Youth Program Specialist

About the role

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. The Youth Program Specialist is responsible for implementing youth-focused programming, providing immigrant youth with tools to successfully adjust and thrive in their new communities.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate services to refugee children and their parents in partnership with local school systems to support students in achieving educational success.
• Orient newly arrived families to the American public-school system and family law issues to increase interaction between school staff and parents.
• Conduct pre- and post-tests of each family’s understanding of the U.S. school attendance and participation requirements.
• Advocate for children in situations of abuse or neglect and refer to partner agencies as appropriate.
• Work with parents to advocate for special needs students in identification, testing, and provision of special education services.
• Improve school personnel’s understanding of refugee families’ cultural and language needs.
• Support student success by encouraging participation in activities such as after-school tutoring and mentoring.
• Identify and offer enrollment to high-potential youth in the MYVA program and develop a personalized service plan to meet their individual academic, social, and professional goals.
• Match each MYVA participant with a trained adult mentor and monitor progress of the relationship to ensure that participant needs and goals are met.
• Develop and implement additional youth programming as applicable, such as after-school or cultural enrichment activities.
• Monitor and track students’ progress from one grade level to the next and ensure required intake documents are fully completed and service plan updated as appropriate.
• Ensure timely and accurate compliance to all VRSAP and MYVA reporting requirements, including database management, case noting, and file maintenance.
• Participate in all program meetings, VRSAP and MYVA monthly conference calls, staff development activities, and other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, education, or related field of study is preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years relevant work experience in human services field strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Proven ability to contribute both independently and as a key team member.
• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively.
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written; bilingual ability in a language spoken by the local refugee population is desired.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Valid driver’s license, access to a reliable vehicle with current insurance.

Working Environment

A combination of standard office environment and ‘field’ time in and around the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities. May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits, including: 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 plan with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program.

Pay

Compensation: ($21.00 - $23.750). 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.

Schedule

This position has an end date of September 30, 2026.