United States Refugee Advisory Board (USRAB) Project Coordinator
Short-term, Six-Month Contract Position (with potential for renewal)
United States Refugee Advisory Board Project Coordinator
Location: Remote
About the United States Refugee Advisory Board (USRAB): Launched in partnership with Refugee Congress, Refugee Council USA (RCUSA), and Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of International Migration (ISIM), USRAB is a self-governing initiative that serves to channel the participation of all current and former forcibly displaced populations in the US to relevant regional and international policy bodies, thus providing a mechanism to ensure there is meaningful engagement in policies affecting them. In addition to engaging with key international non-governmental organizations, USRAB works in collaboration with other refugee-led initiatives and key international non-governmental organizations. USRAB is institutionally housed and staffed at Refugee Congress, and led by a self-governing Executive Committee, comprised of staff from the three partner organizations, the USRAB Chair, and USRAB Deputy Chairs.
About Refugee Congress: Refugee Congress is a national nonpartisan organization built and led by leaders who have experienced forced displacement, to promote the equal participation of refugees and all forcibly displaced people in decision-making on issues impacting our communities. We believe that policies and programs will be stronger, and that solutions will be more effective, when they are informed and crafted by those who have experienced forced displacement. With members across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, our members leverage their professional and lived expertise to ensure that refugees are equal partners in crafting policies and solutions that impact refugee communities.
About the Project Coordinator Role: The Project Coordinator is responsible for all aspects of the coordination of USRAB, working under the direction of the USRAB Advisory Board and Executive Committee, as outlined below. The Project Coordinator reports to the Executive Committee and is supervised on administrative matters by the Refugee Congress Executive Director.
This position is a six month contract position with an anticipated start date of March 15, 2024.
The position is for up to 15/hrs per week at a rate of $40 per hour.
Position Responsibilities
Carry out project plans to advance USRAB goals and objectives set by the Advisory Board and the Executive Committee;
Support regular meetings of the Advisory Board and Executive Committee, including scheduling, sending out agendas, taking minutes, and sending out minutes;
Research new project ideas, draft project plans (such as community engagement plans) for review by the Advisory Board;
Manage administrative process of outreach, recruitment, selection, and onboarding of new cohorts of Advisors;
Manage and coordinate logistics for the annual USRAB Training Program training course and other USRAB-hosted events;
Manage logistics for global engagement of Advisors, including arranging travel, lodging, and reimbursements as needed;
Research funding opportunities for USRAB and assist in applications for funding as well as pre-award planning and the post-award reporting for grants;
Manage project budgets and provide updates on budgets-to-actuals for the Executive Committee;
Research new prospective partners and maintain ongoing communication with project partners including R-SEAT (Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table), the international Refugee Advisory Group, and other partners as required;
Maintain ongoing communication with government partners, including the State Department’s Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement;
Support advisors who are representing USRAB virtually, in person, or through written engagement.
Work with Refugee Congress Communications Manager to update USRAB website as needed and promite USRAB through Refugee Congress social media;
Participate as needed in coordination meetings with Refugee Congress, RCUSA, and/or ISIM staff;
Must be willing to travel as needed;
Other project duties as needed.
Qualifications:
2-3 years of experience working on refugee and immigration issues (especially the global refugee regime), humanitarian response, human rights, or other related fields via nonprofits, government, school systems, or other related organizations;
2-3 years project coordinator or project management experience;
Strong English verbal and written language skills; other languages desirable but not required;
Demonstrated commitment to empowerment of people with lived experience and communities directly impacted by injustice;
Experience with fundraising, grant research, grant writing, and grant reporting;
Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.
Desired Characteristics:
Strong interpersonal and intercultural communication skills;
Team player with the ability to work both independently and in close collaboration with others who are accustomed to different cultural working styles;
Flexibility in schedule for evening and week-end meetings/calls;
Highly-organized, with the ability to create and carry out a detailed work plan;
Excellent attention to detail;
Ability to work in a fast-moving environment;
Comfort with and enthusiasm for working in a multicultural environment;
Additional languages (Spanish, Arabic, etc.) preferred but not required.
Individuals with lived forced displacement experience are encouraged to apply.
Commitment to Diversity in Hiring: Church World Service, the fiscal sponsor of Refugee Congress, is an equal opportunity employer and places importance on creating a team that reflects the diversity of the communities that we serve. People with refugee, asylee, or immigrant backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
To Apply: Send a cover letter and resume to jobs@refugeecongress.org by February 21st, 2024. Please put ‘Application for USRAB Project Coordinator’ in the subject line.