The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is a non-profit organization established in 1976 to serve immigrants, refugees, and the broader community in Portland, Oregon. Our mission is to welcome, serve and empower refugees, immigrants and people across cultures and generations to reach their full potential. Find out more at www.irco.org.  

POSITION:                                  ORCAS EL Parent Educator

JOB CLASS/GRADE:                  Parent Educator/Specialist 1; Grade 8

WAGE:                                         Starting at $24.00 per hour based on experience 

FLSA; EEO; WC:                         Non-Exempt; Professional; 8864

LOCATIONS:                              IRCO PIAFC, 8040 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland OR 97213,

                                                     Hybrid and In-person 2 days a week

FTE; FT/PT; STATUS:                Oncall/ Casual without Benefits

NUMBER OF POSITIONS:      (1)

APPLY AT:                                 www.irco.org 

STATUS:                                    Oncall/ Casual without Benefits

PROGRAM(S):                          ORCAS Early Learning

SECTOR:                                    Early Learning Home Visiting 

REQUIREMENTS:                     Must possess a valid driver’s license, have verification of current   auto insurance, and have full 

                                                    use of an automobile during work hours. 

                                                    Bilingual in English and fluent in Ukrainian. 

                                                   Must pass criminal background check through Oregon Department of Education and Portland 

                                                   Public Schools.

This job announcement is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this job. This is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Program Summary
The ORCAS - Oregon Refugee Children Assistance Services Program is a collaborative project with Lutheran Community Services NW and IRCO. Our goal in ORCAS Early Learning is to support refugee families’ w/children ages 0-5 years in kindergarten readiness/activities, developmental screening, referrals/navigation supports to community resources, and parenting education workshops. 

Position Summary
Parent Educators are trusted and trained by early childhood professionals. Their services promote healthy child development, support families in preparing young children for kindergarten, and connect parents/caregivers with primary care providers, schools, and early intervention services as needed.

Essential Functions

• Conduct home visits with families and provide education for supporting their child(ren)s’ social, emotional health and awareness. 
• Travel throughout the Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas County area in person for visits and parent/child group meetings. 
• Maintain accurate records of interactions, assessments, and progress notes. 
• Provide recruitment and engagement support for the parent education workshops, including translation needed during the workshops. 
• Assist families with kindergarten enrollment, particularly for those not receiving Refugee & Placement (R&P) services. 
• Provide referrals and support in accessing Special Education services. 
• Assist families getting access to available social, health and educational resources 
• Work to host and prepare culturally and linguistically specific services that meet the needs of targeted communities and families with zero to 5 years old children. This could include client intakes, referrals to needed resources, offering classes for target populations, monitoring child development, conducting ASQ 3 & ASQ SE 2, and home visits. 
• Attend bi-weekly ORCAS team meetings, monthly check-ins, and all required collaborative training.  
• Complete monthly data and demographic reports for enrolled families 
• Prepare and translate educational materials as needed. 
• Facilitating communication between the health care system, early intervention, school system, and parents/caregivers include directly advocating for families and their specific needs. 
• Attending partner, community, and agency meetings assigned. 
• Maintain up-to-date records (on paper and share information technology platform; Apricot 360) and files on all families enrolled in the project. 

Secondary Functions

• Ability to meet multiple, including conflicting deadlines
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Ability to communicate with a variety of personality types and levels of the organization as well as with people outside of the organization
• Ability to work flexible hours to meet the availability of clients
• Support community outreach and community education regarding health and well-being.    
• Support early learning events organized by the early learning staff. 
• This position works under the guidance of the Director of Early Learning and Assistant Manager of Home Visiting. This position does not supervise any employees. It will however be asked on occasion to train, orient, and direct the work of new employees of IRCO

Education & Experience

MINIMUM JOB SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• 1-2 years’ experience in early childhood education and/or ECE coursework equivalent
• Must be proficient in the English language and one of the languages listed 
• Oral and written communication skills commensurate with the needs of the position
• Is part of, has background, and/or experience in working with immigrant and refugee communities and understanding the cultural values and beliefs of that community  
• Self-motivation and the ability to work independently with strong analytical and problem-solving skills  
• Working knowledge of Microsoft 365 software

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong communication skills in a multilingual, multicultural organization
• Strong ability to work with multi-cultural staff in a team setting
• Ability to use nonstandard procedures and techniques to resolve unusual problems or address management requirements 
• Ability to use initiative and judgment in completing tasks and responsibilities 
• Ability to courteously meet and deal effectively with other employees, agency representatives, the public, and others 
• Ability to function in a positive manner in a demanding work environment, to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility, to respond to priorities and schedules that change frequently, and to meet commitments 

Physical, Mental, & Environmental Requirements

• Hybrid Setting job
• Physical: Positions at this level require minimal physical effort such as light lifting, carrying or movement, etc. Physical capability involves use of office or equipment where some agility and hand eye coordination is needed.
• Mental: There is regular variation in tasks, and the job holder must decide which tasks to complete as well as the order in which tasks are completed
• Environmental: This level has a work environment that is usually well protected, free from hazards or obstacles. There is little element of personal risk or hazard. Job conditions are usually comfortable, with only occasional issues, including temperature change.
• Schedule: The work schedule is mostly stable and does not fluctuate without prior notice.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Positions at this level are not responsible for any supervisory functions, or responsibilities, but may occasionally be asked to orient and/or train new employees or volunteers.

What We Offer

IRCO is a very employee-friendly workplace and offers great benefit packages to our staff:

• Many flexible working arrangements and schedule
• Amazing opportunity to work with people who come from all over the world
• Work that helps your community 
• 3 to 6 weeks of PTO per year 
• 401k match of over 100% on first 5%, immediate vesting 
• 3% match for student loans or college savings 
• 12 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Medical & Dental insurance options with 90% coverage for employee AND Families, no deductibles
• Employer Paid Life, Short term, and Long-term Disability Insurance 
• Flexible spending accounts

Required Engagement 

Engage fully in recommended professional development, as well as other assigned or required training activities. This engagement can also include participation in optional activities that embrace IRCO’s mission, vision, and values-based initiatives. 

How To Apply

1. Complete the IRCO application in our Careers Portal: IRCO Application for Employment.  
2. Upload your resume and cover letter addressing your qualifications for this position IRCO      Careers.  
3. For questions about this position, please email jobs@irco.org

Please note that physical applications are accessible from IRCO’s main office, 10301 NE Glisan, Portland, OR 97220. Due to the high volume of applications received, we will not be able to contact applicants or return calls regarding applications. Complete applications should include a cover letter, resume, and IRCO application. 

IRCO is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any characteristics protected by State and Federal law. We will make reasonable accommodations to meet our obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state disability laws.