ESL Instructor

Lutheran Community Services Northwest; Vancouver (WA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Holidays

Floating holidays

Retirement plan

EAP

Student loan forgiveness

Job summary

Lutheran Community Services NW in Washington state seeks an ESL/ELA instructor to help refugee and immigrant clients gain English proficiency for employment and community integration. The role emphasizes compassion, confidentiality, and HIPAA compliance while delivering effective classroom instruction.

The position offers a mission-driven team, opportunities for professional growth, and collaboration across diverse settings to support participants in achieving language goals and successful

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with TESOL/TESL/TEFL certification.
• Excellent communication skills in reading, writing, and speaking English.
• Demonstrates resilience and adaptability in diverse environments.
• Works well with cross-functional teams to support program goals.

Responsibilities

• Provide classroom ESL/ELA instruction to eligible refugee and immigrant clients.
• Offer office hours to support participants’ language development.
• Utilize curricula that integrate content and language for workforce readiness.
• Assess language gains across listening, reading, speaking, and writing.
• Conduct community outreach about available programming.
• Ensure compliance with program requirements and confidentiality standards.

Skills

ESL instruction

Curriculum development

Student assessment

Community outreach

Classroom management

Education

Bachelor’s degree with TESOL/TESL/TEFL certification

Job description

Lutheran Community Services NW is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving communities throughout Washington, Oregon, and Idaho with a wide range of services for individuals of all ages and backgrounds. All LCSNW team members will contribute to our mission of partnering with individuals, families and communities for health, justice and hope.

WHAT WE WILL DO FOR YOU

As an employer of choice, we’re deeply committed to supporting our employees, because when you’re empowered, our mission thrives. We provide resources, tools, and care that allow you to focus on what matters most: delivering Health, Justice, and Hope to the communities we serve. We’re proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and peace of mind.

• A 37.5 per hour work week to ensure work/life balance
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription benefits to keep you and your loved ones healthy
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance coverage at no cost to you
• Up to 2 weeks of vacation in your first year (based on hours worked)
• Up to 2 weeks of sick leave (based on hours worked)
• 12 paid agency recognized holidays
• 2 floating holidays to use your way
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching (eligibility applies)
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family
• Potential eligibility for Student Loan Forgiveness through our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT

All LCSNW team members will contribute to our mission of partnering with individuals, families and communities for health,justiceand hope. This position is responsible for English as a Second Language (ESL) / English Language Acquisition (ELA) instruction to eligible refugee & immigrant clients to help them gain language proficiency necessary to obtain and maintain employment and integrate into their new communities. All LCSNW team members are responsible for upholding and encouraging LCSNW values: compassion, integrity, interdependence, inclusion, and stewardship; communicating openly and effectively; building collaborative relationships in balance with working independently; and strictly adhering to confidentiality and HIPAA standards.

• Provide services to participants with limited English abilities, including classroom ESL/ELA instruction and office hours.
• Utilize curriculum that incorporates content and language to prepare participants for the workforce and integration into their communities.
• Determine participants’ language level gains based on assessment in all four (4) skill levels: Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing.
• Conduct community outreach about available programming.
• Maintain compliance with all relevant program/department requirements, including and not limited to adhering to all record-keeping and reporting requirements.
• Model and encourage direct, professional communication among staff members and facilitate the development of a positive staff support network.
• Demonstrate awareness and sensitivity in the delivery of client services as it relates to the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the populations served.
• Other duties as assigned.

HOW YOU WILL BE A GREAT FIT

• Bachelor’s degree with a TESOL/TESL/TEFL certification.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to read, write, and speak in English.
• Demonstrates resilience, awareness and self-regulation in navigating challenges, conflicts, and obstacles/barriers.
• Thrives in a diverse and multicultural environment; works with cross-functional teams to develop and implement strategies to enhance end-user experiences throughout the service lifecycle.
• Moves equipment/materials weighing up to 10 pounds.
• Works in a variety of settings, including and not limited to LCSNW office locations, partner agency, community-based settings, and faith-based settings such as churches.
• Meets LCSNW criminal background clearance requirements and other job-relevant clearances as required by the State or program.

Thank you! We sincerely appreciate your interest in joining the Lutheran Community Services NW team and thank all applicants for taking the time to apply. While we’re unable to respond to every candidate individually, please note that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Lutheran Community Services NW is deeply committed to our mission of Health, Justice and Hope in all aspects of our work. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and experiences to help us build a stronger, more compassionate community.