The Orientation Instructor is responsible for orienting clients referred to the Adult Education Program through the Reception and Placement refugee resettlement program and other asylum, parole, and special immigrant pathways.

Individuals referred through the IRC’s resettlement program will be guided through a cultural orientation (CO) program, led by the instructor, covering topics to support community integration.

Eligible adults are referred to the program, the instructor will lead those individuals through the enrollment processes and provide orientations to allow for ongoing program participation. Orientations occur on a regular basis, currently two days per week in an in-person classroom with online follow-up and assessments. Attendance and assessment data is case-noted weekly and uploaded into IRC’s online service tracking database.

Orientations are delivered through trained in-person and telephonic interpreters.

The ESOL & Orientation Instructor is a part-time, 18.75 hours per week position, reporting to the Adult Education Instructional Supervisor.

In-person orientations will be conducted Mondays and Fridays.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree (4-year) required.

• Completion of a certificate program in Adult Education, TEFL, TESL, and/or TESOL is preferred.

Work Experience:

• Relevant professional experience in education and/or human services strongly preferred.

• Experience working with immigrants or refugees preferred.

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies

• Strong desire to support vulnerable individuals and families and enthusiasm for working in a multi-cultural setting.

• Enthusiasm for adult education and language learning.

• An interest in immigrant and refugee and asylee issues and the resettlement process.

• Strong communication abilities, including the ability to lead classes and oversee community volunteers and adult learners.

• Detail oriented and comfortable working with online databases and ensuring accurate entry of digital case notes of class sessions.

• Comfortable working in a cross-cultural environment, in-person, online, and over the phone, with adult learners, sometimes with little or no English proficiency.

• Ability to take initiative, work independently on projects, and follow through on critical tasks.

• Ability to work in a collaborative environment, co-teaching and facilitating learning through others.

• Strong time management skills and comfortability with computer and web-based office and communication platforms.

• Fluent in spoken and written English.

Bi-lingual abilities in a language spoken by an IRC client group is desired.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver CO programming

o Plan and prepare orientations following organizational guidelines and federal learning objectives combining supplemental educational activities as appropriate.

o Deliver cultural orientation curriculum through interpretation. Coordinate with IRC resettlement and logistics teams to schedule and present orientations with in-person and/or virtual interpreters.

o Track individual progress through orientations, keeping documentation per program requirements, and maintain coordination with logistics and resettlement teams.

• Orient and conference with current and potential students, assisting students in completing necessary intake and enrollment forms, both virtually, using phone and web-based platforms, and in-person.

• Administer English language assessments to measure and track student progress and gains.

• Assist with record-keeping and data entry to support program administration and compliance with programmatic requirements.

Document student progress by keeping accurate and timely attendance records, case notes, assessment data, program participant surveys, and observations of student progress.

• Maintain a positive learning environment.

Facilitate student learning activities that build cultural and community knowledge and encourage collaboration and positive peer support.

• Maintain open and effective communication with adult education team members. Report regularly on program goals, client attendance, learning activities, student progress and any problems or concerns with clients or program.

• Actively participate in regularly scheduled staff meetings and professional development opportunities.

• Other duties as assigned