United States: Training Officer, Child and Family Services

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the leading providers of high-quality programming for refugees resettling to the United States. The IRC is committed to developing innovative programs that respond to refugees’ unique strengths and needs, using our learning and experience to shape policy and practice, and highlighting and promoting best practices in refugee service provision.

The IRC is seeking a Training Officer for Switchboard, an Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-funded program. Switchboard is a one-stop resource hub for refugee service providers in the United States. Switchboard provides training and capacity-building services to ORR-funded refugee service providers in the United States, including resettlement agencies and affiliates, state agencies, ethnic community-based organizations, and others. More information about Switchboard can be found at www.SwitchboardTA.org.

The Training Officer will be responsible for leading the development and delivery of capacity-building initiatives related to Child and Family Services. The position will provide training and capacity-building to help ORR-funded service providers, including resettlement agencies, state agencies, and others, develop and deliver programs and initiatives that address the unique needs of refugee children/youth and families. This position will be Switchboard’s main liaison for requests related to Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM), family support and preservation, guardianship, child welfare and other related fields.

This staff will be responsible for collaborating with experts, designing effective resources, and facilitating learning experiences that contribute to improving outcomes for children and families.

Major Responsibilities:

Training and Technical Assistance: 

• Develop and deliver training related to Child and Family Services, including webinars, self-paced e-learning courses, online certificate courses, in-person training, etc.
• Provide consultation, guidance, and recommended resources via email and/or virtual meetings to refugee service providers across the U.S., in response to questions and technical assistance requests
• Produce written learning resources including blog posts, information guides and toolkits
• Incorporate feedback from internal and external reviewers
• Lead development multimedia resources, including e-learning modules, videos, and podcasts in collaboration with colleagues across teams
• Coordinate a monthly community of practice

Project Management: 

• Provide related inputs into the development of Switchboard’s annual TTA workplan.
• Ensure related trainings and learning resources are developed and delivered on time and on budget.
• Use effective communication and collaborative skills with a wide range of stakeholders
• Manage external subject matter expert/consultant relationships and project plans as they contribute to the development of related TTA.

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E): 

• Track related TTA outputs and outcomes against targets (materials developed, trainings delivered, individuals participating, etc.)
• Review and analyze feedback data from related TTA participants
• Provide input into Switchboard reports, including monthly activity updates and semi-annual Performance Progress Reports.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field or equivalent experience
• Minimum four years of direct service experience with refugees and/or other ORR-eligible populations in the context of Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-funded programs, including Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM), child protection, guardianship, etc
• Experience providing training and/or technical assistance to build capacity of refugee service providers serving in the focused areas above Experience providing client-centered, trauma-informed and strength-based services for children and families

Preferred:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Master of Social Worker (MSW) or equivalent experience
• Direct service work experience in family preservation services or Unaccompanied Children (UC) services
• Lived experience with forced displacement or shared background with newcomer populations
• Experience managing external subject matter experts and/or consultants
• Experience contributing to project M&E (data collection, management, and reporting)
• Experience with evidence-based programming

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Working knowledge of programs and services for unaccompanied minors, child protection, guardianship, and family preservation
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with fluency in English; including engaging public speaking abilities
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional team structure
• Capacity to give and receive constructive feedback
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple competing deadlines and efficient time management
• Adequate technology literacy including intermediate knowledge of MS Office Suite (Teams, Word, PowerPoint, Excel), and Zoom, with adaptability to learning new and innovative technology.
• Strong attention to detail

Working Environment: This position may be located in a standard office environment in New York, NY, or it may be located in a remote working environment. Required domestic travel 3-6 times per year.

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.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

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 $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), 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.

How to Apply: 

Please apply on IRC's website: https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/45647?c=rescue