Education Program Supervisor

About the role

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Denver assists newly arrived refugees and similar populations to foster the best possible initial resettlement experience, advance client self-sufficiency and promote community integration. The Education and Learning Manager guides a team that strives to assist clients in meeting their education and learning needs and goals.

Responsibilities

• Support the Education and Learning team in delivering high-quality, timely, and proactive services using strengths-based coaching that empowers clients to move toward their goals.
• Disseminate information from IRC HQ, the Colorado Refugee Services Program (CRSP), and other donors; provide guidance and training to ensure team members fully integrate new information, requirements, and policies.
• Develop processes and systems that facilitate coordination with counterparts in Resettlement and Integration, Health and Wellness, Economic Empowerment, and Legal Services.
• Provide consultation to the team on client grievances and cases that require escalation to meet heightened needs, including engaging directly with clients and community partners as needed.
• Together with the Resettlement and Integration Manager, develop program budgets and monitor budget versus actual reports.
• Together with the Resettlement and Integration Manager, IRC in Denver’s development and finance teams, and IRC HQ where applicable, prepare grant proposals and complete narrative and fiscal reports for donors.
• Provide ESL enrollment services to all IRC eligible clients, coordinating with partners to ensure clients access language learning.
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate team members; currently, this includes two direct service specialists and will include more in the future.
• Coordinate the recruitment and training of volunteers for the various education programs.
• Lead the Education and Learning team in accordance with IRC’s People Manager Standards, convening regular one on one meetings with direct reports; effectively delegating duties and responsibilities; providing consistent communication and ongoing feedback; mentoring and coaching staff; and supporting their professional development.
• Create and implement quality assurance systems, processes, and protocols to promote consistent and complete documentation of all Education and Learning services, financial assistance, and other required data in both client case files and relevant systems.
• Design a department-wide evaluation framework to gauge impact, assess strengths, and identify opportunities for growth and improvement in each program area.
• Engage the Education and Learning team in regular data analysis to review outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with the service delivery standards and grant terms and conditions outlined by IRC, CRSP, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Department of State, and other donors.
• Work collaboratively within Education and Learning and across other teams to fully integrate a Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) approach.
• Act as the key point of contact for external partners and service providers.
• Conduct outreach activities related to education and learning, engaging with local communities, education providers, schools, relevant partner organizations, and other key stakeholders.
• Routinely attend and report on relevant coordination meetings with CRSP and IRC HQ to consult with key stakeholders on resettlement trends, integration efforts, and other issues.
• Promote and model collaboration and the concept of “One IRC” in interactions with colleagues.
• Engage as a member of the direct services management team, working alongside managers and their teams to foster positive working relationships, streamline services, ensure service quality, consult on client needs, integrate client feedback, and design and implement new programming.
• Adhere to professional and ethical standards, including the IRC Way and HIPAA.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years in work and/or lived experience required.
• Advanced degree in education, child psychology, social work, or a relevant field preferred.
• At least 3 years of relevant work experience in education and/or youth development required.
• Experience working with English Language Learners is essential.
• A minimum of 2 years managing complex teams and programs, including supervising staff providing direct services and preferably using a coaching approach.
• Experience developing and managing programming in refugee resettlement and working with displaced people, survivors of trauma or torture, and similar populations strongly preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Well-developed understanding of education and learning programs and strategies that contribute to self-efficacy and integration for individual newcomers and entire newcomer families.
• Knowledge of motivational interviewing and coaching techniques in a human services context.
• Familiarity with local education resources, community partners, and school systems is a plus.
• Commitment to working collaboratively with staff to promote a positive culture that reflects IRC’s core values of service, accountability, integrity, and equality.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex problems and engage different stakeholders in solutions.
• Strong capacity to navigate differences and work as a team member in a cross-cultural environment.
• Excellent communication skills, including strong presentation and technical writing.
• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving able to contribute independently and as a team member.
• Adept in identifying and leveraging resources to enhance processes and outcomes.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to effectively manage time and competing priorities under pressure.
• Experience with grant writing, grant management, program design, and/or monitoring and evaluation a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and cultivate partnerships to further program development goals.
• Fluency in written and spoken English; fluency in language(s) of current refugee populations preferred (Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Kiswahili, Pashto, Spanish, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, etc.).
• Computer proficiency, including MS Office, internet applications and case management databases.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and insurance, a reliable vehicle, and ability to travel in and around the local community frequently.