Program Officer

If you are passionate about transforming communities with a mission-driven organization, then we have the opportunity for you!

Since 1939, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) has offered welcome and hope to refugees. LIRS has transformed lives with the support and hard work of people like you, to welcome the most vulnerable to the United States from sea to shining sea.

We help people seeking safety from persecution in their home countries and reunite families torn apart by conflict. We resettle refugees. We protect vulnerable children who arrive alone in the United States. We advocate for compassion and justice for all migrants.

Widely recognized for our expertise in implementing federal programs on behalf of refugees and migrants in the United States, conducts policy advocacy, and advances the protection and rights of vulnerable migrants.

Headquartered in the beautiful Inner Harbor of downtown Baltimore we provide services nationwide through a network of staff and affiliates. As we continue to grow, we search for the best candidates and offer excellent benefits including medical, dental, vision available the first day of employment professional development, tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave, company 403(b) contributions, and match, all in an inclusive and progressive environment!

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is a champion for all uprooted people. Please join us as we make a difference in the lives of newcomers.

Reporting to the Senior Program Officer, the Program Officer will be responsible for supporting Baltimore city community-based organizations (CBOs) through technical assistance on immigrant and refugee case management. Through a partnership with the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MIMA), LIRS will serve as project manager for the Baltimore New American Access Coalition (BNAAC) which aims to improve access to immigrant and refugee families to an array of public benefits within the city limits. The Program Officer interacts primarily with four Baltimore City CBOs, MIMA, and the newly hired Benefits Navigators who will be trained on case management best practices, navigating different government systems to learn the eligibility criteria based on immigration status. S/He provides critical training and support functions for Benefits Navigators and local CBO field staff to manage BNACC at their respective locations throughout the city. The Program Officer will support the development and standardization of case management for New American Baltimore city residents. They will also develop a sustainable model of client engagement and curriculum to support and cultivate case management best practices.

DUTIES

• Coordinates the implementation of strategies to ensure program measurements are met with all participating CBOs. Promotes and implements those strategies and is the primary point of contact for all levels of CBO staff, including CEOs and Directors, related to BNACC.
• Develops new materials, including training, education, and evaluation materials for BNACC clients and CBO staff
• Maintains and updates the materials, including handbooks, tools, and resources on Baltimore city health and human services
• Provides ongoing project support functions and serves as the point of contact for MIMA.
• Designs, organizes, and implements semi-annual trainings for Benefits Navigators and CBO staff. Provides additional supplemental trainings and e-learning sessions as necessary.
• Works closely with Program Officer for Data to support the creation and build out online data collection system within extendedReach. To include administrative responsibilities for the program.
• Support the management and data collection for the program and reporting to MIMA.
• Connect CBO staff with each other to ensure best practices are reaching BNACC client base. Provide support and guidance for CBO staff.
• Through the support of the Program Officer for Data, maintain and manage database platform through extendedReach.
• Work closely with LIRS staff to receive updates on national case management trends and support.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Undergraduate degree in related field and/or a minimum 2-3 years of experience in a field with similar or overlapping skill set such as program development, case management or benefits services or the appropriate combination of education and experience.
• Experience working in a local resettlement environment or with service providers that serve new Americans is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with issues facing New Americans and the communities they live in, including access to services and integration-related issues, commitment to refugee and immigrant rights. Experience doing so in Baltimore is most preferred.
• Exceptional collaboration skills, with a track record of incorporating others and cultivating networks.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills, including conflict resolution skills.
• Exceptional presentation, training, and facilitation skills as well as oral and written communication skills.
• Exceptional writing, material development, and data collection skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite programs.
• Must have ability to travel throughout Baltimore city as necessary.
• Commitment to LIRS' core mission and values. Appreciation and respect for Lutheran beliefs and values, church member motivations and sensitivities

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.