Requisition ID: req42862

Job Title: Program Manager, Asylum Reception

Sector: Social Work

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Compensation: USD 76,230.00 - 76,230.00 Salary

Location: New York, NY RAI USA
Job Description

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a leading nonsectarian, voluntary organization providing relief, protection and resettlement services for refugees and victims of oppression. For over 25 years, the IRC offices in the US have provided a range of services including resettlement and economic empowerment services, immigration, community gardening, case management for victims of trafficking and other immigrants, including asylum.

Job Overview: 

In 2022, in response to an increase in asylum seekers and migrants arriving to New York after having recently arrived via the southern US border, New York City’s Health & Hospitals (H&H) launched several Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers (HERRCs) to provide humanitarian reception and supportive services to asylum seekers while they stabilize and organize plans to reach their final destination, whether that be NYC or elsewhere in the US.

The IRC New York office will partner with H&H to provide initial intake, basic legal information, referral services, and reconnection case management to arrivals at HERRC sites. The IRC believes that effective humanitarian reception can serve as a gateway to a safe and dignified asylum system in the US. We do this by providing asylum seekers with initial reception and referrals to understand their rights and the legal process, providing more intensive case management for cases with heightened needs, and facilitating safe connections to US ties—whether in New York or elsewhere—and referrals to legal and social services in their final destinations.

The Program Manager, Asylum Reception, will oversee IRC’s reception and case management services for asylum seekers at the NYC HERRCs and ensure all programmatic efforts are executed to the highest standards and in line with IRC and New York state regulations. They will design, develop and adapt IRC’s reception services for asylum seekers in NYC, establish coordination mechanisms with the City of New York and other stakeholders, share information with stakeholders to further inform the response, and work closely with IRC colleagues to ensure intended outcomes and quality services.

Major Responsibilities:

• Manage day-to-day programming at one or more HERRC sites, including supervising key staff in their roles, troubleshooting, liaising with key partners, and providing logistical oversight, as applicable.
• Design and develop a tiered reception and case management service delivery model to meet varied needs of asylum seekers. This may include resource, referral, and legal paperwork review for individuals moving on quickly from NYC; and reconnections/transitional case management support for individuals with heightened needs and longer-term guests at the HERRCs.
• Provide training and supervision for IRC staff (along with staff seconded to IRC), including direct task supervision for on-site supervisors, coordinators, caseworkers, and other staff.
• Codify, revise, and enforce standard operating (SOPs) procedures in line with best programmatic and IRC policies and procedures to ensure successful program delivery and safe, supportive environment for clients, staff, and volunteers.
• Ensure close and effective collaboration with IRC New York’s local programs serving asylum seekers; liaise with the HERRC team where appropriate to share standard methodologies.
• Ensure program data is protected, monitored for the purpose of advocacy, and used to support new business development opportunities and ongoing donor reporting as applicable.
• Develop monthly protection monitoring reports for client needs, inform and adapt IRC’s program model, and, where appropriate, share aggregate information with partners to better inform a collaborative NYC response.
• In coordination with other IRC programs serving asylum seekers in NYC, conduct outreach with external local agencies and partners to develop and maintain a comprehensive list of resources and referral options to support the complex needs of asylum seekers.
• Support new business development and contribute to fundraising opportunities.
• Support the Deputy Director in managing grants that fund the HERRC response and ensure grant compliance in close cooperation with the Deputy Director and Development Director.
• Share best practice in humanitarian reception with IRC and external shelter and asylum networks to contribute to an increase in quality of humanitarian reception throughout NYC and the USA.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Deputy Director, Asylum Programs, IRC NY; temporarily reporting to Technical Advisor, Cross-Border & Asylum, pending recruitment of Deputy Director

Position directly supervises: Casework Supervisors, Coordinators, Site Leads

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Senior Manager, Case Management Pilot Program and Deputy Director

External: NYC agencies or nonprofit entities referring clients to the HERRCs; community based, nonprofit and/or private sector organizations delivering direct services in or taking referrals from the IRC.

Job Requirements:

Education:

• Undergraduate and graduate degree preferred ideally in a social work, migration studies, or international related field of study.

Work Experience:

• Five or more years of related professional experience; preferably with a non-profit or social service organization.
• At least three years of experience in program management.
• At least three years of experience in staff supervision.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrated understanding of the U.S. immigration system and stakeholders, particularly the U.S. asylum system; awareness of and commitment to the rights and realities of immigrant communities in the U.S. and the overall region with a special focus on New York City.
• Demonstrated understanding of financial and grant management and reporting.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate with limited-English speakers in a multi-cultural environment. 
• Advanced computer proficiency with an emphasis on Microsoft Office applications and desktop publishing. (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, Outlook). Strong command of budget management preferred.
• Highly organized self-starter with proven success prioritizing multiple tasks, making critical decisions, and delivering results in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines
• Strategic, creative, problem solver capable of working well independently and as a part of a team.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain responsibility for multiple tasks in the context of a diverse, fast-paced work environment.
• Strategic, creative, problem solver capable of working well independently and as a part of a team.

Language Skills:

• Fluency in written and spoken English, bilingual ability preferred in Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, Russian, Arabic, Turkish, Dari, Georgian or other refugee/immigrant language used in New York City. Strong cross-cultural understanding and excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

Working Environment:

• Daily on-site presence at the HERRCs, which are a 24-hour/7 facilities, where it is expected that the IRC will operate on a regular (for example, 9-5) schedule; some flexible or hybrid work hours with supervisor permission.

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 requirement.

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. 

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. 

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