The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

***THIS ROLE IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR STUDENT'S FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN'S SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK***

This fully remote MSW field placement will support Resettlement, Asylum, and Integration (RAI) in the United States which is comprised of 29 dynamic offices. RAI-US delivers lasting impact in refugee and immigrant communities by providing initial resettlement, mental health, employment, workforce development, English as a second language, and immigration services in addition to services for foreign-born survivors of crime and human-trafficking. Across these dynamic program areas, private resource development is increasingly critical to continue providing lifesaving services in our communities. Through supporter engagement including volunteers and donors, we can build wider webs strengthening welcome and integration for newcomers. Volunteers provide critical support to clients, programs, and offices. Increasing creative strategies for private fundraising and donor engagement is essential. Join our team and meet this historic moment by helping to sustain services and the value of welcome. 

This MSW field placement opportunity will work with the RAM team. The Resource, Acquisition, and Management (RAM) team is based in RAI-HQ with the mandate to support RAI-US development and volunteer operations staff across our U.S. offices. RAM builds human-centered systems and strategies to engage RAI staff to most efficiently – and compliantly - leverage private resources to meet critical client needs. The scale of our global work presents many opportunities and challenges. This internship will play a critical systems-support role alleviating pressures across our U.S. offices and contributing to informing responsive strategies to meet emergent needs for staff, volunteers, and donors.

This position is fully remote with a flexible schedule. It entails learning and navigating several digital platforms as well as communicating with staff, volunteers, and community members across the U.S. The ideal candidate is enthusiastic about digging into the details of external communications, platforms, and databases to support RAI volunteer and donor engagement strategies, about creating trainings/resources/other content to support staff, volunteers, and donors across the RAI network, and engaging warmly and compassionately with all stakeholders. Successful interns are able to prioritize time and work independently on detail-oriented inventorying or design activities initiating proactive communication with updates and questions.

Major Responsibilities can be refined based on student interest, these may include but are not limited to:

Instructional Design and Knowledge Management

Receive training on instructional design/adult learning principles in order to contribute to efficient, effective, appealing, engaging, and inspiring acquisition of knowledgeIdentify knowledge gaps and update/create training content on Kaya and RescueNet for Volunteer and Donor Engagement and OperationsDesign and deliver info sessions and trainings to staff and volunteers, which will include creating recordings and animated videos to supplementTopics could include but are not limited to: Info sessions: Volunteering and Interning with IRC; Pathways to Support IRCGeneral orientation: Expectations & Policies for Volunteers/InternsDeveloping department specific orientations – collaborate with HQ teamsVolunteer Operations: Onboarding staff to effectively & compliantly engage volunteers/interns across platforms & processes

Human-Centered Systems Support

Monitor and engage in specific database improvement projects which could include research, data collection/analysis/visualization, surveys, focus groups, etc. to build responsive support for emergent needsSalesforce – Relationship Management DatabaseGolden – Volunteer Engagement PlatformIntegra – Platform for federal cost-share reporting on private resourcesConnect with staff across 29 RAI offices and HQ as well as prospective & onboarded volunteers and donors.Data-informed strategies and campaigns to harness talents and resources of communitiesMonitor data dashboards across Salesforce, Golden, and Integra and synthesize any trends, strategize improvementsHelp establish processes for sustainable data monitoring and reporting, including creating regular data insights communication If interested, there is opportunity to contribute to conducting interviews with IRC volunteers and interns, write stories for publishing on local office webpages, (RescueX/Drupal) and design branded social media content (Facebook) to publicize storiesDevelop surveys (Microsoft Forms) or other evaluation strategies to improve systems & processes

Safeguarding and Compliance

Work on cross-functional projects related to improving safeguarding and compliance for RAI offices 

Field Placement Projects could include: 

Strengthening processes and pathways for partnership between resettlement agencies and universitiesGather and synthetize resources and guidance related to the federal match/cost-share in a user-friendly guide cross-referencing both volunteer and development operational best practicesOpen to align student interest and strengths with opportunities within scope of services

Learning Objectives

Learn best practices in volunteer and community engagement serving refugee and immigrant communities.Receive training on and exposure to organization’s use of multiple platforms used for volunteer engagement and supporter cultivation.Learn IRC’s brand and messaging and gain experience creating branded templates and content.Learn/develop skills in instructional design/adult learning principlesLearn/develop skills in social media/web content and marketingLearn/develop skills in data monitoring & visualization to enhance data-informed training/systems/processesGain insight into IRC RAI-US 29 offices and contribute to national-level staff/volunteer/donor support services.

 

Requirements:

Must be a US citizen or legal permanent resident and authorized to work in the U.S.Must be at least 18 years oldAlignment with UMSSW placement term, 1 year field placement with a Fall or Winter start desired, or GASP

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies

Clear, compassionate communicator who leads in a way that demonstrates IRC’s work is best accomplished through the true collaboration of individuals with a great variety of skills, perspectives, and experiencesDigitally savvy and innovative problem-solver with demonstrated success working independentlyCurious asker of questions, flexible systems-thinkerExperience working with volunteers and donorsSocial media and graphic design experience with Canva a plus.Fluent in English, both spoken and writtenAttention to detail and accuracy is criticalInterview and story writing experienceProficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and learn digital tools for outreach, engagement, and training

Working Environment:

Fully remote, intern must use their own laptop/equipmentIntern must have a workspace they can effectively complete their service from during regularly scheduled service hours All positions are contingent upon clearing a background check vetting process at no cost to the applicant

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.