Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1949 to welcome Holocaust survivors and returning World War II veterans looking to rebuild their lives in Kansas City. Today, JVS welcomes refugees and immigrants from around the world who are fleeing persecution in search of safety and opportunity. JVS embraces, encourages and empowers our newest neighbors in their journey to self-sufficiency.  Offering an extensive array of services in community integration, health & wellness, and workforce development, JVS is Kansas City's premier immigrant-and-refugee-serving organization. 

JVS offers a number of benefits to employees:  health, vision and dental insurance, short-term disability, 403b plan including 3% employer contribution, paid holiday, sick and vacation time, and opportunities for professional development.

Section 1: Overview and Purpose of Position

The Refugee Orientation Coordinator is responsible for overall planning, coordination and delivery of community orientation programming, in both group and individual settings. Additionally, the coordinator is responsible for supporting integration of orientation material throughout JVS services. The Refugee Orientation Coordinator, in coordination with other resettlement staff, will also support training clients to navigate the local bus system.

Section 2: Qualifications (skills, education, experience)

  • High School diploma, (relevant experience may be substituted for diploma), Bachelors degree preferred.
  • Experience/familiarity with the refugee resettlement process preferred.
  • Experience working with interpreters strongly preferred.
  • Valid driver license with classification appropriate to operate JVS vehicles, valid auto insurance, clean driving record with no moving violations within the past three years.

 

Section 3: Responsibilities/Duties

  • Coordinate and deliver community orientation classes for new arrivals in accordance with Reception & Placement core service requirements (within 90 days of arrival), including scheduling interpreters, coordinating drivers and collaborating with case management staff.
  • Work with case management staff to identify and deliver supplemental training, including bus training, to meet basic skill needs for clients in the first 3 months post-arrival.
  • Collaborate with Health Access team, Employment team, and Social Work teams to develop, coordinate and deliver additional education classes
  • Complete post-orientation assessment with each client to determine level of comprehension, providing retraining when needed
  • Document all services and client interactions in appropriate client files
  • Research evidence-based curricula to incorporate into training
  • Develop, coordinate and deliver new training programs on a variety of topics as schedule allows
  • Collaborate with resettlement services staff to assess client needs
  • Attend weekly meetings with resettlement team
  • Other duties as assigned

Section 4: Skills Needed

  • Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and community driven. 
  • Strong organizational and time management skills, with a proven ability to meet deadlines; able to effectively prioritize, delegate, and execute multiple tasks.
  • Ability to be self-directed and highly flexible in daily work.
  • Ability to work effectively in an environment that is multicultural and multilingual. Experience working with interpreters is strongly preferred.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to develop positive working relationships with both internal and external collaborators.
  • Strong presentation skills; ability to engage clients across language barriers and to tailor material presented to each particular audience
  • Strong computer skills and proficiency in Google Docs, Sheets, & Slides and internet-based communication.
  • Ability to develop and modify curriculum
  • Access to reliable transportation.

 

Section 5: Working Conditions and Physical Effort

  • Hours- full-time hours, mostly during regular business hours with flexibility for occasional evenings/weekends as dictated by new arrivals schedule and client needs
  • Regular travel to client homes, presentations, and community meetings in personal vehicle with mileage reimbursement
  • When not working in the community, work is typically performed in an interior temperature-controlled office work environment. Position requires periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
  • Some work may be performed at community sites such as other agency offices, client homes, schools, libraries, and other public meeting places. Employees may experience exposure to temperature extremes when in training situations, in a car, and while traveling to contacts outside of the agency facility.
  • Position requires frequent bending, squatting, sitting, standing, walking, pulling, pushing, lifting, and moving items that may weigh up to 10 lbs; occasional need to lift/carry up to 30 lbs. 
  • Agency cell phone will be provided for contact with clients and community partners.

Salary Range: $37,960 – $46,300

A note to Potential Candidates:

Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary individuals and BIPOC are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single qualification listed in the job description. Here at JVS we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may come from a background less traditional to our field of work and that is okay. JVS strongly encourages you to apply, even if you do not believe you meet every qualification described.

Please submit your resume to recruit@jvskc.org