Career Navigator
Church World Service, Inc.

About CWS

Imagine waking up every morning with the chance to change someone's life. Imagine knowing your efforts will benefit both your career and our neighbors around the world. At CWS, our team knows they are making a difference every day. Whether you're in our U.S.-based offices supporting refugees, asylees or unaccompanied children ... implementing hygiene initiatives in Cambodia or rebuilding projects in Central America ... or even connecting remotely from your home on fundraising campaigns, grant reports, or critical communications - you have the opportunity to work towards a world where everyone has food, a voice and a safe place to call home.

Purpose

The Career Navigator offers support and services to refugees and immigrants in helping them identify career goals, develop plans to work toward goals, and advance in employment and educational opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, identify, and screen eligible candidates
• Work with staff, employers, and key stakeholders in the local community to ensure that eligible clients reach career and credentialing goals
• Empower refugees and immigrants to formulate realistic yet ambitious self-sufficiency and career development plans
• Conduct client skills assessment and assist refugees and immigrants to implement their career development plans
• Stay abreast of current employment trends and training opportunities
• Develop relationships with institutions of higher education, training and credentialing programs, and employers who may provide apprenticeships and other educational resources
• Advocate on behalf of refugees and immigrants
• Work with clients to remove barriers as they work toward career advancement goals. Connect clients to in-house support and make referrals to external service providers. Identify support services that may assist clients in advancing such as ESL, transportation, immigration services, and childcare.
• Meet regularly, collaborate, and cooperate with other local refugee service coalitions and workforce development partners.
• Research financial aid and scholarships opportunities for training and educational programs
• Develop and coordinate outreach opportunities to engage refugee clients and share information about employment and training opportunities
• Responsible for collecting data and submitting required monthly, quarterly and annual reports to contractor.
• Collect relevant data and report to Employment Services Coordinator on a monthly basis.
• Participate in writing grant proposals and attend trainings and conferences as requested by supervisor.
• Engage in on-site monitoring visits conducted by CWS/IRP national staff and/or federal and state partners.
• Attend trainings and conferences as requested by supervisor.
• Keep informed about refugee and immigrant issues, and available services to refugees, using current information to better identify and serve refugee clients.
• Represent the program at meetings and speaking engagements relevant to the responsibilities of the position.
• Perform all duties in a culturally appropriate manner.
• Undertake other duties as assigned.
• Work varied hours, including some night and weekend work.
• Must have valid driver's license and suitable vehicle for transporting clients.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in social work or related field is preferred.

Experience: Two years of previous work experience and interest in refugee resettlement or other direct social services. Cultural sensitivity is essential. Experience with career planning, working with educational institutions, community outreach, and/or public speaking is a plus.

Other Skills:

Superior written and verbal communication skills are required. The successful candidate must be computer literate, with proficiency in MS Office (Excel and Word) and internet applications required.

Fluency in a current refugee caseload language is preferred but not required (Spanish, Arabic, Pashto, Dari, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, French).

Special Requirements

• This position is in-office
• Must have a valid driver's license and complete a motor vehicle record check
• Background check require
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
• Fluency in a common refugee language is preferred.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment required.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and willingness to support CWS' Platform on Racial Justice as a CWS employee required.

Benefits

CWS offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
- 403 (b) Retirement Plan
- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Generous Paid Time Off (18 Paid Days Off; 24 Days after 2 Years)
- 14 Official Holidays
- 12 Sick Days Off (Accrued monthly)
- Life Insurance and AD&D
- Long Term and Short-Term Disability
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Health Savings Account
- Flexible Spending Accounts

---