Housing Specialist

International Rescue Committee; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 74,501,000 - 77,366,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10 paid sick leave

10 U.S. holidays

20-25 PTO based on role/tenure

Medical insurance from $163/month

Dental from $6.50/month

Vision from $5/month

401(k) employer match

Disability and life insurance

EAP confidential counseling

Job summary

The International Rescue Committee is seeking an UHP Housing Specialist to secure and coordinate safe, sanitary and affordable housing for newly arriving refugees and humanitarian parolees. You will partner with staff and community organizations to connect clients with long-term housing resources and manage logistics from furniture to lease signings.

Requirements include a Bachelor’s degree and at least 1 year in housing, with preference for experience serving refugee or immigrant populations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 1 year of housing related professional experience.
• Experience with refugee/immigrant populations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify and secure safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for newly arriving refugees.
• Conduct outreach to landlords and property managers to expand housing access for refugee families.
• Coordinate logistics of housing set-ups: furniture, supplies, utilities, leases and payments.
• Implement procurement procedures and maintain required documentation.
• Deliver client orientations and support pre/post-arrival activities as needed.
• Maintain recordkeeping requirements.
• Travel using personal vehicle or public transport within the service area.
• May train and lead staff, volunteers, and interns.

Skills

Relationship building

Multicultural communication

Problem solving

Time management

Driver's license

Fluent English

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

MS Office

Word

Excel

Outlook

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

• 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 degree
• Minimum of 1 year of housing related professional experience required
• Experience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations preferred

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies

• Strong relationship building, diplomacy, and networking skills; ability to effectively build internal and external relationships
• Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment
• Proven ability to contribute both independently and as a key team member
• Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively
• Superb organization, planning, and logistical skills
• Attention to detail and accuracy in work product
• Ability to regularly lift ~50 lbs
• Fluent 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 purposes
• Valid driver’s license and access to a personal, insured vehicle

Working Environment

• A combination of standard office environment, remote work, and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities
• May require occasional weekend and/or evening work

Compensation:

($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.

Benefits:

• 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
• 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
• 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.