In submitting an application for employment, the applicant grants IRIS permission to check references as well as question anyone who might be familiar with the candidate’s job performance.
IRIS has a casual work atmosphere where everyone’s opinions and ideas are valued. We’re committed to work-life balance and offer everyone opportunities to learn, experiment, and grow. If you’re looking to add meaningful purpose to your work or want a life-changing fellowship to get your career off on the right foot, then you’ll love working here. Please see our open positions and volunteer opportunities below.
To apply for any of the jobs below, send an email to humanresources@irisct.org with the following:
If you are interested in more than one position, please send a separate email for each position for which you would like to be considered.
IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc., www.irisct.org), is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency based in Connecticut, working in the New England Region and nationally, with a main office in New Haven and a satellite office in Hartford. IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, enriching their new communities. IRIS currently serves clients from countries such as Afghanistan, DR Congo, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Syria. IRIS has an opening for the full-time position of Information Technology Coordinator.
General Description:
The Information Technology Coordinator assists with overseeing all core technology requirements and systems for the organization. This includes maintaining servers, desktop and laptop computers, printers, network, hardware and software systems.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:
Work with IT Manager to…
a. Assist with all technology operations (e.g. network security) and evaluate them according to established goals.
b. Provide computer and technology support to the organization (both on-site and remotely)
c. New user systems set-up and assistance with user training on PC Applications
IRIS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help refugees and other displaced people establish new lives, strengthen hope, dare to dream, and contribute to the vitality of communities
in Connecticut and across the country. We also provide support to Americans who are sponsoring
refugees for resettlement.
In welcoming peoples fleeing persecution and conflict, we are honoring our national heritage as a country of immigrants as well as our commitments under U.S. and international law. IRIS
helps newcomers with services and support critical to their transition to self-sufficiency and to making local communities across the U.S. their home.
Job Summary & General Responsibilities:
The Employer Engagement Liaison (EEL) contributes to the effort to help refugees, asylees, and
immigrants find gainful employment in the greater New Haven, CT area. The overall
responsibility of the position is to identify and pursue employment opportunities for IRIS clients
who are seeking their first survival jobs upon arrival, as well as finding tailored job leads for
those who are ready for better paying jobs, or jobs that are within their field.
This position is grant-funded. Grants typically fund for a period of one year. Extension grantfunded
employment is subject to the availability of funds.
In submitting an application for employment, the applicant grants IRIS permission to check
references as well as question anyone who might be familiar with the candidate’s job
performance.
Specific Duties:
● Maintain and expand a database on Client Track with constantly updated information about
area employers.
● Focus on industries, job types and job locations that are most beneficial to employing our
refugee clientele.
● Be aware of different trends among our refugee population that have bearing on the types of
jobs and careers that they are best suited for.
● Organize regular group interviews and job fairs for our clients to attend.
● Build a network of employment contacts throughout the region.
● Attend GNHCC council meetings, workshops and presentations, in addition to business after
hours.
● Ensure that clients understand the aim is self-sufficiency, and this cannot be achieved without
employment.
● Help clients develop a sense of urgency about getting a job.
● Encourage staff to deliver job leads.
● Ensure that females are provided with the same opportunities as males and can access
employment services.
● Develop strong relationships with state and local organizations and area civic
organizations in order to increase IRIS’ visibility.
● Invite business leaders to visit IRIS.
● Identify area manufacturers and call on them directly to explore employment opportunities.
● Develop systems/programs to facilitate clients becoming more proactive in seeking
employment.
● Push for requiring all Level 2 and higher English speakers to make 10-15 employment contacts
per week.
● Work with specific clients, as assigned by Employment Services Manager, to investigate
tailored job opportunities and help targeted clients through the application process.
● Encourage all staff to be job developers.
Requirements | Candidates must have:
● Sense of humor
● Experience working with diverse populations
● Lived experience desirable
● Ability to prioritize tasks and pivot on short notice
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
● Ability to represent IRIS to external actors in a professional manner
Reports to: Employment Services Manager
IRIS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help refugees and other displaced people establish new lives, strengthen hope, dare to dream, and contribute to the vitality of communities in Connecticut and across the country. We also provide support to Americans who are sponsoring refugees for resettlement.
In welcoming peoples fleeing persecution and conflict, we are honoring our national heritage as a country of immigrants as well as our commitments under U.S. and international law. IRIS helps newcomers with services and support critical to their transition to self-sufficiency and to making local communities across the U.S. their home.
IRIS is looking for an experienced Youth Therapist to promote the mental health of our children and teens. We believe that young refugees and immigrants when provided support and access to coping skills, resources, and decision-making power, have what they need within them and within their families and communities to move towards mental, social, emotional, and somatic healing and flourishing. This is a full-time position attached to our New Haven office, but the counselor may also work with a limited number of our Hartford office clients on a short-term basis as needed.
The Therapist will coordinate with the Education, Health, and Wellness teams at IRIS to ensure that IRIS children and youth receive the mental health care they need. The clinician will conduct regular in-school wellness checks with IRIS students and provide social-emotional learning at IRIS youth education programs. The Therapist will offer holistic, culturally sensitive sessions for individuals, groups, and families, with interpretation as needed, based on self-referrals as well as referrals from IRIS staff, school staff, and medical professionals. The clinician will refer clients to other long-term mental health care providers as appropriate.
This position is grant-funded. Grants typically fund for a period of one year. Extension grant-funded employment is subject to the availability of funds.
Job Summary & General Responsibilities:
In submitting an application for employment, the applicant grants IRIS permission to check references as well as question anyone who might be familiar with the candidate’s job performance.
Requirements | Candidates must have:
Skills:
Reports to: Education Director—- Health Department Manager
IRIS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help refugees and other displaced people establish new lives, strengthen hope, dare to dream, and contribute to the vitality of communities in Connecticut and across the country. We also provide support to Americans who are sponsoring refugees for resettlement. In welcoming peoples fleeing persecution and conflict, we are honoring our national heritage as a country of immigrants as well as our commitments under U.S. and international law. IRIS helps newcomers with services and support critical to their transition to self-sufficiency and to making local communities across the U.S. their home. IRIS is looking for a Youth Leadership Coordinator to develop and facilitate programs for immigrant youth. The Youth Leadership Coordinator will work with the education team to help IRIS youth build a sense of belonging, develop academic skills, especially English proficiency, and acclimate to the New Haven community. General Description: The Youth Leadership Coordinator will serve as a staff facilitator and organizer for an after school and summer Youth Leadership Program. The goals of the program are to build English and literacy skills, to help teens and young adults form and deepen friendships across differences, to explore New Haven, to learn about civics and social justice topics, to develop confidence, and to engage in activities that allow for creative self-expression.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Youth Leadership Program Coordination
● Plan and facilitate youth leadership sessions alongside co-leader
● Implement activities based on the needs of the youth participants and the goals of the program
● Tutor students in various academic subjects, with a focus on English reading and comprehension to support language acquisition
● Incorporate restorative practices and social emotional learning
● Help plan and chaperone a summer multi-day field trip for youth (dependent on annual grant funding)
● Keep accurate attendance records and manage participant data
● Assist with the setup and cleanup of the program space before and after activities.
● Strive to implement best practices and seek out opportunities for continuing training as a youth facilitator
● Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness, providing feedback and suggestions for improvement This position is grant-funded. Grants typically fund for a period of one year. Extension grantfunded employment is subject to the availability of funds. In submitting an application for employment, the applicant grants IRIS permission to check references as well as question anyone who might be familiar with the candidate’s job performance.
Requirements: The position is accessible to people of varying skill levels and experience. However, priority will be given to applicants with the following qualifications:
● Previous experience serving youth in youth development or educational settings
● Previous experiences communicating cross-culturally
● Previous experience leading groups and developing group curriculum or activities Desired skills and experience:
● Experience working with youth in educational or recreational settings
● Strong organizational and leadership skills
● Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with sensitivity to cultural differences
● Ability to work independently and as part of a team
● Applicants who identify with historically underrepresented groups in college and professional paths who will be able to mentor refugee and immigrant youth in navigating their lives are especially encouraged to apply
● Experience working within the immigrant community
● Ability to troubleshoot and overcome unexpected challenges
● Strong understanding of Youth leadership commitment to anti-racism and the mission of IRIS; cultural humility
● Ease using Google Workspace and spreadsheets
● Applicants who speak any of the following languages are especially encouraged to apply, though no second language is required: Spanish, Dari, Pashto, Swahili Reports to: Manager of Youth Education Programs Regular Hours: Monday through Thursday from 1:00 – 5:00 pm and on Fridays if needed
