Employment Opportunities

Preferred Communities Program Coordinator

Based on the tradition of “welcoming the stranger,” Michael Klahr Jewish Family Services (KJFS) provides supportive services to refugees from all backgrounds in order to assure their full integration into American society. Refugee resettlement is a humanitarian program designed to assist those who have been persecuted due to their race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group or political opinion. Refugees are people who have been displaced from their home countries and are selected to come to the US through our federal Resettlement Program.

 

Description

KJFS seeks an energetic, compassionate, and detail-oriented program coordinator for our “Preferred Communities” program focused on supporting refugees and Afghan and Ukrainian parolees beyond their first 90 days in the US, as well as providing outreach and coordination between the parolees and the broader community. The overall goal is to help vulnerable clients become self-sufficient in their new communities and to offer additional assistance to those who need it. The program coordinator is responsible for complete and thorough case noting and documentation of services provided under the grant.

 

The primary responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

  • Provide case management and community connectivity services within the scope of the “Preferred Communities” grant
  • Track case deadlines and document all services in detail in case notes, physical files, and client tracking spreadsheets.
  • Coordinate services with other organizations and volunteers to address client needs.
  • Other duties as assigned by the Refugee Resettlement Program Manager.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s Degree required. Degree in social work, human services, sociology, urban studies, international relations, or other related field, or equivalent professional experience preferred.
  • Experience in direct service with refugee, immigrant, or other vulnerable and/or multicultural populations required.
  • Enthusiasm, persistence, and positive energy; compassion and patience.
  • Comfort using public transportation and a valid driver’s license. Ability and willingness to travel throughout the state.
  • Outstanding attention to detail. Excellent organizational and time management skills.
  • Ability to exercise sound judgment in decision-making.
  • Preferred but not required are language skills beyond English, especially Arabic, Swahili, French, Pashto, Dari/Farsi, Urdu, Burmese, Ukrainian, and/or Russian.
  • This position requires the ability to work evening and weekend hours. Case Managers should be available outside of normal work hours for occasional client emergencies

 

This position reports to the Refugee Resettlement Manager, and the job is full time, 40 hours per week, at $20 per hour. The position is exempt and will be based at least two days per week at one of our satellite offices with the balance of the week in Portland.  We currently have a satellite office in Augusta and are seeking another location, possibly in the Lewiston/Auburn area. The holiday schedule will follow the JCA preschool, and includes several Jewish holidays as well as Federal Holidays when they fall during regularly scheduled work time.

 

We seek to hire for this position as soon as possible; interested candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter to Siobhan Whalen at swhalen@mainejewish.org.