About the position
The Cultural Orientation/Employment Specialist at Church World Service (CWS) plays a vital role in supporting newly arriving individuals and families, particularly refugees and asylees, by providing essential cultural orientation and employment readiness services. This position is temporary until September 30, 2024, with the potential for permanence depending on funding availability. The specialist will be responsible for referring clients to cultural orientation classes, teaching these classes, and ensuring that all necessary topics are covered, including local resettlement agency roles, community services, public assistance, housing, transportation, employment, education, health and hygiene, budgeting, personal finance, and cultural adjustment. The specialist will also maintain attendance records and case notes on client progress in these classes. In addition to cultural orientation, the specialist will identify and connect clients with employment opportunities, working closely with local employers and organizations to facilitate job placements. This includes helping clients overcome barriers to employment, assisting with resume writing, application processes, interview preparation, and providing transportation to interviews. The specialist will keep detailed records of client progress, job offers, and placements, and will lead the identification of relevant training and apprenticeship programs to support clients' career goals. The role requires a proactive approach to managing referrals to the state Refugee Support Services program and staying informed about refugee and immigrant issues to better serve clients. The specialist will represent the program at meetings and speaking engagements, ensuring that all duties are performed in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner. Building rapport and respectful relationships with clients is essential, as is the ability to work varied hours to meet the needs of the community.
Responsibilities
- Proactively manage and submit referrals to the state Refugee Support Services program.
- Lead the planning and delivery of orientation classes to all new refugees.
- Ensure all required topics in CORE curriculum are properly covered in classes, including the role of the local resettlement agency, community services and public assistance, housing, transportation, employment, education, health and hygiene, budgeting and personal finance, and cultural adjustment.
- Maintain class attendance and case notes on client progress in cultural orientation classes.
- Take charge of client delivery of core services as needed.
- Identify employers in the area served through current contacts, local Chambers of Commerce, and outreach to other business and manufacturing organizations.
- Work with clients to remove any barriers to employment and realize the goal of family self-sufficiency.
- Identify job opportunities for clients, help clients with writing resumes, assist in filling out applications, set up interviews with potential employers, accompany clients to interviews, and provide transportation.
- Follow up with employers until decisions are made.
- Record client's progress in case file, including job offers, job placements, collect data, and complete reports.
- Lead the identification of relevant training and apprenticeship programs related to clients' career goals and make referrals.
- Maintain detailed case notes, case files, and other records as needed.
- Keep informed about refugee and immigrant issues, and available services to clients, using current information to better identify and serve refugee clients.
- Represent the program at meetings and speaking engagements relevant to the responsibilities of the position.
- Perform all duties in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.
- Develop rapport and form a respectful relationship with clients focused on helping them gain needed skills while using a strengths-based perspective.
- Undertake other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in education, Social Work, Intercultural Studies, or equivalent in lieu of degree and a minimum of 2 years of experience.
- Previous work experience in refugee resettlement or other direct social services is preferred.
- Written and verbal communication skills in the English language are required.
- Proficiency in MS Office and internet applications is required.
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation are required.
Benefits
- 403 (b) Retirement Plan
- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Generous Paid Time Off (18 Paid Days Off; 24 Days after 2 Years)
- 14 Official Holidays
- 12 Sick Days Off (Accrued monthly)
- Life Insurance and AD&D
- Long Term and Short-Term Disability
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Health Savings Account
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Commuter Benefits
