Career Development Specialist

Job Overview

IRC in Seattle’s Career Development Program promotes economic self-sufficiency for refugees and immigrants with barriers to achieving their career goals. The program connects them with training and resources to enable them to move out of low-wage jobs and into sustainable career pathways. Career pathway programs include instruction in contextualized basic skills, additional soft skills training contextualized to a specific industry, and the opportunity to develop industry-aligned technical skills and credentials. 

At IRC, participants in career pathway programs also access individual career coaching and case management, have access to supportive services to address barriers (e.g. childcare, transportation, work authorization documents), and receive direct job placement assistance.

The Career Development Specialist will work individually with clients to assess their eligibility and readiness for the program, create individualized employment and training plans, provide career counseling, and assist in enrolling clients in education and skills training and placing them in jobs.  The Career Development Specialist will also build and nurture strategic partnerships with local employers, training providers, and other agencies to create career advancement opportunities for program participants.

Major Responsibilities:

Direct Client Service

• Provide intensive one-on-one case management services to refugee and immigrant clients looking to develop a career pathway, discerning their long-term career goals, detailing a step-by-step plan for its achievement, and providing hands-on assistance with various steps as needed.
• Assist in developing contextualized work readiness training and bridge programming for participants in career development programs.
• Research and document career advancement, professional certification and recertification, and other vocational education opportunities as needed for effective case management.
• Work closely with the IRC Economic Empowerment Team to integrate program activities within complimentary services.
• Assess eligibility and connect program participants to resources and other services within IRC and the community.

Compliance

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date case files documenting client goals, activities, and services received, including the timely entry of case notes and data across multiple databases.
• Attend regularly scheduled meetings with other IRC staff and volunteers as part of the review, evaluation, and program maintenance process.

Outreach

• Assist the Career Development Program Coordinator with targeted outreach to local businesses and participate in networking events to cultivate strategic partnerships and career advancement opportunities for IRC clients.
• Conduct recruitment activities to identify clients for Career Development programming. Complete screening, intake, and assessment requirements. 
• Engage with local providers that offer vocational education, recertification, or educational equivalency services to support project objectives and participants’ goals.
• Organize and lead information sessions, workshops, and classroom activities on relevant topics and coordinate with guest speakers and interpreters to meet clients’ needs.
• Track business outreach and engagement activities and promptly record relevant data for reporting purposes.

Job Requirements:

• Education: Undergraduate degree, ideally in Social Work or an equivalent field of study; comparable work and/or lived experience may be substituted.
• Demonstrated relevant work experience in a human services field, preferably in a non-profit or social services agency.
• Lived experience as a refugee or immigrant is preferred.
• Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated skills with reporting and tracking information in a database. 
• Demonstrated experience facilitating adult classrooms and workshops is preferred.
• The ability to network and diplomatically manage various internal and external relationships required.
• Solid organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple tasks, set priorities, effectively manage time, and meet deadlines required.
• Familiarity with the greater Seattle area and existing social service support systems desired.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Commitment to anti-racism and ongoing learning required.
• Fluency in spoken and written English; Fluency in an additional language relevant to current refugee populations desired.

Working Environment

• Standard, professional office environment (flexible remote and in-office)
• Access to reliable transportation for occasional travel throughout the service delivery area (driver’s license, insurance, and access to vehicle preferred)

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget.  Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

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: The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.