Early Childhood Development Specialist

Job Description

IRC Background

Founded in 1933, the IRC is a leading nonsectarian, voluntary organization providing relief, protection and resettlement services for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict. In the U.S., the IRC resettles approximately 11,000 refugees per year and provides numerous program services to assist the refugee from their arrival through citizenship. The IRC in Salt Lake City opened it office in 1994, and provides resettlement services through extended case management to newly arrived refugees for up to 24-months as well as over twenty different programs to educate and empower refugees.

Job Overview:

Under the supervision of the Refugee Youth and Education Program Coordinator the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Specialist is responsible to administer existing youth services for school-aged refugee youth ages 0-5. Since 2015, the Ed Program has integrated limited early education services to newly arrived families with children ages three and four, including preschool enrollment assistance, school orientation support, caregiver education and engagement, and developmentally appropriate caregiver educational training and the educational materials necessary for caregivers and children to stimulate and develop cognitive skills. The ECD Specialist will work to expand the Early Education program to ensure all newly arrived refugee children, ages 0-5 years have developmentally appropriate cognitive and social-emotional skills needed for Kindergarten Readiness. This includes developing holistic and integrated training, resources, and support for caregivers. The ECD Specialist will overseeing the coordination of partnerships with school and community preschool programs such as Head Start, UPSTART online program, and public school district programs to ensure children access early education services. This also includes providing logistical support to families such as transportation orientations, first day of school assistance, and follow up support. The ECD Specialist will also work with the Refugee Youth and Education Coordinator to develop new innovative program areas and to increase educational access for students.

Major Responsibilities:

· Oversee Early Childhood Development case management services such as preschool enrollments, caregiver education and training, and external ECE referrals, specifically the Waterford Upstart program and Utah Community Action Head Start program.

· Build new relationships within the community, and incorporate best practices to support caregivers through culturally-appropriate, linguistically-accessible programming.

· Partner with early education programs to increase student’s participation in pre-school.

· Ensure newly arriving families receive the educational materials necessary for caregivers and children to stimulate and develop cognitive skills for children ages 3-4 while improving caregivers’ observation skills of children’s development and in preparation for accessing existing referral networks to pre-school resources.

· Supervise, support and regularly communicate with volunteers and interns to carry out ECD program services.

· Actively participate in training and supervision of volunteers to support Early Childhood programming and coordination for Cultural Orientation Childcare

· Maintain up to date, timely and complete data tracking in Salesforce, ETO and other databases

· Work with supervisor to produce bi-annual and annual reports and contribute to program design as well as and oversee in-kind donation request and distribution to clients.

· Work closely with casework and school district staff to determine appropriate placements, conduct referrals for youth with special needs and 504 plans, and document client attendance/progress

· This position reports to the Refugee Youth and Education Coordinator

Education/Work Experience:

· Associates degree in business administration, supply chain management, or similar field strongly preferred, or equivalent work experience, preferably in a not-for-profit or other social services environment.

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:

· Experience with the US Refugee Resettlement Program strongly preferred.

· Excellent organizational skills required, including the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

· Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.

· Outstanding presentation and facilitation skills in traditional and non-traditional training situations.

· Excellent computer skills: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and proficient in a graphic design.

· Demonstrated ability to communicate and work effectively as a team member in a multicultural environment.

· Valid driver's license and access to a personal, insured vehicle.

· Bilingual in one or more of the following languages, is preferred: Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, French, Kinyarwanda, Swahili

Working Environment:

- A combination of standard office environment, remote work, and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities. - May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

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 candidates who are selected for interview to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for this position.

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.

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