Refugee English Language Learning Specialist

Job Summary: CCANO's Refugee Services Program provides holistic case management to support refugee self-sufficiency and integration to hundreds of clients each year. Refugee English Language Learning Specialist will coordinate the classes for Refugee clients enrolled in the ESL program at one of our primary sites and/or online. This person will serve as the primary point of contact for Refugee Services clients who are referred to the ESL Program. This person will be responsible for the general coordination of all the classes at their site(s) and class instruction and dozens of volunteers. The position requires managing and tracking student registration and enrollment, recruitment and management for instructor/volunteer hours, and community outreach to ensure target enrollment and other refugee students/clients' goals. General support to the program (including feedback on instruction performance, working with other instructors on plans for student retention, and organizing testing days and community events; and full compliance with agency and grant funding guidelines and procedures. The Specialist will be responsible for understanding a working knowledge of two distinct programs: English as a Second Language and Refugee Services.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Classroom instruction and classroom management decision-making for an open-enrollment section of the ESL program exclusive to Refugee clients
• Administer standardized assessments, filling out registration forms, as well as giving feedback to the program manager, and modeling best teaching practices;
• Ensure effective support, guidance, and compliance with policies and procedures;
• Develop and implement a focused curriculum to support students, particularly at the pre-beginner level;
• Offer one-on-one support to Refugee clients in order to improve attendance and remove barriers to participation;
• Assist ESL Program Manager with management of student and volunteer files, tests, maintaining inventory of books and classroom supplies, and collecting sign-in sheets;
• Responding to phone and email inquiries from prospective students and volunteers;
• Track program effectiveness ensuring compliance and reporting with a grant(s) and agency requirements/policies, program development, tracking of services rendered, and data reporting in the table and narrative formats;
• Ensure good communication with the program staff agency;
• Serve as primary point of contact and liaison between ESL program staff and Refugee Services program staff;
• Track and record Refugee clients' participation and milestones into ClientTrack system;
• Organization of site and scheduling classes;
• Maintain availability to respond to emergencies;
• Perform other related work as assigned.

Essential Job Functions:

• Intermediate to proficient knowledge of ESL instruction, curriculum, and teaching techniques.
• Intermediate to proficient knowledge of immigrant and diverse populations and cultures.
• Ability to manage to keep support plans current and maintain accurate records and data entry.
• Ability to evaluate the progress of students/clients.
• Ability to communicate effectively.

Physical Requirements:

Sitting, Standing, Walking, Talking, sitting at a desk, and working on a computer.

• Must be able to lift to fifteen pounds at times.
  1. Physical Demands: Sedentary physical activity performing non-strenuous daily activities of an administrative nature.Stand less than 33% of time on
  2. Walk less than 33% of time on
  3. Sit between 33% and 66% of time on
  4. Use of hands to finger, handle or feel over 66% of time on
  5. Reach with hands or arms less than 33% of time.
  6. Full ability to talk and
  7. Correctable vision
  8. Able to lift/carry up to 10 lb

Minimum Educational and General Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's or higher level degree from an accredited college or university
• Bi-lingual (English-Spanish) candidates are highly preferred. Proficiency in Arabic, Haitian-Creole, French, Ukrainian, Russian, or other languages valued.
• Ability to work with a culturally diverse population and sensitivity to the special needs of multicultural immigrant children, adults, and families.
• Ability to react to change productively and handle other essential tasks as assigned.
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills, including maintaining effective work relationships.
• Strong organizational skills, and ability to work across all levels of management and staff. The ability to work independently and develop creative solutions is desired.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality regarding all case and client information.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite preferred. Facility with database use required; and ability to learn immigration database/software.
• Ability to work some evenings/weekends.
• Have reliable transportation.