Work with us
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 [email protected] with the following:
- A subject line that says Job Title and your name
- A cover letter
- An attached resume including three professional references (at least two direct supervisors)
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.
Annual Campaigns Manager – Full-time (remote or on-site)
IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc, www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency based in Connecticut, working in the New England Region 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.
General Description
As an integral part of the Community Engagement Team, the Annual Campaigns Manager (ACM) will plan, execute, and evaluate IRIS’s three major annual campaigns and related donor stewardship activities. The overall goal for the ACM is to effectively cultivate, steward, solicit, and grow the organization’s base of annual individual donors at all levels. In addition, this position will be responsible for the process to acknowledge all financial and in-kind donations. Success for the ACM will be achieved by methodically collaborating with the other staff members of the Community Engagement Team and providing extraordinary service for supporters of all levels. This position oversees a part-time Constituent Relationship Management Database Coordinator, a Community Engagement Assistant, as well as multiple interns and volunteers.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:
Donor Relations & Systems Management
● Evaluate, develop and implement retention strategies for targeted donor segments, including implementation of annual year-end appeal, spring Great Give, monthly donor campaign, and other targeted appeals
● Collaboratively plan, assist with and/or participate in donor cultivation and stewardship events as needed
● Oversee and implement the review, recording, and acknowledgment by written correspondence and other creative means, all corporate, institutional, individual and event gifts, as well as employer matching contributions
● Oversee the fulfillment of data and reporting requests, including the production of donor lists, regular progress reports and extractions of data for analytical and donor cultivation purposes
● Oversee the maintenance of accurate and up-to-date donor contact and biographical information, as well as unique contextual information critical to relationship management and tracking
● Oversee the execution of data integrity projects including returned mail, address updates, merge, and inactivation processes
● Oversee the maintenance of gift information and donor correspondence and records
● Oversee and participate in gift reconciliation with the general ledger & support for the audit
IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc, www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency assisting newly arriving refugees across the state of Connecticut. IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. While IRIS has traditionally focused on helping refugees, it is increasingly serving a more diverse immigrant population.
IRIS is looking for a part-time (30 hours per week) Case Management Assistant based in Hartford who will help coordinate administrative and logistical support to new arrivals.
General Description
IRIS must ensure that the basic needs of newly arriving refugees are met upon arrival. The Case Management Assistant (CMA) helps plan for arrivals, helps newcomers get orientated to their neighborhoods, prepares paperwork and keeps case files in order, and supports the Case Managers with a variety of other tasks. The Case Management Assistant must be detail-oriented and organized and able to adapt to the evolving needs of the team.
While some administrative tasks could be accomplished remotely, many of the CMA’s work must be completed on site at the IRIS Hartford office, at clients’ homes or in other places around town, while taking necessary precautions related to COVID-19.
Candidates must be vaccinated against COVID-19 and comfortable coming into contact with other people.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:
• Prepares case files and other necessary paperwork prior to a client’s arrival (may include temporarily file, permanent file, digital file)
• Helps prepare and submit applications for social security cards as needed
• Helps prepare and submit applications for Department of Social Services benefits (cash, SNAP, HUSKY)
• Retrieves clients’ I-94 documents as needed
• Follows up with social service agencies such as Social Security, DSS, and Access Health Connecticut, to resolve any problems with the clients’ applications
• Coordinates with case managers and US Ties to confirm arrival details
• Makes arrangements for arrivals ensuring that a culturally appropriate hot meal, groceries, an interpreter, seasonal clothing, and a cell phone are provided as needed.
• Helps ensure that copies of all necessary documents including those client brings with them and those that arrive by mail are copied and filed appropriately
• Screens client requests, addresses them when feasible/relevant, refers them to other IRIS staff members when appropriate
• Communicates IRIS policies and service limits to clients as needed
• Manages IRIS’ diaper bank monthly distribution
• Provides bus orientations to new clients, teaching them how to use the public transit system
• Trains new interns and volunteers to do the aforementioned tasks
• Writes case notes to document client contact and actions taken on clients’ behalf
• Performs other necessary tasks as requested by Resettlement Services Manager or Senior Director of Programs
• May second case managers and handle tasks such as arrivals and home visits in case of absence
Job Summary & General Responsibilities
The Community Engagement Assistant (CAE) supports key processes and special projects underpinning operations in the Community Engagement Department, including volunteer, intern and interpreter coordination. The CAE reports to the Volunteer and Outreach Programs Manager and works with all Community Engagement Team members, as well as across the IRIS organization with other departmental staff as needed. This position also assists with coordination of various events and the IRIS speaker series, under the guidance of the Volunteer and Outreach Programs Manager, the CE Events Specialist, and the CE Director.
Specific Duties
Volunteer, intern and Interpreter Coordination
● Assists in the coordination of all aspects of volunteer, intern and Interpreter placement, from recruitment to final assignment, ensuring that applications are complete and acknowledged in a timely fashion and working with Manager to process and place appropriately..
● Tracks and documents all applications, corresponding with applicants, updating associated tables and spreadsheets, and coordinating with departments, as needed.
● Initiates and follows up on all reference requests, maintaining detailed and accurate documentation of all references for every applicant.
● Helps coordinate volunteer group activities.
● Schedules appointments, orientations and training.
● Assists in the recruitment of additional volunteers, interns and interpreters, as necessary
Public Interface and Resource Development
● Responds to new requests to assist IRIS in welcoming refugees, connecting members of the public to appropriate IRIS staff..
● Under the direction of CE staff, coordinates outreach for new IRIS Speaker Series requests and client ambassador speakers at various host organizations around the state and region, researching new organizations as appropriate.
● Assists in tracking IRIS events and speaking engagements whether hosted by other organizations or IRIS for grant reporting requirements.
● Handles paperwork relating to payment of client ambassador speakers for speaking engagements
Events & Other Processes Support
● Provides organizing and outreach support to the Events Specialist for the Run for Refugees, IRIS’s annual fundraising 5k event, in collaboration with other IRIS staff and with external organizations as directed by Events Specialist
● May assist CE staff with recruitment of clients for IRIS Ambassador speaking engagements
● May assist Events Specialist with select one-time fundraising events in the community
● During high volume times, may support donor acknowledgement process as needed, including generation of thank you notes, tracking for signatures, and other tasks to facilitate timely recognition of gifts.
● Other duties as assigned.
IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc, www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency based in Connecticut, working in the New England Region 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.
General Description
The Cultural Companions Program Coordinator (CCC) runs the CC program, a wellness and community integration program that pairs volunteers with refugee and immigrant adults. These one-to-one matches do activities together to practice English and build a friendship. The CCC facilitates the initial relationships, provides experiential learning
resources, and supports the pairs as they build a friendship together. The goals of the program are to reduce isolation and foster community navigation and integration. The CCC will manage a team of “CC Allies” (experienced volunteers who assist with running the program) and will collaborate with the Community Engagement team to implement and
develop the program.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:
Cultural Companion Volunteer Recruitment & Training
- Collaborate with the Volunteer Programs Specialist to recruit CC volunteers.
- Train Cultural Companion volunteers.
Refugee & Immigrant Client Recruitment
- Seek and field referrals from IRIS staff
- Do client recruitment outreach
- Do intakes with self-referred and staff-referred clients
Facilitate Cultural Companion Relationships
- Match clients with volunteer companions
- Facilitate introductory meetings between volunteer and client pairs to help them set goals for their time together. (CCs make a 3-6-month commitment to weekly meetings)
- Address any challenges that arise
Manage “CC Allies” Team to Support CC Pairs
- Meet regularly with the “CC Allies” Team of experienced volunteers whose role is to assist with the program and support CC pairs. Set an agenda for each meeting and run the meetings to ensure prioritization of tasks that serve the goals of the program. Delegate tasks to CC Allies.
- Ensure that each volunteer and client companion have the opportunity to do a check-in with CCC or a CC Ally, at three intervals during the cultural companionship: after meeting for 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months.
- Collaborate with CC Allies Team to develop and improve the program
Coordinate Interpreters
- Schedule interpreters for client outreach calls, intakes, and introductory meetings between CC pairs.
- Ensure interpreter compensation by submitting interpreter invoices and all info required by the IRIS finance team.
IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc., www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency with offices in New Haven and Hartford, CT. IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. While IRIS has traditionally focused on helping refugees, it is increasingly serving our undocumented neighbors and other immigrants as well.
IRIS is looking for an Education Specialist who will be part of our Education team and will work closely with case managers serving clients through our SUN (Services for Undocumented Neighbors) program and with staff on the IRIS education team to provide enrollment, wrap around and advocacy support for youth and families. This is a full-time, salaried position The position is expected to be based in New Haven but may have periodic work in the Greater Hartford area as well.
General Description
This role focuses on providing support for clients and their children who are new arrivals, either undocumented or going through various legal processes including asylum. The Specialist will work closely with SUN team case managers and the education team to ensure that SUN clients are included and present in IRIS educational programming, and are supported in their academic needs throughout the school year. The Specialist will also coach students in college access for undocumented youth.
Candidates must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and comfortable coming into contact with other people.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:
Support SUN clients with their educational needs
- Conduct 1-on-1 meetings with students and/or their families
- With each newly-enrolled SUN family, share info about relevant IRIS education programs (including an afterschool program for elementary and middle school students and a youth program for high school and college students)
- Work with program coordinators to enroll students in IRIS education programs
- Work with parents to help meet students’ educational needs
- Advocate for students and parents in school and community settings
- Coordinate with Ed team for special-needs advocacy in schools
- For families with school truancy issues, meet with the family, student, and case manager to establish a plan
Recruit students to attend IRIS education programs
- Assist in facilitating IRIS afterschool and youth programs, making the spaces inclusive for SUN clients and recent arrivals
- Encourage ongoing SUN student participation in these programs
- Help students and parents arrange transportation to IRIS education programs (including leading public bus orientations for high school students)
- Provide interpretation for SUN students as needed in IRIS education programs
College access for undocumented students
- Host and/or facilitate workshops for SUN clients on how to apply for college and scholarships
- Provide 1-on-1 guidance to navigate higher education processes
IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc. www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency with offices in New Haven and Hartford, CT. IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. While IRIS has traditionally focused on helping refugees, it is increasingly serving our undocumented neighbors and other immigrants as well.
General Description
IRIS is looking to hire an Education Programs Coordinator who will lead the effort to develop and coordinate educational programs for IRIS families with children in the Greater Hartford Area. These programs will eventually include, but will not be limited to, a Family Literacy Program, a Summer Learning Program, an After School Program, an In-School Tutoring Program, and a Youth Leadership Program. The Education Programs Coordinator will also build relationships with existing community educational programs in the Greater Hartford Area so that IRIS clients can benefit from a full range of educational opportunities available to them.
Candidates must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and comfortable coming into contact with other people.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:
- Develop and coordinate educational programming for IRIS clients in the Greater Hartford
- Area to best meet their educational needs and goals
- In cooperation with community partners, secure programming space and logistical support as needed
- Recruit and retain programming staff, interns, and volunteers as needed
- In conjunction with program budgets, plans, and needs, purchase necessary learning and program supplies
- Curate a list of community educational programming and resources throughout the
- Greater New Hartford area, including key information and logistical details
- Work with other Hartford office staff to inform clients of community programming options, and help clients take advantage of educational opportunities
- Build and maintain ongoing relationships with community partners offering educational programming
- Oversee the careful keeping of records of services provided, update case notes, and conduct long-term follow up and check-ins to assess program efficacy
- Participate in regular IRIS Education Team meetings; support other educational programs and initiatives as needed
- Collaborate closely with Hartford-based Case Management staff
- Perform related duties as assigned
IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc., www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency based in New Haven CT with an office in Hartford CT. IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities.
IRIS has an opening for a part-time (20 hours/ week) Employment Outreach Specialist in our Hartford office.
General Description
The Employment Outreach Specialist (EOS) contributes to the effort to help refugees, asylees, and immigrants find gainful employment in the greater Hartford, CT area. The main responsibility of the EOS is to identify and pursue employment opportunities for IRIS clients.
It is essential that the person hired for this position be vaccinated against COVID-19 and comfortable coming into contact with other people. We aim to fill the position as soon as possible.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:
Community Engagement & Outreach
• Build a network of employment contacts throughout the region (all sectors)
• Represent IRIS and IRIS employment at various events to spread information about ES and the advantages of hiring refugees
• Develop stronger relationships with state and local organizations and area civic organizations including Hartford Adult Education, the American Job Center, and local colleges and universities
• Invite business leaders to visit IRIS Client Services
• Work with specific clients, as assigned by Employment Services Manager, to investigate tailored job opportunities and help targeted clients through the application process
• Strategize with team regarding best job matches for specific clients (drawing on information in our data fields as well as team knowledge of clients and employers)
Administrative Management
• Share information about new employment opportunities via the Job Wall spreadsheet and new
employers on the Employers/Contacts spreadsheet
• Update various systems with case note and job report information
• Keep employer data documents updated
• Help clients develop a sense of urgency about getting a job.
• Advocate for specific clients and refugee employment in general with contacts in companies and organizations that hire throughout the region.
• Conduct outreach to potential MAP (Move Ahead Program) participants via various methods (email, phone, text, WhatsApp, in-person)
• Conduct intakes with potential MAP participants to assess current financial situation and motivation to participate in program activities
IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc, www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency based in New Haven CT. This particular job posting is meant for our Hartford office which is located at 120 Sigourney Street, Harford, CT 06105. IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities.
General Description
IRIS helps newly arriving refugees get their first jobs and helps them acquire skills that will increase their employability and their income. The Employment Services Specialist (ESS) provides a variety of employment services to newly arriving refugees as part of several federally funded programs (R&P, RSS, WFTC). These include employment assessments, resume creation, assistance with applications and interview prep, career development planning, and connection to skills building programs. The Employment Services Specialist will also be looking to increase awareness of IRIS among Hartford area employers.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRIS office in Hartford is currently open by appointment only. We continue to take precautions and work remotely when it is feasible. However, it is expected that the ESS will also provide services in person as needed. It is essential that the person hired for this position be vaccinated against COVID-19 and comfortable coming into contact with other people. We aim to fill the position as soon as possible.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:
• Help develop and maintain relationships with business owners, directors and managers in human resources and direct management especially
• Collect and share information about new employers and job opportunities
• Follow up with employers to check the status of applications and to further reiterate interest; provide updates if necessary
• Troubleshoot and provide support after a client has started working; contact the employer regularly to check in and make sure all is well
• Research job trainings and certification programs and develop relationships with services providers to facilitate access for program participants
• Ensure all eligible clients have Employment Assessments and professional resumes (within 10 days of arrival for R&P cases)
• Assist clients in applying for and keeping jobs
• Provide hands-on instruction for application completion (paper & on-line), arrange interviews, and assist during the interview process whenever possible
• Educate refugee clients as to what employers are looking for in terms of work ethic, attitude, and skills.
• Teach do’s & don’ts of job interviewing; help clients read resumes; explain IDs and work authorization documents; teach worker’s rights; W4s & I9s
• Establish short-term goals based on the needs and interests of the client, promoting early employment, self-sufficiency and client self-determination
• Help clients develop a sense of urgency about getting a job
• Advocate for specific clients and refugee employment in general with contacts in companies and organizations that hire throughout the region
• Utilize approximately 30% of time on the Move Ahead Project (MAP), which is funded by a special grant that IRIS has for the next 3 years, and is meant to provide intensive support on clients’ long-term career goals. This work will include the following:
• Conduct outreach to potential MAP participants via various methods (email, phone, text, WhatsApp, in-person)
• Conduct intakes with potential MAP participants to assess current financial situation and motivation to participate in program activities
• Assist clients enrolled in MAP to establish career development plans and update/revise these plans every 6 months
• Coordinate with volunteer tutors (assign pairs. check in regularly to follow up on progress)
IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc. www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency with offices in New Haven and Hartford, CT. IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. While IRIS has traditionally focused on helping refugees, it is increasingly serving our undocumented neighbors and other immigrants as well.
IRIS is looking to hire an ESOL Enrollment Specialist with excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills who will help our adult clients access ESOL programs that best meet their needs. This is a 20-25 hours/week, part-time position attached to the New Haven office.
General Description
The work of the ESOL Enrollment Specialist will include assessing and documenting the English proficiency of new arrivals, meeting with them to discuss ESOL options, assisting them in required testing and program enrollment, and following-up to assess progress. The Specialist may oversee the work of volunteers and/or interns to assist in these efforts. As a member of the IRIS Education Team, the ESOL Enrollment Specialist will support departmental goals and educational initiatives as needed.
Candidates must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and comfortable coming into contact with other people.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:
- Assess and document the English proficiency of new arrivals, preferably within the first 30 days
- Curate a list of ESOL resources throughout the Greater New Haven area, including key information and logistical details
- Build relationships and partner with organizations that provide ESOL services; advocate for IRIS clients with these organizations
- Meet with clients to discuss ESOL options
- Assist clients with required testing and enrollment
- Help clients with transportation and/or bus orientation as needed, with an eye toward building self-sufficiency
- Assist clients with technology as needed, again with an eye toward building self-sufficiency
- Follow-up and document the progress of clients who enroll in ESOL programs
- Every six months, check in with clients who have not yet enrolled in basic ESOL courses to promote enrollment
- As needed, supervise interns and volunteers to aid with ESOL enrollment
- Keep careful records of services provided, update case notes, and conduct long-term follow up and check-ins after enrollment to assess program efficacy
- Participate in regular IRIS Education Team meetings; support other educational programs and initiatives as needed
- Perform other duties as assigned
Supervises: A team of interns and volunteers, as needed
Supervised by: Director of Education
IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc. www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency with offices in New Haven and Hartford, CT. IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. While IRIS has traditionally focused on helping refugees, it is increasingly serving our undocumented neighbors and other immigrants as well.
General Description
IRIS must ensure that all newly arriving refugees are placed in safe and welcoming homes. Working under the guidance of the Housing & Donations Manager, the Housing & Donations Coordinator will lead the effort to collect furniture donations and furnish apartments for newly arriving families. The H&D Coordinator will coordinate with volunteers
and donors to schedule pick up appointments and set up apartments according to IRIS’ high standards. The H&D Coordinator will also help welcome and register patrons at IRIS’ weekly food pantry and oversee IRIS’ Bike distribution program.
The ideal candidate has a variety of skills including ability to move heavy furniture, communication, team leadership, donor relations, and problem solving. While some administrative tasks could be accomplished remotely, most of the H&D Coordinator’s work must be done at the office or in person in other locations while taking necessary precautions related to COVID-19.
Candidates must be vaccinated against COVID-19 and comfortable coming into contact with other people.
Specific Duties :
Donations Coordination Support & Warehouse Management Support
- Responds to calls and emails related to donations of household items, schedules pick up appointments and cultivates relationships with donors.
- Drives to homes (mainly in Greater New Haven) to collect furniture from donors.
- Communicates needs for volunteer help to H&D Manager and IRIS Volunteer Coordinator.
- Helps H&D Manager train and manage interns and volunteers
- Keeps an inventory of all required furniture and household items.
- Ensures that IRIS storage spaces are well organized, in coordination with volunteers and other H&D Staff
- Manages donations waste removal and coordinates donations to other organizations
- Ensures that IRIS truck and other vehicles are properly managed
IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc. www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency with offices in New Haven and Hartford, CT. IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. While IRIS has traditionally focused on helping refugees, it is increasingly serving our undocumented neighbors and other immigrants as well.
General Description
IRIS is looking to hire an HR Coordinator with excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills. This person must be a self-starter who is able to thrive in a small HR dept. within a growing organization. Our HR Coordinator is expected to be a conceptual thinker with outstanding organizational and time management skills. This person must have fantastic administrative and IT skills with the ability to multitask and adapt within a fast-paced environment.
We believe that an effective HR Coordinator must demonstrate strong problem solving and decision-making skills with an intimate understanding of employee relationships, performance management, retention strategies and payroll. Top candidates will be fantastic at managing conflict, effective at handling interpersonal relationships, and intentional about improving our recruitment process.
Candidates must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and comfortable coming into contact with other people. The incumbent is NOT expected to work remotely. This person will report to the HR-DEI Director
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:
- Assist with all internal and external HR related inquiries or requests.
- Maintain both hard and digital copies of employees’ records.
- Assist with the recruitment process by posting jobs, identifying candidates, performing reference checks and issuing employment contracts.
- Assist with performance management procedures.
- Schedule meetings, interviews, HR events and maintain agendas.
- Coordinate training sessions and seminars.
- Perform orientations and update records of new staff.
- Produce and submit reports on general HR activity.
- Assist with payroll and ad-hoc HR projects.
- Support all HR operations
- Support other assigned functions.
- Keep up-to-date with the latest HR trends and best practices.
- Assist with employee strategies, offboarding, and exit interviews
Requirements, Preferences, and Other
Candidates must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and comfortable coming into contact with other people.
- Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business or related field (strongly preferred).
- 1 + years of experience within an HR dept. (strongly preferred).
- Exposure to Labor Law and employment regulations (strongly preferred).
- Effective HR administration and people management skills.
- Knowledge of payroll practices and performance management practices.
IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc. www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency with offices in New Haven and Hartford, CT. IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. While IRIS has traditionally focused on helping refugees, it is increasingly serving our undocumented neighbors and other immigrants as well.
General Description
IRIS is looking to hire an Office Assistant who will work to support the IRIS Hartford Office with administrative and janitorial tasks such as, welcoming visitors, handling mail, maintaining office organization and cleanliness. The Office Assistant will work to maintain a welcoming and functional office environment and to ensure both client and staff needs in relation to the office environment are supported.
Candidates must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and comfortable coming into contact with other people.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:
- Open the office for business daily by following opening procedures
- Ensure the office is properly secure throughout each day
- Review and distribute voicemails and mail daily to appropriate staff
- Take daily stock of office supplies and maintain inventory
- Order and restock supplies as needed and submit receipts for disbursement
- Greet and welcome all visitors to the office including clients and people in the community
- Set up and maintain a neat and orderly reception and hospitality area
- Assess any potential problems and appropriately alert staff
- Develop and maintain relationships with community partners by performing outreach and responding to solicitations for information about IRIS to and from community partners
- Answer phone calls and take messages or connect with staff as needed
- Maintain vehicle use logs and manage vehicle maintenance needs, including scheduling oil changes and addressing service needs
- In close cooperation with the program staff, meet the daily needs of operating a fully functioning office including communicating and troubleshooting issues as they arise
- Perform daily light surface cleaning of all office spaces including the bathroom and kitchen areas and a once weekly deep cleaning of all office spaces
- Close the office daily according to closing procedures
- Collaborate closely with Trinity Church staff and IRIS staff
- Perform other duties as assigned
Supervises: None
Supervised by: Hartford Office Director
Priority will be given to applicants with the following qualifications:
- Relevant work experience
- Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
- Experience with refugees, asylees, immigrants, and undocumented or mixed status families
- Ability to work collaboratively with multiple people and programs
- Outstanding time management and organizational skills
- A commitment to anti-racism, cultural sensitivity, and the mission of IRIS
- Ease using Google Workspace and spreadsheets
IRIS – Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (www.irisct.org), a dynamic nonprofit organization in New Haven CT, has an opening for a full-time Paralegal in its Legal Department. IRIS is a refugee resettlement agency providing high quality and culturally sensitive assistance to immigrants and refugees in Connecticut. Our goal is to help immigrants establish new lives, regain hope, and contribute to the vitality of Connecticut’s communities. IRIS currently serves clients from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Cuba, Sudan, Egypt, and Venezuela, among others.
IRIS’s Legal Department
IRIS offers legal services, among its other services. IRIS’s Legal Department provides representation to: 1) refugees and asylees applying for lawful permanent residence, naturalization, and reunification with family members; 2) immigrants filing for asylum; 3) immigrants in removal proceedings; 4) Afghan residents of CT who filed applications for humanitarian parole on behalf of family in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in August 2021; and 5) Afghan parolees who were evacuated from Afghanistan after the takeover and resettled by IRIS in the New Haven and Hartford areas. The Legal Department currently consists of six attorneys, each of whom covers one or more of the practice areas listed above, and two paralegals.
The Paralegal’s Role
The Paralegal assists each of the attorneys, and his/her responsibilities will vary by practice area. Examples of the kinds of tasks each practice area requires are provided below. For our refugee and asylee clients filing for green cards, citizenship, and family petitions, the Paralegal will assist the attorney by calling clients to schedule meetings, preparing applications in advance of meetings, copying and filing clients’ documents, completing other USCIS forms (e.g. applications for travel documents, employment authorization, humanitarian parole, certificates of naturalization), handling visa processing, and general research. For asylum applicants (now mostly Afghans), the Paralegal will assist the attorney by communicating with clients, working with clients to fill out the biographical information needed on the asylum applications, researching country conditions for clients whose cases we take, compiling documents ultimately submitted to USCIS on the client’s behalf, and arranging for any interpreters needed by the attorneys. For clients facing deportation, the Paralegal will assist the attorney by conducting intakes with potential clients and filling out the attendant intake forms, coordinating with peer legal services organizations on a shared removal defense project, providing ongoing case support, and handling filings in Immigration Court.
Responsibilities that are common to all practice areas are:
- interpreting/translating where able, or arranging for interpretation assistance from others proficient in whichever language is needed;
- supervising the work of several interns who volunteer with us, assigning them work and directing them in their tasks;
- organizing and managing the department’s electronic and hard-copy files and organizing our physical space;
- scheduling departmental meetings.
IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc., www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency with offices in New Haven and Hartford, CT. IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. While IRIS has traditionally focused on helping refugees, it is increasingly serving our undocumented neighbors and other immigrants as well.
IRIS is looking for a Resettlement Services Manager who will supervise IRIS’ case management team implementing a variety of case management programs in Hartford area. This is a full-time, salaried position The position is expected to be New Haven office based but will have to work in IRIS’ Hartford office at least 2 days per month.
General Description
The Resettlement Services Manager (RSM) oversees several federally funded case management programs covering the Hartford area including R&P, APA, RSS and WFTC. The two primary goals of the RSM are 1) to ensure a high quality of service delivery while balancing the organizational goals of rapid self-sufficiency, equity and compliance, and 2) to provide expertise and guidance to case managers handling challenging client circumstances. The RSM works in close collaboration with the Senior Director of Programs to define IRIS case management services and policies and ensure consistency and fairness in decision-making. The RSM also works closely with the Training and Compliance Officer to ensure that policies and requirements are clearly communicated to staff and that expectations are met.
Candidates must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and comfortable coming into contact with other people.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:
- Leads the arrivals team (R&P, APA) by convening weekly meetings, coordinating communication about cases, services, policies, procedures, resources. Coaches case managers, helps them manage their time, and make tough decisions.
- Ensure that the arrivals team is creating a warm and welcoming experience for the new arrivals and that clients are always treated with respect.
- Reviews financial information for R&P and APA cases with Financial Officer and Senior Director of Programs (SDP). Submits monthly rental assistance requests and helps ensure timely expenditure of per capita grants.
- Manages assurances of new cases and US Tie evaluations. Ensures appropriate pre-arrival planning until case is assigned to case manager. Coordinates closely with Director of Community Cosponsorship to identify cases for co-sponsorship.
- Leads the post-arrivals services team. Helps define roles and services limits. Ensures that program requirements (such as service plans) are met. Coaches case managers, helps them manage their time and make tough decisions.
- Meets with clients who have grievances or to reinforce difficult messages.
- Leads seasonal tasks (like winter item distribution, energy assistance support).
- Ensures that purchases of car seats, strollers and other required items are made and distributed in a timely manner.
- Ensures that utility accounts are transferred into clients’ names in a timely manner.
- Leads data collection for semi-annual reporting
- Manages CM intern interviews, onboarding, delegation and oversight
- Provides specific support and guidance in urgent/crisis situations including for PC clients or during period between crisis and PC referral.
- Evaluates and responds to referrals from other services providers or potential clients requesting serviced for ORR eligible populations
- Supports professional development in case management related areas such as trauma-informed care and boundary setting.
- Meets at least monthly with each direct report and conducts semi-annual performance reviews
- Advises SDP of trends in client needs, staff needs/morale and relationships with partners. Helps facilitate monthly Big Team meetings and Big Team Learnings. Helps coordinate team appreciation and team building activities.
- Supports new program development with focus on meeting client needs, defining services and their limitations
Requirements
Candidates must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and comfortable coming into contact with other people.
Candidates must have:
- At least 2 years of case management or client serving program management
- Ability to learn quickly, to retain detailed information and to keep track of information over time
- Ability to work collaboratively with multiple people and programs within IRIS
- Ability to juggle multiple simultaneous assignments and deadlines
- Ability to troubleshoot and overcome unexpected challenges
- Ability to manage a team
- Strong understanding of culturally sensitive case management
- Commitment to anti-racism and the mission of IRIS
- Ease using Google Workspace and spreadsheets
- Fluency in written and spoken English
IRIS – Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc. (www.irisct.org), a dynamic nonprofit organization in New Haven CT, has an opening for a full-time Staff Attorney (40 hours per week) in its Legal Department. IRIS is a refugee resettlement agency providing high quality and culturally sensitive assistance to immigrants and refugees in Connecticut. Our goal is to help immigrants establish new lives, regain hope, and contribute to the vitality of Connecticut’s communities. IRIS currently serves clients from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Sudan, Egypt, Venezuela, Guatemala and Honduras, among others.
IRIS is looking for a full-time staff attorney to represent immigrants in removal proceedings.
IRIS’s Legal Department
IRIS offers legal services, among its other services. IRIS’s Legal Department provides representation to: 1) refugees and asylees applying for lawful permanent residence, naturalization, and reunification with family members; 2) immigrants filing for asylum; and 3) immigrants in removal proceedings. The Legal Department currently consists of six full-time attorneys and two full-time paralegals, each of whom covers one or more of the practice areas listed above.
Description of Staff Attorney Position
IRIS is looking for a Staff Attorney who can cover cases in the third category listed above: the representation of immigrants in removal proceedings. The Staff Attorney will represent clients as part of the CT Coalition for Immigrant Freedom (CCIF), a New Haven based removal defense project that seeks to provide universal representation to immigrants in removal proceedings. As such, the Staff Attorney will work closely with both IRIS case managers and attorneys at peer legal services organizations who serve these same clients.
The Staff Attorney will handle all aspects of clients’ removal cases, including scheduling and conducting client meetings, preparing and submitting asylum applications, drafting motions to the EOIR, and appearing in immigration court. The Staff Attorney will also handle any ancillary legal matters such as representing clients in probate court and petitioning for SIJ status with USCIS, preparing and filing U-visa petitions, or any other available forms of immigration relief.
The position is largely New Haven-based but could require some travel to MA or NH, depending on whether any clients are housed in detention facilities. Travel to Hartford will also be necessary for court appearances, on the occasions they arise. The Staff Attorney will report to the Director of Immigration Legal Services.
Requirements:
Candidates must be vaccinated against COVID-19 and comfortable coming into contact with other people.
IRIS – Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc. (www.irisct.org), a dynamic nonprofit organization in New Haven CT, has an opening for a Staff Attorney in its Legal Department. The Staff Attorney will focus exclusively on representing Afghans on their asylum cases. IRIS is a refugee resettlement agency providing high quality and culturally sensitive assistance to immigrants and refugees in Connecticut. Our goal is to help immigrants establish new lives, regain hope, and contribute to the vitality of Connecticut’s communities. IRIS currently serves clients from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Cuba, Sudan, Egypt, Venezuela, Guatemala and Honduras,
among others.
IRIS’s Legal Department:
IRIS offers legal services, among its other services. IRIS’s Legal Department provides representation to:
1) refugees and asylees applying for lawful permanent residence, naturalization, and reunification with family members
2) immigrants filing for asylum
3) immigrants in removal proceedings
4) Afghan residents of CT who filed applications for humanitarian parole on behalf of family in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in August 2021; and
5) Afghans who were evacuated from Afghanistan after the takeover and resettled by IRIS in the New Haven and Hartford areas. The Legal Department currently consists of six attorneys, each of whom covers one or more of the practice areas listed above, and two paralegals.
Description of Staff Attorney Position/Requirements: IRIS is looking for a Staff Attorney to represent the clients listed in the last category above. Beginning in the fall of 2021, IRIS resettled over 400 Afghan evacuees. These evacuees were given a grant of humanitarian parole by the U.S. government, meaning they were afforded a legal status that is only temporary (typically their parole period is two years). It is essential that during this two-year period they try to make their legal status permanent. One important way of doing so is by applying for asylum. This is the work the Staff Attorney will be focused on.
Ideally the Staff Attorney will have significant asylum experience; familiarity with the Afghan community is a plus. There is some flexibility with remote work, but the Staff Attorney should be able to work out of the New Haven office when useful. Travel to the USCIS Asylum Office in Newark or Manhattan will be necessary once a client’s interview is scheduled. The Staff Attorney will report to the Director of the Legal Department. The Staff Attorney position is full-time (40 hours per week), and pay will be commensurate with experience. Full medical benefits are included.
Prerequisites:
The Staff Attorney should be a licensed member of a state bar in good standing, qualified to represent clients in immigration matters. The Staff Attorney shall have a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school. The Staff Attorney should have strong advocacy, writing, communication and organizational skills, as well as the ability to handle multiple demands and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment. The Staff Attorney must have a demonstrated commitment to the mission of IRIS and awareness and sensitivity to multicultural issues.
Fluency in English is required
Candidates must be vaccinated against COVID 19 and comfortable coming into contact with other people
Compensation: based on experience
Benefits: Health, vision, dental insurance. Life insurance. Short- and long-term disability insurance.
Vacation (3 weeks/ year), Personal days (3 days/ year), sick leave (12 days/ year), holidays per IRIS schedule (currently 12 days/ year). 403b retirement plan after 1 year of employment
IRIS – Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (www.irisct.org), a dynamic nonprofit organization in New Haven CT, has an opening for a Pashto and Dari/Farsi Translator in its Legal Department. The position is hourly, and may be part- or full-time depending on clients’ needs.
IRIS is a refugee resettlement agency providing high quality and culturally sensitive assistance to immigrants and refugees in Connecticut. Our goal is to help immigrants establish new lives, regain hope, and contribute to the vitality of Connecticut’s communities. IRIS currently serves clients from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Cuba, Sudan, Egypt, Venezuela, Guatemala and Honduras, among others.
IRIS’s Legal Department: IRIS offers legal services, among its other services. IRIS’s Legal Department provides representation to: 1) refugees and asylees applying for lawful permanent residence, naturalization, and reunification with family members; 2) immigrants filing for asylum; 3)immigrants in removal proceedings; 4) Afghan residents of CT who filed applications for humanitarian parole on behalf of family in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in August 2021; and 5) Afghans who were evacuated from Afghanistan after the takeover and resettled by IRIS in the New Haven and Hartford areas. The Legal Department currently consists of five attorneys, each of whom covers one or
more of the practice areas listed above, and two paralegals.
Description of Translator/Requirements: IRIS is looking for a Translator to assist the clients listed in the last category above. Beginning in the fall of 2021, IRIS resettled over 400 Afghan evacuees. These evacuees were given a grant of humanitarian parole by the U.S. government, meaning they were afforded a legal status that is only temporary (typically their parole period is two years). During this two year period, they will be trying to make their legal status permanent by, among other ways, applying for asylum. Attorneys, both at IRIS and elsewhere, are representing these clients on their asylum cases. The Translator will be responsible mostly for spoken interpretation at attorney/client meetings (some in person, some remote) but also for written translation of documents from Pashto and Dari/Farsi to English. Documents in need of translation may include Tazkiras (Afghan National ID), marriage certificates, birth certificates, vaccination records, declarations and threat statements, etc.
The ideal candidate will be fluent and capable in both oral and written English, Pashto, and Dari/Farsi. There is some flexibility with remote work, but the Translator should be available to work out of the New Haven office as needed. The Translator will report to the Director of Legal Services.
The Translator position is hourly. The weekly time commitment will be anywhere between 30-40 hours per week. Until we know the demand that is out there, we do not know if the work is likely to fill only part or all of the Translator’s schedule.
Prerequisites: Candidates will ideally have relevant experience in interpreting (speaking) and translating (writing); strong communication and organizational skills; computer skills including Microsoft Word and Excel; and ability to handle multiple demands and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment. Candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to the mission of IRIS and awareness and sensitivity
to multicultural issues.
IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc. www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency with offices in New Haven and Hartford, CT. IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. While IRIS has traditionally focused on helping refugees, it is increasingly serving our undocumented neighbors and other immigrants as well.
Job Summary & General Responsibilities
Operating within the Health & Wellness team and the parameters of specific grants (ORR Refugee Health Promotion, Preferred Communities, SMART Family Foundation), the Wellness Coordinator leads IRIS’ efforts to provide psycho-social programming that fosters a welcoming environment, positive mental health and general wellness.
Specific Duties
- Coordinate a weekly women’s sewing group with the support of volunteers
- Coordinate a weekly (seasonal) gardening club in collaboration with local partners
- Develop and facilitate other programs as opportunities arise (depending on client interest, volunteer offerings, etc.)
- Ensure that program offerings are as accessible as possible and correspond as much as possible with client needs and interest and organizational goals
- Coordinate health literacy classes on a variety of subjects in collaboration with local partners (about 10 per year)
- Ensure that participation in programming is recorded and that pre/posttests/evaluations are conducted in accordance with grant requirements
- Provide input towards grant reporting
- Participate in H&W and CM team meetings
- Propose modifications to programming or additional programming to better meet needs
IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, Inc., www.irisct.org) is a dynamic refugee resettlement agency with offices in New Haven and Hartford, CT. IRIS serves people from all over the world who have fled persecution in their home countries to start new lives and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their new communities. While IRIS has traditionally focused on helping refugees, it is increasingly serving our undocumented neighbors and other immigrants as well.
IRIS is looking for a Youth Leadership Coordinator to develop and facilitate programs and to check in directly with immigrant teens and young adults alongside other staff, youth leaders, parents, and teachers. The Coordinator will work to help IRIS youth acclimate to and build ties in the New Haven community. This is a 20-25 hours/week, part-time position.
General Description
The Youth Leadership Coordinator will serve as a staff facilitator and organizer for a twice-weekly Youth Leadership Program. The first weekly session of the program is aimed at helping immigrant high school and aspiring or current college students to explore career pathways, prepare for college or a career path, and to develop and reach their own academic goals. The other weekly meeting is a youth leadership group meeting (divided by gender) whose goal is to empower immigrant teens and young adults to form and deepen friendships across differences, to explore New Haven, to learn about social justice topics, to develop confidence, and to engage in group activities that allow for creative self-expression. This position also includes youth outreach and support which involves one-on-one or small group meetings with teens to assist them in accessing IRIS youth programs and other available educational and wellness resources.
Candidates must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and comfortable coming into contact with other people.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:
Youth Leadership Program coordination
- Plan and facilitate weekly youth leadership and college and career sessions alongside co-leaders
- Recruit and supervise 1-2 IRIS youth “co-leaders” and 1-2 undergraduate college volunteers per year who assist in planning and facilitating group sessions
- Develop college and career and youth leadership group program “units” in artistic, practical, and academic spheres according to goals and interests expressed by youth
- Develop and facilitate trainings for volunteers and interns assisting with the youth groups
- Plan and chaperone one week-long civil rights- or social justice-themed summer field trips (dependent on annual grant funding)
- Maintain attendance and budget for the Youth Leadership Program to ensure grant compliance
- Engage in youth client outreach for the programs to all teens in the greater New Haven area whose families are served by IRIS
- Lead bus orientations for new participants from their schools to downtown meeting space, and from downtown to their homes, as needed
- Research youth development best practices and seek out opportunities for continuing training as a youth facilitator
- Regularly evaluate and revise program units to improve outcomes according to youth development best practices.