

Working Environment:

The position is currently located at the RSC Asia office in Bangkok. While primarily operating in a standard office work environment, the position does require domestic and international travel to support delivery of Cultural Orientation throughout the region. A valid passport and the ability to acquire US and other visas, as necessary, is a requirement.

Standards for Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability

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Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: rescue.org