Program Specialist

Job Description

IRC Background: The mission of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the IRC has a presence in over 40 countries and 27 offices in the United States; the IRC leads the way from harm to home. IRC opened an office in Seattle in 1976 and provides a continuum of services including intensive case management, employment and economic empowerment services, immigration assistance, health and wellness programming, and education support to refugee and immigrant families in Washington State. IRC Seattle is committed to providing trauma-informed, equitable, and accessible services and maintaining and evolving a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace.

Job Overview:

IRC Seattle’s New Roots program addresses food and land access for refugee, immigrant, and low-income communities in South King County through community and market gardening, food systems education, and small farm business development. The New Roots Program Specialist will support a variety of opportunities for refugee and immigrant community members to engage in community gardening and related educational programming, and to access supplemental food resources and increase food security. This position will also be available to support other areas of program activity such as youth- and elder- focused programming, commercial farming, and marketing. This position will require equal parts time in-office and in-field and may require occasional evening or weekend hours to be worked. This position reports to the Senior New Roots Program Coordinator.

Major Responsibilities:

· Community Garden Activation

o Support Garden Leaders and coordinate volunteers to ensure site management at four community garden sites

o Lead Garden Enrollment each spring including outreach, coordination of enrollment events, plot fees, and related data collection and tracking

o Conduct regular outreach calls to gardeners regarding events and workshops as well as site management needs

o Plan and coordinate quarterly workshops at the community garden sites, including identifying guest speakers and interpreters as needed

o Carry out the annual Participant Survey to gather feedback from garden participants

o Other responsibilities as required to ensure participant engagement, site management, and programming quality at the community garden sites

· Food Access and Security

o Coordinate food distribution for garden participants, recent refugee arrivals, or any other IRC clients on an as needed basis

o Collaborate with other New Roots team members, Resettlement Caseworkers and other departments to ensure food distribution meets client needs

o Assess and track food needs among clients; gather feedback from clients regarding food quality and logistics of distributions

o Keep updated Food Access Guide and make available to clients in all departments

o Follow up on one-offs needs/referrals from other departments

o Coordinate Grocery Store Orientations for newly arriving clients

· General program support

o Carry out any surveys or other data collection projects as needed

o Conduct outreach to New Roots program participants as needed

o Support general program administrative tasks as needed, such as data tracking, attendance, and expense reports for program supplies

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Senior New Roots Program Coordinator

Indirect Reporting: Senior New Roots Specialist

Position directly supervises: New Roots Interns and Volunteers

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

*Internal*****: New Roots team members, other IRC Seattle program teams, IRC Seattle Finance and Operations teams, IRC Seattle Development, External Communications, and Volunteer support teams

*External*****: landowners of community garden sites; partner organizations who provide educational activities, interpreters

Qualifications

Job Requirements:

- Passion for food access and food justice, and experience with community gardens, agriculture, food security, or other related community food projects either in the US or other countries. - Relevant degree or equivalent experience

- Lived experience as a refugee or immigrant is preferred - In lieu of lived experience, experience working with refugees and/or immigrants; cross-cultural or overseas experience accepted. - Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment. - Experience working with pre-literate and non-native English speakers and adult learners - Highly detailed oriented - Able to work collaboratively with various team members, program participants, and external partners - Data collection, management, and reporting experience preferred - English proficiency, both spoken and written. Bilingual ability in one of the predominant languages (Karenni, Burmese, Arabic, Dari, Farsi, French, Kinyarwanda, Pashto, Swahili) of the local refugee communities is desired - Commitment to anti-racism and continual learning and growth - Ability to work remotely and access to reliable Internet. - Access to a personal vehicle and WA driver’s license.

Working Environment:

- Standard, professional office environment; flexible remote/in-office work options; some work at garden and farm market sites - May require occasional weekend and /or evening work

IRC- leading the way from harm to home

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, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law

Please Apply at http://www.rescue.org/careers