Employment & Education Specialist

ABOUT US

With the exception of immigration detention facilities, the United States lacks a formal system to address the needs of asylum seekers and other underserved newcomers. AsylumWorks was created to bridge this gap.  

Founded in 2016, AsylumWorks provides culturally and linguistically appropriate services to help newcomers meet their basic needs, participate in immigration legal proceedings, and access opportunities needed to integrate into their new communities. Direct client services are free and available to individuals and families living in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia, regardless of language, country of origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender expression. To scale our impact beyond the National Capital Region, AsylumWorks creates and shares expert tools and training resources to support newcomer-serving organizations nationwide. 

JOB DESCRIPTION

AsylumWorks’ Employment & Education team helps clients explore education & career pathways and prepare for, find, and keep employment in the United States. Clients benefit from consultations, one-on-one coaching, online trainings, access to professional resources, and connections to a network of professionals. This program is for all clients, regardless of education or employment history.

AsylumWorks is seeking a full-time Employment & Education Specialist to provide direct services to our clients and support program outcomes. This position will be supervised by the Director of Employment & Education Services. AsylumWorks is a hybrid workplace with an office in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC. This position may work from home up to three days a week following the onboarding period.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Client-Facing (70%)

• Identify, screen, and enroll eligible clients in internal employment & education coaching program
• Conduct client intake and develop comprehensive goal-setting and employment plans alongside each client
• Provide high-quality, client-led career counseling to program participants, utilizing language interpretation services when needed
• Direct clients through AsylumWorks online training series and connect clients to internal and external resources
• Document all work with clients in our database and provide updates to clients’ Health & Wellness case managers
• Maintain a caseload of approximately 15 clients at once

Community Engagement (20%)

• Form and strengthen relationships with potential partners
• Support the coordination of workshops and events for AsylumWorks clients and alumni to promote program outcomes
• Support the recruitment, training, and activities of program volunteers

Programmatic Support (10%)

• Contribute to the ongoing development and revision of internal education & employment training, resources, and communications
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of employment and education landscape and trends
• Support the collection of regular client feedback and coordinate with team members to ensure feedback is integrated into program models

REQUIREMENTS

• Expertise in all stages of the job search and application process;
• Experience working with individuals who have experienced significant trauma and/or displacement;
• Experience teaching, coaching, and/or mentoring others;
• Experience working with low-income, English-limited populations;
• Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary, multicultural setting;
• Able to multi-task in a high-volume, fast-paced environment;
• A demonstrated awareness of cultural humility;
• Strong interpersonal communication skills;
• Fluency in English and another language preferred;
• Up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination;
• Computer literate; and
• An inherent desire to improve, create, and problem-solve.

SALARY

$48,500-52,000

BENEFITS

AsylumWorks provides many benefits to full-time, salaried staff, including:

• 100% Employer-Paid CareFirst Medical Insurance Plan with a vast network of coverage throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia;
• Employer-subsidized Guardian Dental and Vision Insurance;
• 15 days of vacation leave per year in Year 1;
• 11 days of paid time off for Federal Holidays and the day after U.S. Thanksgiving;
• Paid time off for AsylumWorks Winter Break office closure the week between Christmas Day & New Year’s Day;
• 2 Personal Days per year;
• 10 Medical/Sick Leave Days per year;
• DC Paid Family Medical Leave eligibility for parental leave, pre-natal leave, and extended family sick leave; and
• Generous monthly tech stipend to cover costs related to mobile phone usage, data, and work-from-home equipment.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants must send a resume and a cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line: Employment & Education Specialist. Please combine the resume and cover letter into one PDF. LinkedIn EasyApply applications require a cover letter submitted via email to be considered complete. Complete applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The start date for this position is contingent upon the timing of grant funding.

A Note to Potential Candidates: Studies have shown that women, immigrants, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ community are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We strongly encourage you to apply, even if you do not think you meet every one of the qualifications as described.

AsylumWorks is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.