POSITION SUMMARY:
HIAS seeks a Jewish Community Outreach Coordinator, Private Sponsorship to support the growth of HIAS’ Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program. Private Sponsorship at HIAS lives within the Resettlement & Integration department, with a strong dotted line to the Community Engagement department related to the recruitment and stewardship of private sponsor groups (PSGs)/Welcome Circles formed from within the U.S. Jewish community. Reporting to the Senior Director, Community Engagement Programs & Initiatives, the Jewish Community Outreach Coordinator, Private Sponsorship will hold a dual portfolio, working with colleagues in both departments to identify and recruit PSGs from within the U.S. Jewish community, and supporting a portfolio of PSGs throughout the process of welcoming refugees.
HIAS’ Community Engagement department is charged with educating, organizing and mobilizing the Jewish community to take action in support of refugees; the role held by the Jewish Community Outreach Coordinator, Private Sponsorship is grounded and aligned within this broader mission and has a specific focus on PSG recruitment. Likewise, HIAS’ Resettlement & Integration department is charged with the development and oversight of all direct service programs for refugees in the United States; part of the role of the Jewish Community Outreach Coordinator, Private Sponsorship is to steward PSGs that are part of the Welcome Corps or serving as HIAS Welcome Circles for Ukrainians, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.
Note, this is a full-time, temporary position that starts ASAP and ends 1 year later, with possible extension. This position is based at our headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland or our office in New York, New York, and we will consider a remote option for applicants who live outside of commuting distance to either of our offices and are based in other states in which we are registered (Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin).
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Assists in the development of HIAS’ outreach and recruitment strategy for PSGs, with an explicit focus on the recruitment of PSGs from the U.S. Jewish community.
- Works with HIAS’ Private Sponsorship team to increase the quality of PSG recruitment, support and systems by integrating and operationalizing best practices.
- In collaboration with Community Engagement colleagues, establishes a network of potential partners from various Jewish communities across the U.S., identifying potential new markets within the national Jewish community.
- Coordinates and facilitates outreach efforts, in collaboration with the Community Engagement team, to educate potential PSGs about the benefits of participating in the sponsorship of
refugees through the HIAS private sponsorship program.
- Participates in and leads trainings and information sessions for potential PSGs.
- Contributes to the evolution of HIAS’ ongoing media strategy to promote the HIAS private sponsorship program.
- Serves as the primary point of contact for an average of 25 private sponsor groups per year.
- Builds and maintains relationships with the PSGs in portfolio, ensuring that they understand their responsibilities and are able to stay on track with priorities.
- Provides support and guidance to PSGs on the application process and development of a welcome plan.
- Provide one-on-one support and guidance to PSGs on the provision of core resettlement services.
- Shares best practices and guidance on pre-arrival and post-arrival responsibilities and issues with PSGs, serving as a point of contact for helping PSGs navigate housing, understanding boundaries, enrollments in public benefits, ESL, school, employment, health services, legal services and cultural orientation.
- Holds regular check-ins with PSG contacts on a recurring basis.
- Troubleshoots problems that arise with PSGs as necessary, referring to the Program Manager, Afghan Placement & Assistance as needed.
- Attends and contributes to additional weekly “drop-in” office hours for PSGs within portfolio as needed.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:
- Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience required.
- 2-3 years of community engagement work experience within the U.S. Jewish community required, with experience in refugee resettlement preferred.
- Strong knowledge of the U.S. Jewish community and how it is structured preferred.
- Excellent interpersonal and organizing skills, ability to provide constructive feedback, excellent active listening skills and supportive and positive attitude.
- Ability to collect, organize, analyze and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to details and accuracy.
- Ability to work independently with the flexibility to adapt to the needs of the team.
- High degree of comfort learning and working across various technology platforms, which could include Raiser’s Edge, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Excel, etc.
- Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
- Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills required.
- A very strong team player who thrives working on close-knit teams.
- Receptive to feedback and excited to grow and lead in a highly collaborative context.
- Passionate about the safety, rights and dignity of refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers.
- Eagerness to join a team working to build a more just and compassionate world.
EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION:
All employees are expected to represent the organization in alignment with HIAS' mission, vision and values. Some employees of HIAS are expected to speak externally on behalf of the organization with clients, donors, affiliates, partners, etc. as part of their work-related responsibilities. Applicants for these roles acknowledge and accept the inherent risk associated with external representation of HIAS.
HIRING PROCESS:
We are committed to a fair and respectful hiring process, and we do our absolute best to respond to every applicant. We prioritize communication and transparency with all candidates, even those who are not moving forward. Here’s a snapshot of our hiring process:
Step 1: Submit your application!
Step 2: Phone screen with a HIAS recruiter.
Step 3: Video interview with the hiring manager.
Step 4: Video interview with a panel of HIAS employees.
Step 5: Online reference check with SkillSurvey.
Step 6: Offer and background check with Shield Screening or ESR.
Step 7: Start your professional journey with HIAS!
Note: Some of our hiring processes may vary, and not all candidates will advance to each step.
ABOUT US:
Over one hundred years ago, the Jewish community founded HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) in New York City, the immigrant gateway to America. Supporting Jews fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe, our founders were guided by the traditions, texts and history of the Jewish people—a history of oppression, displacement and diaspora. HIAS has since helped generations of Jews facing violence because of who they were, and HIAS remains committed to helping Jewish refugees anywhere in the world. Today, our clients at HIAS come from diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds, as do our staff. We bring our experience, history and values to our work across five continents, ensuring that refugees today receive the vital services and opportunities they need to thrive.
HIAS is a learning community, committed to diversity and inclusion. We do our work with integrity, accountability, transparency and a commitment to the highest ethical standards. We seek employees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to join our teams located in the United States and across the globe. People who identify as BIPOC, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and people with lived experiences of forced displacement or immigration are all encouraged to apply. We are committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects our vision, mission and values.
VISION:
HIAS stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety and opportunity.
MISSION:
Drawing on our Jewish values and history, HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives.
VALUES:
Welcome • Acogimiento • Hospitalité • ????? ?????? (Hachnasat Orchim)
We Welcome the Stranger
Justice • Justicia • Justice • ??? (Tzedek)
We Pursue Justice
Empathy • Empatía • Empathie • ??? (Chesed)
We Approach our Clients with Empathy
Partnership • Compañerismo • Coopération • ?????? (Chevruta)
We Believe in Changing the World through Partnership
Courage • Coraje • Courage • ???? (Ometz)
We Act with Courage to Build a Better World
Resilience • Resiliencia • Résilience • ??? (Ruach)
We Adapt and Thrive, Continuously Demonstrating our Resilience
DIVERSITY:
HIAS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, citizenship status, religious creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, pregnancy, childbirth, military status, protected veteran status, political orientation or other legally protected status.
SAFEGUARDING:
HIAS is committed to the protection of children, vulnerable adults and any other person from any harm caused directly or indirectly due to their coming into contact with HIAS. We will not tolerate sexual exploitation, abuse or any form of child abuse or neglect by our staff or associated personnel. Any candidate offered a job with HIAS will be expected to sign and adhere to HIAS’ Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records. HIAS also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. Likewise, HIAS will share this information when other organizations inquire about current and former HIAS staff as part of their recruitment process. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.