Director of Welcome Corps

Job:                            Director of Welcome Corps

Type:                          Full-time

Location:                   Remote with regular travel to New York, Washington DC and other locations

Salary:                       $135,000 - $155,000, commensurate with experience

Reports to:                Deputy Executive Director, Program and Policy

Director Reports:    Associate Director, Research and Evaluation

                                    Associate Director, Support and Oversight

                                    Associate Director, Welcome Corps on Campus

                                    Associate Director, Processing

                                    Program Officer, Welcome Corps

Benefits:                   CSH offers an excellent benefits package, flexible work schedule, and generous vacation and wellness leave.

 

About the Community Sponsorship Hub

The Community Sponsorship Hub (CSH) is a dynamic organization dedicated to growing the role of communities in the protection, resettlement, and integration of refugees and other forcibly displaced people. Mobilizing civil society, and the public, private, and philanthropic sectors, and empowering them with resources and access, we shape and coordinate a community sponsorship system that leverages the power of welcoming Americans.

 

CSH operates in the U.S. (New York, Washington, D.C., and remote) as a project that is fiscally sponsored by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. CSH is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.

 

About the Welcome Corps

The Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) has launched Welcome Corps, a Private Sponsorship of Refugees pilot program as part of the Administration’s efforts to expand community sponsorship in refugee resettlement. Over a 3-year grant period, the Community Sponsorship Hub and its consortium will develop and implement the infrastructure to welcome and support thousands of refugees by equipping lawful permanent residents and citizens to welcome newcomers and experience the benefits of resettlement firsthand. The program allows Americans to consistently engage in sponsorship and meaningfully enhance integration outcomes for refugees. The PSR pilot program builds on previous successes in community sponsorship programs to expand resettlement capacity in the United States and diversify welcoming communities, bringing new perspectives, and increasing opportunities to take part in resettlement.

 

The Welcome Corps is launched by the U.S. Department of Statement, administered by a consortium led by the Community Sponsorship Hub with funding providing by the U.S. government. Other consortium members include Church World Service (CWS), the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS), International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Welcome.US.

 

The Welcome Corps on Campus consortium is led by Community Sponsorship Hub and includes Every Campus a Refuge (ECAR), Institute of International Education (IIE), National Association of System Heads (NASH), Presidents’ Alliance and World University Service of Canada (WUSC).

 

Position Overview

As an integral member of the CSH leadership team, the Welcome Corps Director will lead the new and transformative Welcome Corps program and its complementary program Welcome Corps on Campus. As the program is in its first pilot year, we are looking for a strategic leader eager to pair their ambitious vision and commitment to user design with project management and implementation to bring the program to full scale. This position will continue to build and lead a CSH team and the consortia and serve as an expert on the program and private sponsorship subject matter to a multitude of stakeholders. The Director will be a lead representative of the Welcome Corps program, working to spotlight the program as a sustainable and complementary program to the larger USRAP system, solving for domestic capacity gaps and helping the U.S. admit the most refugees in three decades. 

 

This position will have an opportunity to promote, shape and coordinate a private sponsorship program that leverages the power of welcoming communities to ensure innovation and permanency in US refugee resettlement.

 

Key Responsibilities

 

Leadership

• Provide overall leadership and oversight to the Welcome Corps program, ensuring the program is hitting ambitious targets and goals established in close collaboration with the CSH Executive Team and The Department of State.
• Build and lead the Welcome Corps program team, grounding the team in the mission to build safe and welcoming communities for refugee families.
• Provide leadership to the Welcome Corps consortia, co-designing solutions, leading consortia convenings and providing oversight to ensure collaboration, coordination and high-quality program delivery.
• Serve as an innovative thought leader on private sponsorship, representing CSH, the consortia and the private sponsorship space to scale Welcome Corps creatively and effectively in a traditional resettlement space.
• Build and maintain collaborative and co-creative partnerships with others in the private sponsorship and resettlement space eager to play a role in the sustainability of U.S. sponsorship. Approach collaboration with an open mind and an enthusiasm for new possibilities, ensuring partners are consistently engaged and informed.
• Cultivate a strong, collaborative and transparent working relationship with the Executive Team and key stakeholders to ensure open communication about operational program and performance.
• Work closely with the CSH leadership team and contribute/support in organizational strategy development and implementation.

 

Technical Guidance and Program Support

• Serve as an expert on the Welcome Corps to governmental and nongovernmental stakeholders, representing the program in various fora.
• Oversee the program’s infrastructure including application and screening; matching and placement; sponsor training and support; monitoring, evaluation and data collection and analysis; and public mobilization.
• Work closely with CSH’s Executive team to inform program fundraising needs, ensuring that both Welcome Corps and Welcome Corps on Campus programs are appropriately resourced through federal funding and private funding via the Sponsor Fund, Catalyst Fund, and airbnb.org housing credits. Ensure adequate spending and reporting of restricted dollar to maximize impact, engagement and ensure continued funding. Support fundraising efforts through the development of grant applications.
• Lead the commitment in leveraging user-research and design to equip both sponsors and new arrivals to succeed.
• In close partnership with the Associate Director, Welcome Corps on Campus, provide oversight and technical support to the Welcome Corps on Campus program.
• Support in the recruitment, hiring and onboarding of a diverse and talented mission-focused Welcome Corps and Welcome Corps on Campus team.
• Work closely with the Chief Technology Officer to ensure the use of technology supports and enhances the scale and complexity of the program; including the development and enhancement of the program case management system and ensures the development of accompanying program policies.
• Oversee the development, maintenance, and updating of systems and tools (e.g., process flows, standard operating procedures, database) that support an effective and efficient program.
• Ensure program integrity through the management of concerns and fraud inboxes; monitoring and evaluation of private sponsor groups, private sponsor organizations, and consortium members; and follow-up on all concerns identified, liaising with government points of contact as appropriate.
• In collaboration with the Director of Communications and consortia, ensure and support Welcome Corps storytelling.
• Oversee and lead in the submission of proposals for funding renewal.
• Ensure administrative activities related to the program and program team are carried out, e.g., invoice payments, estimates for professional services, expense reports, memoranda of understanding/contracts with partners.
• Ensure programming budgets are implemented with fidelity.

 

• Other duties as assigned.

 

 

Qualifications

Professional Experience

• At least eight years progressive experience in the refugee resettlement and protection space, or related non-profit programming.
• Experience working on the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, including in both overseas case processing and domestic resettlement, is a distinct advantage.
• Experience advancing a start-up program at scale highly preferred.
• At least five years spent in supervisory positions, developing and leading high functioning teams.
• Experience in user-centered and iterative program design, implementation, and service delivery.
• Experience leading transformation and innovation inside an organization and in partnership with external organizational partners, ideally within government.
• Ability to communicate powerfully about programs one-on-one, to groups, and to media.
• Direct experience with community sponsorship is a strong asset.
• Strong experience interacting with the US immigration system.
• Experience with policy development and execution, grants management, government engagement and funding preferred.

 

Skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to communicate complex policy ideas and programmatic elements in an accessible manner to a diverse set of audiences.
• Solutions-focused and results-oriented with strong, creative problem-solving skills.
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills; ability to work collaboratively with constituents from diverse backgrounds and with a variety of styes.
• Strong mentoring and coaching experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to delegate and strong time management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse array of actors.
• Excellent analytical skills
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and database platforms.
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.

 

Commitment to Racial Equity and Social Justice

• Strongly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience in the communities we serve or whose identities are underrepresented in the immigration and protection profession.
• Unwavering commitment to advancing racial equity and ensuring this is reflected throughout the organization’s programs.
• Recognize the intersection of race and economics in shaping education and employment opportunities.
• Will work to elevate and amplify the voices of the refugees and displaced persons we serve.