New Roots Education & Outreach 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 non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 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 provides assistance to refugees resettling in the United States. The IRC opened an office in Tucson, Arizona in 1997 to provide reception and placement services to newly arrived refugees. The office serves approximately 400 refugees per year and provides numerous program services to assist refugees from their arrival through citizenship.

Job Overview/Summary: The New Roots Education and Outreach Specialist is responsible for assisting refugee and asylee clients adjust to the American foodscape. The Specialist will teach clients how to participate in the local food system as small-scale urban farmers and gardeners. Implementation of existing curriculum will serve as the baseline upon which the Specialist can expand and teach financial literacy, production, and marketing skills to New American farmers, gardeners, and general participants. This position, along with the other Nutrition & Food Security department staff, will coordinate several opportunities for refugees and asylees to learn and participate in the program to expand available resources for integration into the American food system. In addition, the Specialist will develop independence for clients to successfully market their produce and increase the participants’ agricultural skills and experience in the local food system. The New Roots Education and Outreach Specialist is responsible for direct service provisions, assisting with tracking outcomes, reporting, outreach, and program development.

Major Responsibilities:

• Implement existing garden, and farm training curriculum and enhance curriculum to address client need;

• Draw on expertise and experience in modern day farming techniques, agricultural science, and business development to implement and modify trainings for participants;

• Organize and conduct local farm and market tours, connecting New Roots clients to relevant farm businesses;

• Organize and conduct farmers market educational field trips, teaching clients the rules and necessities to selling at such markets;

• Perform outreach activities in the efforts to increase available resources to and to educate and engage local residents, business owners, and community organizations of the IRC and the New Roots Program;

• Connect refugee farmers to local restaurants and market venues, manage and maintain all connections between clients and markets, and advise clients in their self-sufficiency to maintain these relationships;

• Develop and maintain community partnership and provide data as allowable by confidentiality standards and as requested by partner;

• Recruit volunteers and conduct monthly volunteer days at farm/garden sites;

• Conduct weekly trainings and outreach activities at current farm/garden sites;

• Ensure all grant outcomes are met;

• Conduct participant surveys and sign-in sheets for workshops, technical assistance, and outreach;

• Enter data into the program’s information data systems

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: New Roots Program Coordinator

Position directly supervises: Interns and volunteers

Indirect Reporting:

**• IRC HQ:**ORR

• External: Relevant donors and partners

Job Requirements: The requirements should establish a baseline (minimum) for educational background, previous work experience, professional knowledge or certification, specific skills and strengths and any other skill necessary to perform the essential functions of the job.

Education: High school diploma; Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or education field; comparable work experience may be substituted

Work Experience: One+ year related professional experience. One year of experience with refugee related work.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies: Demonstrated agricultural knowledge as related to the arid desert climate; Understanding of fiscal management and reporting; Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate with limited-English speakers in a multi-cultural environment; Experience working in a multi-cultural environment; Advanced computer skills including word processing, database systems, social media, and Microsoft Office.

Language Skills: Fluency in written and spoken English, bilingual ability preferred in Swahili, Kirundi, Kinyarwanda, Spanish, Dari, Arabic, French or other refugee/immigrant language used in Arizona. Cross-cultural understanding and strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

Certificates or Licenses: Current driver’s license, active insurance policy and access to a reliable vehicle.

Working Environment: Both standard office work environment, remote work, and field work traveling in and around the client service delivery area, primarily three garden/farm sites. May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

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:

The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.

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.