Employment Specialist

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization with a mission to address the world’s greatest crises in partnership with churches. Since its founding after World War II, it has served across 100 countries, focusing on humanitarian response, community strengthening, resilience, refugee and immigrant services, and advocacy.

As an Employment Specialist, you will walk alongside newly arrived refugees, asylees, and other immigrants, providing individualized assistance throughout their employment journey. You will prepare them for initial employment, support job retention and re‑placement, guide career advancement, and expand an employer network to create quality opportunities at all stages of employment.

• Provide individualized workforce coaching, including pre‑employment counseling, assessments, and career guidance.
• Deliver job readiness training through one‑on‑one and group sessions covering resumes, interviews, job search strategies, and workplace expectations.
• Support job placement by matching participants, helping with applications, interviews, and onboarding.
• Develop individualized transportation solutions to ensure reliable access to employment.
• Offer retention and follow‑up coaching to address workplace challenges and promote job stability.
• Promote career advancement by identifying goals and connecting participants to training, credentials, and pathway opportunities.
• Engage employers and community partners to build relationships and align opportunities with participant skills.
• Maintain accurate documentation and ensure compliance with program and grant requirements.
• Collaborate across teams, programs, and volunteers to coordinate services and support participant success.

• Mature and personal Christian faith.
• Commitment to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief.
• Desire to serve and empower the church to impact vulnerable communities.
• Able to affirm and/or acknowledge World Relief's Core Beliefs, Statement of Faith, Christian Identity, and the National Association of Evangelicals’ For the Health of The Nation document.
• Strong interpersonal, relational, and cross‑cultural communication skills, with the ability to coach, motivate, and empower individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate clearly with individuals of varying English proficiency levels and adapt coaching approaches to different learning styles and work histories.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment with flexibility, organization, and attention to detail.
• Effective problem‑solving, critical thinking, and conflict resolution skills, including the ability to advocate for clients with employers when needed.
• Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, the U.S. labor market—particularly in the Chicagoland area— and trends affecting refugee and immigrant jobseekers.
• Understanding of or sensitivity to the refugee and immigrant experience, including trauma‑informed and culturally responsive practices.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Maintain a valid driver’s license and meet MVR eligibility requirements.
• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably with at least one year of office‑environment experience.

• Bilingual or multilingual ability is strongly preferred.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional early mornings, evenings, and weekends.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Pay range: $23 – $25 an hour.

World Relief offers a competitive benefits package and employee discount program for full‑time, regular employees.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug‑free workplace and perform pre‑employment substance abuse testing.

For World Relief staff, strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values is essential, and Christian faith is a prerequisite for employment, in accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.