JFCS Refugee & Immigrant Services

Around the world, people flee tragedy and war in their home countries. Some are fortunate enough to resettle in the United States. As a JFCS employee, you can help families who have experienced unspeakable trauma build new lives in the Pittsburgh region.

The team at JFCS helps make Pittsburgh a welcoming place for refugees and immigrants, assisting them as they strive to become self-sufficient. JFCS Refugee and Immigrant Services works holistically with all other departments in the agency to ensure that people who are struggling get the range of assistance they need.

Position Summary

JFCS is the lead agency of a five-agency partnership called Immigrant Services and Connections (ISAC). This position falls under the ISAC program. This individual will assist members of Allegheny County’s Afghan community understand and navigate U.S. systems including by not limited to the government safety net programs, health care, K-12 education with the goal of achieving self-sufficiency. This is a community based position assisting clients three days a week at various walk-in ISAC Office Hours locations. The remaining two days will be used for the timely completion of paperwork.

About JFCS

In today’s world, it is important that your life’s work brings you value and purpose. By joining the team at JFCS, you will experience hands-on opportunities that directly help people in the Greater Pittsburgh region through life’s changes and challenges.

Proudly voted by JFCS employees as one of Pittsburgh’s best places to work for +10 years, our care and commitment to our employees and our clients is our top priority. We are looking for new employees who share our commitment to providing critical, high quality services to the community.

Benefits:

• Collaborative work environment and diverse staff
• 37.5 hours work week with flexible scheduling to support work-life balance
• Hybrid work model (part of the week in office, part remote)
• Sick Time = 12 days a year
• Vacation Time = starts at 2 weeks the first year and then increases with longevity up to 4 weeks total
• Additional paid time off for all employees = most federal holidays, 3-5 floating holidays (to be used at employee’s discretion), and a number of Jewish holidays
• Comprehensive health insurance - medical, dental and vision
• Short and long term disability, life insurance and a 401k package for which JFCS contributes 4% of salary after the first year of service
• Annual longevity bonuses after the first year of service

Qualifications

This is a bilingual position. Oral and written fluency in English and Pashto is required. Proficiency in Dari is preferred but not required. Bachelor’s degree or minimum three years’ experience with administrative/program support tasks such as file development/maintenance, data entry, and customer service. Excellent telephone and time management skills a must. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet and willingness/capacity to learn a new web based information system. Excellent organizational and communication skills. Ability to work collaboratively with and follow direction of management team and staff required. Cultural sensitivity a must. Experience with emergent English speakers and marginalized populations preferred.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assists emergent English speakers with reading their mail and assorted referrals and paperwork including, but not limited to applications/renewals for government benefit programs, community resources and appointment assistance navigating the health care and K-12 education systems.

• Help clients with initial contact to service providers, through cultural orientation help them gain confidence in accessing services independently to achieve self-sufficiency.

• Serve as an advocate for the clients to ensure their understanding of available resources.

• Provides navigation support to clients at the request of the ISAC Intake Coordinator and ISAC Service Coordinators.

• Communicates to Service Coordination and Intake staff on client and activities on regular basis or as requested.

• Completes paperwork in in accordance to program standards and timeframe.

• Adheres to facility rules and procedures of the Office Hours host organizations, maintains collaborative working relationship with the host organization’s contact person and reports any difficulties and/or concerns regarding the Office Hours space to the Program Supervisor.

• Assists with targeted marketing events including, but not limited to ISAC community tabling events, World Refugee Day and Refugee & Immigrant Health Fair.

• Collaborate with Navigators in other department programs to provide group activities for Afghan families including but not limited to cultural orientation and resource education.

• Participates in staff development and training opportunities as directed.

• Assists with communication to clients, partner agencies and external providers.

• Is alert to cross-cultural interference in dealing with clients and behave in culturally sensitive manner in order to be able to respond appropriately to the cultural characteristics of the clients.

• As needed translate updated versions of service coordination enrollment forms and ISAC marketing materials into Pashto.

• Supports other administrative and program activities as required.

• Ability to travel independently within Allegheny County. Access to a car and the ability to maintain valid PA driver’s license and insurance is required.