Program Officer, Roving Direct Services, Program for Initial Resettlement (PIR)

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 headquarters Resettlement Team oversees the implementation and quality of services for refugees within their early resettlement period. The team supports IRC local office staff in implementing high-quality programs by providing technical assistance, training and monitoring. The Program for Initial Resettlement (PIR), funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), coordinates placement and resettlement services to newly arriving refugee populations into the US.

The Program Officer, Roving Direct Services, Program for Initial Resettlement, supports local IRC offices by joining them on site or virtually to deliver high-quality PIR services to newly arrived refugees. This position is expected to travel up to 50% of the time to any IRC resettlement site to provide strengths-based, client-centered support, working side by side with local staff. The Program Officer also supports the quality of services through training, monitoring and reporting, using critical thinking and sound judgment to diagnose site-level challenges and recommending solutions tailored to each office’s context. The position reports to the Senior Program Officer, Roving Direct Services, in the Resettlement, Asylum, and Integration Department in the US, and works closely with the PIR team.

Major Responsibilities:

• Support the overall management and implementation of the HQ Roving Direct Services team’s PIR deployments to local IRC sites.

• Conduct a needs assessment before arriving at each site to analyze available data and understand the office’s needs and the root causes behind them, agree on a plan of action, and identify the resources needed.

• Provide on-the-ground and/or virtual support for PIR service delivery in partnership with local site staff for extended periods of time. Support may include helping staff orient newly arrived refugees, complete intake and needs assessments, develop individualized plans, and connect clients to health care, housing, early employment and other community services.

• Support local staff with complex and medical cases by assessing risk, weighing options and prioritizing actions, and provide crisis intervention as necessary.

• Temporarily mentor and support local staff when needed.

• Maintain accurate records in electronic case files and required databases, and consistently protect the confidentiality of client information.

• Guide and support interns as appropriate and necessary.

• Complete post-deployment reporting to maintain high-quality data for the overall quality assurance of the program, and reflect critically on what worked, what did not and why to inform future deployments.

• Support the development of data tracking tools to better understand the outcomes and impact of Roving Direct Services deployments on PIR delivery at local sites.

• Develop and deliver training materials to new or seasoned staff on PIR program guidelines, policies and procedures.

• Support local offices in preparing for internal and donor monitoring through activities such as home visits, case file reviews (analyzing findings to identify patterns and systemic gaps), developing quality assurance tools, and helping staff become well versed in PIR program guidelines and policies.

• Analyze patterns and lessons learned from local offices and develop evidence-based recommendations for the PIR team to improve guidance, procedures, and support to the network.

• Other responsibilities as assigned, including the provision of direct services to clients when needed.

Job Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

Work experience:

• Minimum 3-6 years of progressive non-profit experience, preferably in refugee resettlement or with the IRC’s Program for Initial Resettlement.

• Previous experience supervising case managers strongly preferred.

Demonstrated skills and competencies:

• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of US Refugee Resettlement Programs.

• Demonstrated critical thinking and sound judgment: the ability to assess complex situations, interpret data, identify root causes, question assumptions, adapt guidance to local context, weigh trade-offs, and make well-reasoned recommendations and decisions, often with limited information and without on-site HQ oversight, escalating highly complex issues to the Senior Program Officer.

Preferred experience and skills:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications.

• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time.

• Strong critical thinking and analytic problem-solving skills, including the ability to question assumptions, adapt guidance to local context, and translate field observations into practical, evidence-based solutions.

• Resourcefulness and flexibility when working in different offices and communities.

• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional team structure.

• Highly proficient in the Microsoft Office suite.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

• Familiarity with types of AI solutions for operational productivity and accuracy

• Ability to guide and coach others and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.

Working Environment:

• A combination of standard office environment, remote work, and field time at local sites to perform the responsibilities outlined above.

• Up to 50% domestic travel to IRC resettlement sites.

• May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

Compensation: ($80,000 - $85,000 - Annually). 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.

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Benefits: 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.

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