Reception & Placement Manager

IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc., www.irisct.org), a dynamic refugee resettlement agency in New Haven CT, has an opening for the full-time position of R&P Manager (anticipated start date June 15). IRIS helps people fleeing persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient contributing members of their communities. IRIS currently serves clients from countries such as Afghanistan, DR Congo, Iran, Sudan and Syria.

General Description

The Reception & Placement Manager will lead a dedicated team in welcoming and providing assistance to hundreds of newly arriving refugees each year, while meeting the Reception & Placement (R&P) requirements of the federal refugee resettlement program.  As the R&P team is a refugee’s first contact with the United States, the Manager will ensure that services are provided in a way that new arrivals feel warmly welcomed and respected. The R&P Manager focuses on quality of service and efficiency, ensuring compliance with R&P program requirements including oversight of financial disbursements. The R&P Manager supports the team to meet challenges, deal with difficulties, sets ambitious goals and enforces policies. The R&P Manager is also responsible for coordinating content and ensuring quality of CORE cultural orientation for all new arrivals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:

·     Supervises R&P Case Manager(s), Case Management Assistant, interns and volunteers (conducts regular individual check-ins and annual performance reviews, helps team members set and measure performance and personal development goals)

·     Facilitates weekly meetings with R&P team, ensures that schedules are coordinated to ensure efficiency

·     Oversees interviewing and training of R&P interns and volunteers

·     Helps develop and enforce IRIS R&P policies and standards

·     Meets with clients if problems are escalated (grievance procedure)

·     Serves as support and back up if R&P Case Manager is unable to perform duties because of absence (vacation, illness) or large number of simultaneous tasks

·     Reviews client case files to ensure compliance (30 and 90 day checks)

·     Determines and reviews initial rental assistance plans and monthly requests

·     Completes and submits all R&P expense disbursement forms

·     Ensures that R&P & flex funds are fully spent in a timely manner

·     Ensures that referrals/handovers to post R&P case managers are complete and timely

·     Supports R&P Case Managers in housing acquisitions to ensure timeliness of lead inspections, lease signings and apartment set-ups

·     Oversees CORE content delivery and ensures compliance with requirements (regularly observes CORE, ensures required topics are delivered, ensures presenting responsibilities and backups are assigned, provides support and feedback to presenters)

·     Oversees IRIS’ Diaper Bank

·     Communicates with Senior Director of Programs to troubleshoot and keep informed of progress/challenges

Requirements

Candidates must have:

·     at least 3 years of professional experience in service oriented field

·     ability to manage a team, strong leadership qualities,

·     strong communication and organization skills,

·     meticulousness and attention to detail,

·     familiarity with principles of grant funding and compliance,

·     ability to develop and monitor spending according to determined budgets

·     ability to handle multiple demands and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment,

·     commitment to anti-racism and IRIS’ mission

·     ability to quickly establish and maintain a good rapport with various types of clientele,

·     ability to set limits with clients and enforce strict policies,

·     fluency in spoken and written English,

·     strong computer skills including Microsoft Office and Google suite, ; ability to manipulate basic spreadsheets,

·     US driver’s license, insurance, good driving record,. 

Ideal clients will have:

·     experience managing a team and/or a social service program,

·     case management or social work experience

·     experience working with refugees or other immigrant populations or related personal experience,

·     knowledge of the US refugee resettlement program generally and Reception & Placement program specifically

·     knowledge of DSS, SSA, CT AccessHealth applications and benefits

·     proficiency in another language (Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Pashto, Swahili especially)