Housing Specialist

International Rescue Committee•Richmond, VA

4d•$23 - $24•Hybrid

About The Position

The Housing Specialist secures and coordinates the furnishing of safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for newly arriving refugees and provides related logistical support.

Requirements

Minimum of 1 year of relevant professional experience required.
Strong relationship building, diplomacy, and networking skills; ability to effectively build internal and external relationships.
Demonstrated success working and communicating effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills combined with the proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties, and manage time effectively.
Superb organization, planning, and logistical skills.
Attention to detail and accuracy in work product.
Ability to regularly lift ~50 lbs.
Fluent in English, both spoken and written.
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); ability to use the internet and other digital tools for data entry, research and problem-solving purposes.
Valid driver’s license and access to a personal, insured vehicle.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred.
Experience working with refugee and/or immigrant populations preferred.

Responsibilities

Identify and secure safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for newly arriving refugees in compliance with established program requirements.
Conduct ongoing outreach to current and potential landlords and property managers, building strong working relationships with the goal of increasing access to housing for refugee families and to coordinate client home repair requests as needed.
Collaborate effectively with coworkers and partner organizations to support a positive resettlement experience.
Coordinate logistics of housing set-ups including ordering furniture and supplies and arranging delivery, arranging utility hook-ups, facilitating lease signings and renewals, arranging payments, and conducting home safety inspections.
Implement a high-quality procurement protocol including researching potential new vendors, following appropriate financial and purchasing procedures, and maintaining required documentation.
Deliver orientations to clients; may support other pre- and post-arrival activities such as airport pick-ups.
Satisfy recordkeeping requirements.
Use personal, insured vehicle and/or public transportation (where available) to travel and transport clients and materials as needed throughout the service delivery area.
May train and lead the activities of support staff, volunteers, and interns.
Other duties as assigned.