Family Literacy Lead Instructor

About the Organization

Nationalities Service Center (NSC) serves more than 5,000 immigrants and refugees each year from over 110 countries. We provide comprehensive services in immigration law matters, community transition and integration, access to health and wellness, language access and proficiency, and job readiness training for immigrants and refugees. NSC’s mission is to welcome and empower immigrants to thrive in our communities and pursue a just future. Our vision is that all immigrants achieve a life of safety and stability, sustainable opportunities, and meaningful community connections.

Position Overview 

The Lead Instructor will be responsible for the curriculum development and instruction of English (ESL), parent enrichment, and interactive literacy activities for NSC’s Family Literacy Program funded by the William Penn Foundation. This program is designed to serve families with limited English proficiency who have children aged 8 years and under, primarily focusing on newly arrived immigrants and refugees.

Essential Functions

• Teach English to clients mostly in person, and at time virtually, ranging from pre-literate learners to those in advanced classes.
• Design and implement literacy activities for caregivers and children to complete together at home.
• Develop, manage, and refine educational program curriculum, including English language and Parent Enrichment program.
• Integrate lessons on navigating and understanding U.S. education system into the English and/ or Parent Enrichment classes.
• Adapt learning activities to align with students’ English language proficiency levels.
• Assess participants’ learning needs and maintain a consistent, program-wide assessment framework.
• Participate in weekly team meetings as well as regular NSC-wide meetings, trainings, or other agency events as required by the Education Team
• Exhibit cultural awareness and sensitivity in all interactions with students and colleagues.
• Collaborate effectively with team members to ensure cohesive program delivery and student support.
• Coordinate onsite and remote volunteer instructors who lead ESL classes, including regular communication, material distribution, and support via phone or email as needed.
• Offer administrative support to the Family Literacy team as needed, including organizing documents, managing supplies, and assisting with program logistics.

Non-Essential Functions

1. Adheres to NSC’s security guidelines and ensures the appropriate handling of sensitive information.
2. Attends relevant staff meetings to promote communication and execution of goals.
3. Other duties as assigned within the scope of position expectations.

Requirements

• COVID-Vaccine - NSC has determined that requiring that all staff who are working on site be fully vaccinated is the best way to protect our employees and the community.
• Working in the office is required for the Philadelphia office and other locations as well as offsite travel when necessary, including accompanying clients to health appointments.
• Working understanding of NSC’s mission, vision, values, programs and services, and business plan.
• Possesses strong interpersonal skills as demonstrated by compassionate, courteous, cordial, cooperative, and professional interaction with diverse groups of co-workers, external business partners, and the community.
• Adheres to all NSC and departmental policies and procedures.
• Attends all NSC in-services as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

1. Understanding of health and wellness and survivor services’ departmental goals and objectives and ability to work and contribute as part of a larger team.
2. Strong ability to adapt to the use of computer programming and digital learning platforms in order to deliver class curriculum in a virtual environment
3. Demonstrates ability to manage multiple tasks by carefully setting priorities, meeting deadlines, and scheduling time efficiently.
4. Ability to develop and adapt curriculum to meet the needs of students' academic levels
5. Ability to organize tasks in an efficient manner and follow-up and follow-through with strong attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
6. Demonstrates ability to work with other people through cooperative efforts.
7. Possesses strong interpersonal skills as demonstrated by compassionate, courteous, cordial, cooperative, and professional interaction with diverse groups.
8. Adheres to all NSC policies and procedures.

Experience, Education, and Licensure

Minimum Experience: 1-2 years’ experience teaching adult immigrant learners

Minimum Education: 4-year degree in education, international development, or related field from an accredited college or university

Language: Any knowledge of Pashto/Dari, Haitian Creole, Ukrainian or Russian will be useful but is not mandatory

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will frequently stand, walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or equipment; reach with hands and arms; balance; talk or hear. The employee will occasionally climb stairs; stoop; kneel; crouch or crawl; taste or smell.
2. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
3. Operate general office equipment with frequent work at a computer workstation.
4. Specific vision abilities required by the job include frequent reading and close vision; distance vision; color vision; peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.
2. Although work is primarily indoors, you may be required to travel outside to community, business partners, and social service locations.
3. Position may require occasional trips to attend conferences, seminars, and meetings.
4. Work outside of traditional work hours may be necessary based on operational and agency needs.
5. Currently the agency is operating with a hybrid model - in person/working from home due to the effect of the pandemic. During class sessions this position will be in person from Monday through Thursday, monitoring the evening classes.

Nothing in this position description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Commitment to Inclusion Statement

NSC is an equal opportunity employer committed to a policy of non-discrimination in all employment practices and does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nor any other basis protected under applicable law.

Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.