Fall 2026: Refugee Resettlement Intern (Unpaid)

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.

SCOPE OF INTERN WORK: The Refugee Resettlement intern will be instrumental in helping newly arrived refugees, and other refugees who are facing significant barriers to connect to appropriate services in San Diego. The intern will support Caseworkers, refugee clients directly, and will assist with ongoing projects within the Resettlement Department. The Resettlement Department consists of two programs: Program for Initial Resettlement, and Refugee Health and Promotion Program. The Intern will be working mainly with the Program for Initial Resettlement program. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Drive and accompany clients to appointments, such as the DMV, health check-ups, Social Security appointments, school enrollments, etc. 

• Assist Resettlement Caseworkers with airport pickups for newly arriving refugee families. 

• Assist with setting up the apartments of families scheduled to arrive to San Diego, including shopping for a set list of items.  

• Take clients to the bank to open accounts or withdraw money. 

• Help clients enroll in services, in-person or remotely. 

• Accompany clients on bus/metro trips to help them learn routes on the San Diego public transit system. 

• Develop guides and learning materials for client use (examples: healthcare navigation, food banks, local community guides, etc.) 

• Organize long-term projects or resources that will benefit the livelihoods of refugee clients. 

• Provide ongoing office support for the Resettlement department including preparing case files, writing and emailing on behalf of clients, maintaining supplies, and welcoming guests. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  

• Student will learn about service plans, and the essential steps of setting up new refugee families for success in San Diego   

• Student will learn about the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and the resettlement process. 

• Student will learn more about the populations of refugees in San Diego. 

• Students will learn about the essential functions of a non-profit office needed to help programs continue to run. 

REQUIREMENTS:  

• Must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or master’s program focused on Education, International Relations/Development, Social Work, or related field 

• Must be a self-starter, enthusiastic, and possess a positive attitude.    

• Excellent organizational skills, strong communication and interpersonal skills, empathetic, and ability to effectively collaborate. 

• Ability to use basic functions of Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office programs.  

• English fluency required. 

• 1+ years related work or volunteer experience with a non-profit strongly preferred. 

• A strong interest in working with a diverse, low-income population is required. 

• Proactive, motivated and flexible; able to remain calm and adapt within a fast-paced work environment. 

• Language skills a plus (Farsi/Dari, Kiswahili, Arabic, or Russian strongly preferred) 

• Valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle with current insurance and the ability to travel regularly in the area (daytime and nighttime hours) 

This position reports to the Casework Supervisor. 

Compensation: This is an unpaid internship opportunity. 

Working Environment:   

• The  Program for Initial Resettlement Internship is in-person at the El Cajon office.

• San Diego office hours are scheduled Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm PST. Selected interns can choose their hours based on this window of availability. 

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.

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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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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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