Housing Specialist

International Rescue Committee; California (MO); On-site; USD 36,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental

Vision

401(k) / 403(b) match

Paid time off

Holidays

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

International Rescue Committee in the United States seeks a UHP Housing Specialist to secure safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for newly arriving humanitarian parolees and refugees, coordinating with staff and partners to connect clients with long-term resources.

The role emphasizes locating housing, arranging furniture and utilities, facilitating lease activities, and supporting pre- and post-arrival services with strong multicultural engagement and meticulous logistics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 1 year of housing-related experience.
• Experience with refugee/immigrant populations preferred.
• Strong relationship-building, diplomacy, and networking skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent organization, planning, and logistical abilities.
• Physical ability to regularly lift ~50 lbs.
• Fluent in English; Ukrainian and/or Russian preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Identify and secure safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for newly arriving refugees in compliance with established program requirements.
• Conduct ongoing outreach to landlords to increase access to housing for refugee families and coordinate client home repair requests as needed.
• Coordinate housing setups including furniture and supplies, utility hook-ups, lease signings/renewals, payments and safety inspections.
• Implement a high-quality procurement protocol including researching vendors and maintaining documentation.
• Deliver orientations to clients with housing caseworkers and support pre- and post-arrival activities.
• Satisfy recordkeeping requirements.
• Use a personal insured vehicle or public transport to travel within the service area.
• May train and lead staff, volunteers, and interns.

Skills

Relationship building

Diplomacy

Networking

Multicultural communication

Problem-solving

Time management

Organization

Logistics

English fluency

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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.Job Overview: The UHP Housing Specialist secures and coordinates the furnishing of safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for newly arriving humanitarian parolees and refugees and provides related logistical support. This role will work with staff, clients, and community partners to stabilize humanitarian parolees/refugee and client households by connecting them with long-term resources for low-income and designated affordable housing opportunities. In coordination with the UHP Team, the UHP Housing Specialist will be responsible for locating housing for UHP clients and other vulnerable populations. The UHP Housing Specialist also participates, as required, in program planning and service developments through teams, committees and work groups. The UHP Housing Specialist operates under moderate supervision with latitude for the use of independent judgment and initiative.This position has an end date of September, 30, 2027.Major Responsibilities:Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:Identify and secure safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for newly arriving refugees in compliance with established program requirements.Conduct ongoing outreach to current and potential landlords and property managers, building strong working relationships with the goal of increasing access to housing for refugee families and to coordinate client home repair requests as needed. Collaborate effectively with coworkers and partner organizations to support a positive resettlement experience.Coordinate logistics of housing set-ups including ordering furniture and supplies and arranging delivery, arranging utility hook-ups, facilitating lease signings and renewals, arranging payments, and conducting home safety inspections.Implement a high-quality procurement protocol including researching potential new vendors, following appropriate financial and purchasing procedures, and maintaining required documentation.Deliver orientations to clients independently or in collaboration with housing caseworkers; may support other pre- and post-arrival activities such as airport pick-ups.Satisfy recordkeeping requirements.Use personal, insured vehicle and/or public transportation (where available) to travel and transport clients and materials as needed throughout the service delivery area.May train and lead the activities of support staff, volunteers, and interns.Other duties as assigned.Job Requirements:Bachelor’s degreeMinimum of 1 year of housing related professional experience requiredExperience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations preferredDemonstrated Skills & Competencies:Strong relationship building, diplomacy, and networking skills; ability to effectively build internal and external relationshipsDemonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environmentProven ability to contribute both independently and as a key team memberSelf-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and manage time effectivelySuperb organization, planning, and logistical skillsAttention to detail and accuracy in work productAbility to regularly lift ~50 lbsFluent in English, both spoken and written; proficiency in Ukrainian and/or Russian language(s) spoken by IRC’s clients is preferred.Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research and problem-solving purposesValid driver’s license and access to a personal, insured vehicleWorking Environment:A combination of standard office environment, remote work, and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilitiesMay require occasional weekend and/or evening workCompensation: ($26/hr-$27/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/cookiesettingsBenefits: IRC offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. Highlights include 10 paid sick leave, 10 U.S. holidays, 20-25 generous paid time off based on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163/month, dental starting at $6.50/month, and vision starting at $5/month, flexible spending accounts (healthcare, dependent care, and commuter), a 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match (immediate vesting) along with a non-elective employer contribution based on age and years of service (3-year vesting), disability and life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential counseling and support services for employees and their families.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.