Youth Program Specialist

This Position is a leave replacement and is scheduled to end August 29, 2025

Background/IRC Summary: Since 1999, the IRC has developed partnerships with New York City public schools, community-based organizations and local colleges and universities to support the positive development of refugee youth and their communities in New York City. The Youth Program provides year-round programming working directly with refugee youth, their parents and families, and their schools.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Youth Program Specialist supports school-aged refugee youth and their families in a successful adjustment and transition to school. They will closely collaborate with IRC colleagues and partner agencies in three main program areas:

• After school and weekend programming 2-4 days per week during the school year
• Mini-Academies (full day programs during school breaks)
• Newcomer Youth Summer Academy, a six-week, full-day orientation to school for K-12 refugee and immigrant youth

The specialist will plan and lead lessons for refugee youth during the above programs as well as provide logistical support to teaching staff, coordinate instructional coaching, coordinate classroom assessment materials, collect, enter and analyze assessment data, and ensure the overall day to day classroom needs of the Academy are met. The specialist will also serve as a key liaison to parents and caregivers, providing regular programming updates, collecting required documentation and sharing updates on student academic and behavioral progress. For the Mini-Academies and Newcomer Youth Summer Academy, the specialist will recruit a team of volunteer Peer Mentors to serve as role models and student support in classes.

Finally, the specialist will also support in oversight of three subaward agencies providing services to refugees in New York City. This will include reviewing submission of deliverables to ensure they conform with contract requirements.

Major Responsibilities:

• Function as a lead staff member at after-school programming around the city through the development and implementation of lessons and activities for refugee and immigrant youth
• Assist and guide students during workshop activities, ensuring they remain engaged and understand the material
• Lead classroom climate and culture in accordance with academy philosophy and protocols
• Aid in the design and implementation of in-person mini-academies during school breaks and a six-week summer academy, including leading group activities/classes for refugee and immigrant children and youth
• Co-lead recruitment, training and supervision of volunteer peer mentors for Mini Academies and Newcomer Youth Summer Academy
• Provide behavioral support for students as needed
• Communicate with families regarding programming, documentation and behavioral concerns utilizing interpretation services as needed
• Conduct ongoing data collection through surveys to monitor program success.
• Provide translation and interpretation services as needed to address issues involving children’s education.
• Support logistics planning and implementation for meals, field trips and liaising with building staff.
• Collaborate with other IRC staff to provide wrap-around support and facilitate student connections to other IRC programming
• Maintain comprehensive case notes in accordance with standards set by IRC and funding partners.
• Participate in staff development and monthly team meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, psychology, or a related field required.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of one year experience with youth required, preferably with English language learners.
• Experience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations from a variety of cultural and linguistic groups is highly desired.
• Experience working with the New York City Public School system is desirable.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to promote an organizational culture that reflects IRC’s core values of service, accountability, integrity, and equality. Ability to lead in a way that recognizes IRC’s work is best accomplished through the true collaboration of individuals from many cultures with a great variety of skills and perspectives.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Fluent in MS Office applications, especially MS Excel

Language Skills:

• Ability to read, write and speak English fluently is required.
• Fluency in one of the languages of populations served is highly desired (Haitian Creole, Ukrainian, Russian, Spanish)

Reports to: Youth Partnership and Academy Coordinator

Working Environment***:*** Some days in a standard office environment, some days on location at program locations around New York City, particularly in Brooklyn. Up to 2 days per week remote work when there is no in-person programming scheduled.

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: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.