Youth Program Specialist

Youth Program Specialist

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 NGOs, working in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities to help people survive, reclaim control of their future, and strengthen communities.

The vision of the IRC Washington Youth Program is that youth from refugee and immigrant backgrounds will have the skills and resources necessary to pursue a future of opportunity. The Youth and Education Program works toward this vision by providing educational and enrichment opportunities to help school‑aged youth from refugee and immigrant backgrounds catch up on missed education, adjust to a new school, accelerate English language development, and build positive relationships in school and community.

This program supports school‑age youth and their families, and also provides support to teachers and school administration to better connect and serve these students.

• Provide direct instruction to tutees and serve as a substitute tutor as needed.
• Prepare lesson plans and materials tailored to the students’ needs.
• Collect and maintain appropriate student and family records, documents, and case notes, maintaining confidentiality.
• Conduct outreach phone calls to invite families to participate in programs.
• Conduct enrollment sessions with new families, ensuring the families understand the program and collecting all necessary documentation.
• Provide ongoing support and problem‑solving for volunteer tutors, answer questions, provide coaching, and disseminate teaching and learning resources and best practices.
• Assist program coordinator with conducting regular supervision of community tutors to ensure quality instruction and safeguarding accountability, including regular tutor observations and feedback, and quarterly feedback calls with families and students.

• Provide one‑on‑one support for families navigating the U.S. school system through culturally responsive guidance and resources.
• Conduct informational sessions for parents and coordinate parent–teacher meetings and school tours.
• Assist families in resolving school‑related issues, advocating for student needs, and facilitating communication with school staff.
• Help families access and use digital learning platforms, tools, and school‑provided online content.

• Provide functional support to other youth programs and events, including the elementary summer reading program, the Youth Roots Internship, and events such as Mobius field trips.
• Participate in all program meetings, staff development activities, and fully engage as a member of the IRC team.
• Assist as needed with events and other youth team projects.
• Comply with all policies, procedures, and protocols of the agency.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Position reports to:
Youth Program Coordinator. Directly supervises: interns, volunteers.

Internal contacts:
Youth Program Specialists, Youth Program Team, other IRC Seattle staff.

External contacts: teachers at partner school districts, contacts at partner organizations.

• Relevant degree in Education, Teaching, Child/Youth Development, or related field, or 2‑4 years relevant experience in teaching, tutoring, or youth development programming. TESOL certificate a plus.
• Experience in training and facilitation utilizing adult learning principals.
• Cross‑cultural experience; connection and experience working with people from refugee and/or immigrant communities.
• Experience working with multi‑lingual students and families.
• Committed to anti‑racism and continual learning and growth.
• Demonstrated ability to use a variety of instructional strategies appropriate for individual student needs.
• Commitment to creating safe and healing learning spaces for newcomer students and utilizing trauma‑informed practices with students and families.
• Flexible and…