Description

Cultural Orientation Specialist (Birmingham)

Level: Experienced

Job Location: Birmingham - Birmingham, AL

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: 4 Year Degree

Travel%: Up to 50% Locally

Job Shift: Day

Job Categories: Nonprofit - Social Services

Salary Range: $38,000 - $42,000

Summary:

Inspiritus’ Refugee & Immigrant Services (RIS) Department works to build welcoming communities for refugees and immigrants and accompanies newcomers on a path from surviving to thriving. The Cultural Orientation Specialist, under the supervision of the Education Coordinator, plans and implements refugee orientation and education across multiple programs in the Birmingham office. She/he will be responsible for planning and facilitating all cultural orientation education for the Reception & Placement and Matching Grant programs as well as providing ongoing cultural orientation-related support for other local programs such as Social Adjustment. She/he will cultivate relationships with community organizations and subject matter experts and will ensure that the cultural orientation goals and objectives of these programs are accomplished within the prescribed time frames and within budget. Responsibilities include curriculum development, partnership building, case documentation, group and individual instruction, class planning and logistics, and interpreter scheduling and recruitment support.

Essential Responsibilities / Accountabilities:

• Understands and is aware of all aspects of program contractual requirements and consistently stays abreast of any changes.
• Organizes and coordinates the program activities in compliance with all contract and regulatory requirements.
• Ensures that clients receive the services outlined in the contracts including taking a direct role in class planning, client education, and follow up.
• Demonstrates the use of public transit and/or other transportation options for clients.
• Maintains and updates relevant education resources and activities for clients.
• Creates and manages partnerships and relationships with services providers, partner agencies, or other public systems that can contribute to client instruction.
• Helps ensure the coordination and integration of services by aligning program activities with related activities within departments to ensure efficiency and economy.
• Ensures that all services provided are properly documented and meet or exceed contract standards & guidelines.
• Oversees the database documentation and tracking pertaining to each program, and any other data to ensure they are complete, accurate, and up-to-date.
• With the Education Coordinator, develops tools to assess client understanding and knowledge gaps and implements quality improvement plans based upon the assessment.
• With the Education Coordinator, helps respond to monitoring and audit reports and implements required changes.
• Maintains personal and professional boundaries in the performance of the job.
• Communicates with staff regarding issues or grievances that may arise with clients, the community, etc.
• Forges mutually respectful partnerships with clients, co-workers, and employers.
• Participates in Inspiritus functions and public relations activities.
• Participates in training and professional conferences to keep abreast of current trends.
• Conforms with and abides by all regulations, policies, work procedures and instructions.

Non-Essential Responsibilities / Accountabilities:

• Performs other duties as assigned to meet program needs

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

Financial Responsibilities:

• Has knowledge of program budgets and manages the use of resources within them.
• Reconciles expense and mileage statements on a regular basis.

Measurable Outcomes:

• Ensures that the R&P orientation is provided to all required clients (100%).
• Meets attendance goals for MG job readiness and financial literacy training.
• Ensures that all other program service outcome goals are met.
• Ensures that there on no major findings and the program is in full compliance with contract requirements

Qualifications

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or international equivalent in a social service, cultural, or education-related study and minimum of two years of previous direct work experience in cross-cultural education, training programs, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Experience working in a culturally diverse environment and high level of cultural competence
• Ability to balance the needs of the client and the employer
• Conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change
• Ability to set limits and maintain the helping role of the practitioner
• Excellent computer skills, accurate typing, and knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Must have the ability to communicate with all persons in a culturally competent manner.
• Must be sensitive to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Must own a personal multi-passenger vehicle, hold a valid Driver’s license, have a good driving record, and have appropriate personal auto insurance

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience working with a diverse teams of staff and/or interns
• Familiarity with major Alabama social services programs, job market, public transportation, and neighborhoods
• Experience with human services programs
• Reads, writes, and speaks a relevant foreign language

Success Factors:

• Ability to work in a team environment with a diverse group of people.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the Education Coordinator and other team members.
• Ability to manage a mobile workforce.
• Ability to rapidly learn new computer applications.
• Ability to respond promptly to requests.

Physical Demands:

Regularly required to talk and hear in person and on the telephone. Required to stand, walk, sit, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms to operate computer and other office equipment. Required to operate a personal vehicle. Employee frequently lifts and/or moves up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions:

While performing the responsibilities of this job, the employee travels by personal motor vehicle and is exposed to changing weather conditions. May perform job functions at out-posted locations as assigned.