The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 50 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

IRC Seattle’s Economic Empowerment Department supports refugees and immigrants in securing entry-level employment, developing career pathways, learning basic financial management skills, and starting or expanding small businesses. Under the direction of the Small Business Program Coordinator, the Small Business Counselor will support the continued development of IRC Seattle’s Small Business Program. The Small Business Counselor will support refugee and immigrant entrepreneurs with individualized one-on-one technical assistance, capital readiness, access to low-barrier financing, and linguistically and culturally accessible business and finance trainings that target their specific needs.

Major Responsibilities:

• Lead outreach to and recruitment of participants for small business programming; screen and assess interested King County residents for program eligibility and participation

• Provide one-on-one business counseling and management assistance to new and existing King County resident-owned-businesses in all areas of business start-up and expansion

• Assist entrepreneurs with capital readiness through financial coaching and the preparation of loan applications, business plans, and financial statements.

• Underwrite and package loan applications and present for review to the IRC’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the Center for Economic Opportunity

• Conduct individual case management and provide loan repayment support, including technical assistance visits to the businesses of program participants

• Proactively facilitate referrals to outside service providers as necessary to meet the diverse needs of the program participants

• Ensure that information required for small business program eligibility and reporting purposes is collected in a timely fashion and that accurate records are maintained, including case files, case notes, and client data entry across multiple databases

• Attend regularly scheduled meetings with other IRC staff and volunteers as part of the review, evaluation, and program maintenance process

• Attend and participate in regular program network meetings and open office hours with headquarters-based Technical Advisors

• Assist in the planning and coordination of training activities and special events

• Other duties as assigned

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Small Business Program Coordinator, Economic Empowerment

Indirect Reporting: Economic Empowerment Program Manager, Deputy Director for Economic Empowerment Program Quality and Innovation (HQ)

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Economic Empowerment staff, Regular communication/coordination with other IRC departments

External: Monthly calls with counterparts in other IRC offices across US programs network, external community partners

Job Requirements:

Education

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience in business, small business development, finance, entrepreneurship, education or related field

Work Experience

• 2+ years’ relevant experience including small business development, operation of a small business, or banking and personal finance preferred

• Knowledge of and experience with an array of business topics, including marketing, management, recordkeeping, and entrepreneurship

• Experience with immigrant entrepreneurs preferred

• Lived experience as a refugee or immigrant or related lived experience preferred

• Familiarity with business software and technologies, especially low-cost online marketing strategies

• Demonstrated understanding of personal finances, particularly in the areas of budgeting, asset building, and credit

• Previous experience working with individuals from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds and varying levels of literacy and numeracy

• Experience and training in trauma-informed and person-centered services

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies

• Competency in Microsoft Office required, additional technical skills an asset

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to make presentations in front of groups

• Ability to work independently, be a self-starter and maintain responsibility for multiple tasks, as well as working together on a close, collaborative team

• Fluency in English and an additional language relevant to current populations served preferred (particularly Swahili, Farsi, Dari, Urdu, French, Ukrainian, Tigrinya, Somali, Burmese, or Arabic)

Working Environment:

• Standard, professional office environment (currently hybrid remote/in-person) along with regular travel in and around the service delivery area.

• Flexibility to work some Saturdays and weekday evenings as needed to support programming and outreach needs.

• Valid driver’s license and active insurance policy. Due to the requirements of the position to conduct business visits and outreach, must have a reliable personal vehicle for transportation.

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $120 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

**Standard of Professional Conduct:**The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.