Overview
POSITION SUMMARY:
HIAS seeks a Volunteer Coordinator to support HIAS’ legal team in New York City by administering, managing and expanding the reach of HIAS’ in-house volunteer program within the broader Social Services program. The volunteer program connects individual legal clients and their families with trained, community volunteers to help navigate access to medical and social services, educational and employment opportunities, interpretation and translation services, attending appointments related to the clients’ legal cases, community-building activities and other services. Program client participants include asylees, SIVs, asylum seekers and other Forcibly Displaced Persons (“FDPs”) in the New York Tri-State Area. The Volunteer Coordinator will match clients to individual volunteers or volunteer teams according to the clients’ particular needs and the volunteers’ skills.
This person directly reports to the Assistant Director, Social Services (located in Silver Spring, Maryland), while working collaboratively with HIAS’ Legal Services team and the Community Engagement team to recruit, train and mentor volunteers drawn from the New York Tri-State Area.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Maintains the current volunteer program and works closely with the legal team to develop new volunteer-based projects to better serve HIAS’ legal clients.
- Performs volunteer outreach and recruitment, and interviews prospective volunteers to determine their level of commitment, area of interest and expertise.
- Facilitates volunteer-client matches, including career mentorship, cultural exchange, interpretation and English language instructors.
- Manages relationships with volunteers, including providing training, support and regular guidance.
- Creates outreach materials for individuals and partner organizations, including collaboration with legal and program staff on orientation materials and New York Tri-State Area-specific volunteer training curricula.
- Develops and maintains a volunteer database, tracking for client needs and other records.
- Conducts periodic reporting of in-kind donations and updates volunteer service records.
- Responsible for regular email and phone communication with current volunteers.
- Assists with the implementation of HIAS’ volunteer program standard operating procedures, including invitations to volunteer information sessions, interviews, trainings and regular upkeep of Better Impact, HIAS’ online volunteer management software.
- Brings commitment and integrity to accomplishing HIAS’ mission and goals in this and other duties as assigned, and commits to personal and professional implementation of HIAS’ core values.
QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:
- Undergraduate degree.
- 2-3 years of experience working in a non-profit environment (may include internships and substantial volunteer experience).
- Fluency in Russian and/or Spanish preferred; fluency in other languages a plus.
- Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to coordinate volunteers of various demographics.
- Organized, thorough and efficient work ethic, while also being able to work with clients from a range of backgrounds with sensitivity to culture, trauma history, age and other vulnerabilities.
- Knowledge of refugee resettlement and/or asylum process and trauma-informed care (TAC) preferred.
- Self-directed and able to work autonomously.
- Attention to detail.
- Personality that enjoys interacting with many people each day from a wide range of backgrounds.
- Occasional weeknight and weekend service provision, especially during the volunteer recruitment cycle.
SAMPLE HIRING PROCESS:
We are committed to a fair and respectful hiring process, and we do our absolute best to respond to every applicant. We prioritize communication and transparency with all candidates, even those who are not moving forward. Here’s a snapshot of our hiring process for consultancies:
Step 1: Submit your application!
Step 2: Video interview with the hiring manager.
Step 3: Offer, consultancy agreement and background check.
Step 4: Start your professional journey with HIAS!
Note: Some of our hiring processes may vary, and not all candidates will advance to each step.
ABOUT US:
Over one hundred years ago, the Jewish community founded HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) in New York City, the immigrant gateway to America. Supporting Jews fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe, our founders were guided by the traditions, texts and history of the Jewish people—a history of oppression, displacement and diaspora. HIAS has since helped generations of Jews facing violence because of who they were, and HIAS remains committed to helping Jewish refugees anywhere in the world. Today, our clients at HIAS come from diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds, as do our staff. We bring our experience, history and values to our work across five continents, ensuring that refugees today receive the vital services and opportunities they need to thrive.
HIAS is a learning community, committed to diversity and inclusion. We do our work with integrity, accountability, transparency and a commitment to the highest ethical standards. We seek employees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to join our teams located in the United States and across the globe. People who identify as BIPOC, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and people with lived experiences of forced displacement or immigration are all encouraged to apply. We are committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects our vision, mission and values.
VISION:
HIAS stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety and opportunity.
MISSION:
Drawing on our Jewish values and history, HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives.
VALUES:
Welcome • Acogimiento • Hospitalité • Hachnasat Orchim
We Welcome the Stranger
Justice • Justicia • Justice • Tzedek
We Pursue Justice
Empathy • Empatía • Empathie • Chesed
We Approach our Clients with Empathy
Partnership • Compañerismo • Coopération • Chevruta
We Believe in Changing the World through Partnership
Courage • Coraje • Courage • Ometz
We Act with Courage to Build a Better World
Resilience • Resiliencia • Résilience • Ruach
We Adapt and Thrive, Continuously Demonstrating our Resilience
DIVERSITY:
HIAS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, citizenship status, religious creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, pregnancy, childbirth, military status, protected veteran status, political orientation or other legally protected status.
SAFEGUARDING:
HIAS is committed to the protection of children, vulnerable adults and any other person from any harm caused directly or indirectly due to their coming into contact with HIAS. We will not tolerate sexual exploitation, abuse or any form of child abuse or neglect by our staff or associated personnel. Any candidate offered a job with HIAS will be expected to sign and adhere to HIAS’ Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records. HIAS also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. Likewise, HIAS will share this information when other organizations inquire about current and former HIAS staff as part of their recruitment process. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.