Community 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.

This position is represented by the OPEIU union and subject to the terms and conditions of a collective bargaining agreement.

Job Overview: 

The Community Specialist plays a vital role in advancing equitable access to trusted information and community resources for immigrant and refugee communities through responsive, culturally informed, and trauma-informed support. The role serves as the frontline point of contact for community members accessing the trust-centered information hub. The Community Specialist responds to inquiries in multiple languages, offering accurate, trauma-informed information and connecting users virtually with verified community resources and accurate data. Likewise, the Community Specialist supports the program’s outreach efforts through regular community outreach events, supporting in the development and ongoing implementation of the program’s service map, and identifying and verifying community resources. This role emphasizes trust-building with immigrant and refugee communities, while upholding data privacy, maintaining low-barrier access to information, and ensuring accurate documentation of the necessary interactions.

Major Responsibilities:

User Inquires

• Answer inbound calls, respond to social media and text inquiries, and provide information and community referrals using approved scripts and FAQs.

• Deliver accurate, culturally and linguistically responsive information to users.

• Ensure strict compliance with data protection policies. 

• Document service interactions in the Zendesk system for quality and reporting purposes (within approved limits).

• Escalate complex cases or unclear questions to the Program Manager or technical advisors.

Community Engagement

• Conduct regular in-person outreach events at local nonprofit organizations, resource fairs, community-based initiatives and others.

• Work with Program Manager and technical advisor to implement service map on program’s website using Zendesk platform.

• Support in development and maintenance of vetting system for new community resources to ensure standardized review of each resource’s relevance, including multilingual support, trauma-informed approaches, and low cost services.

• Identify new community resources to include in the program’s service map.

• Support with regular follow up with existing community resources to confirm availability of services.

Other

• Provide feedback on recurring questions, gaps in resources, or needed updates to scripts/FAQs.

• Participate in initial and ongoing training, including mock calls and refresher sessions.

• Contribute to team learning and continuous improvement of the program.

• Comply with all IRC policies, procedures and protocols including adherence to the IRC Way and Child and Adult Safeguarding. 

• Support with content development as needed.

• Other related duties as assigned.

Key Working Relationships: 

Position Reports to:  Information and Referral Services Manager
Position directly supervises:  None
Other Internal and/or external contacts: WA-Immigrant.Info team (Manager, Content Coordinator, Specialists), IRC Asylum & Protection Technical Unit, WAMASSP, other IRC WA teams, State Agencies and local stakeholders

Job Requirements:

Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, communications, or related field preferred; equivalent lived or professional experience in immigrant/refugee community support, call center, or social services will be considered in place of formal education.

Work Experience: 

• Two/Three years of related professional experience; preferably with a non-profit or social service organization.

• At least one year of experience in case management or social service teams with asylum seekers and humanitarian migrants or refugees. 

• At least one year of experience in a communications, outreach, or educational/training environment preferred.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Language proficiency in English and at least one additional language commonly spoken in Washington immigrant communities (Spanish, Ukrainian, Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, or other Washington State refugee/immigrant language). 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both written and verbal), with the ability to build trust quickly.

• Experience in community outreach, customer service, or human services preferred.

• Ability to follow scripts while using good judgment when handling sensitive questions.

• Demonstrated commitment to confidentiality and data privacy.

• Comfort with using digital tools (Zendesk or similar ticketing/call systems).

• Strong teamwork orientation: ability to take feedback and contribute to process improvement.

• Cultural humility and sensitivity in working with refugee and immigrant populations.

• Strategic, creative, problem solver capable of working well independently and as a part of a team.

• Advanced computer proficiency with an emphasis on Microsoft Office applications and desktop publishing. (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, Outlook). 

Working Environment: 

• Remote office environment with required in-person outreach work

INTERNAL CANDIDATES ONLY – IRC Spokane and Seattle Locations
This position is open exclusively to internal candidates based in IRC Spokane and Seattle offices.

This position is expected to end on June 30, 2027.

Compensation: (Pay Rate: $28-$29.50/hr). 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. 

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

Cookies: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/cookiesettings

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 $163 per month, dental starting at $6.50 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Why Choose the IRC?

Work that has meaning: Every day at the IRC is a chance to make a difference through a purpose-driven career. Whether you're working directly with communities or providing support behind the scenes, you will be part of a dynamic team that is always innovating, scaling, and testing new and better solutions to ensure the best possible outcomes for the people we serve.

Global scale, dynamic workplace: At the IRC, we believe that the dynamic, global make-up of our team is our strength. When you join us, you're not just starting a job—you will be part of a global organization positively impacting millions of lives in over 40 get to work with colleagues from all around the world—working across time zones and regularly exchanging different ideas, perspectives and insights. You’ll join a team that is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and heard.  

Challenging work, innovative solutions: We’re committed to excellence and innovation, and pride ourselves in setting industry-leading standards while practicing evidence and data-lead strategies. Come challenge norms, shatter conventions, and pioneer change while working on real, nuanced and complex issues we face in the world today.  

Community centered: We’re an empathetic community that truly cares for one another. Our comprehensive safety and security initiatives ensure a safe work environment, while our continuous learning and development programs provide ongoing opportunities for personal and career advancement.

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Our Typical Recruitment Process

The interview process typically includes three rounds, though the number may vary depending on the role and level of seniority. It usually begins with a conversation with our recruiting team to learn more about you and your goals. This is followed by an interview with a hiring manager or business stakeholder to explore your background and provide more insight into the role. The final round focuses on assessing your role-specific expertise and may be conducted as a panel interview to evaluate your cross-functional strengths. Before extending an offer, we generally conduct reference checks, and after an offer is made, a standard background check is completed. While we strive for consistency, the process may differ based on the role, business unit, location, job type, legal requirements, and other factors.

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