Vocational ESOL Instructor – Refugee Services

JVS Boston•Boston, MA

4d•$45,000 - $54,800•Remote

About The Position

JVS is a non-profit, non-sectarian agency dedicated to empowering individuals from diverse communities to find employment and build careers, and to partnering with employers to hire, develop, and retain productive workforces. JVS offers a wide range of services including adult education, skills training, job readiness training, job placement and support, and access to post-secondary education. The agency also assists employers in finding well-qualified job applicants and in their initiatives to upgrade the skills of their existing workforce. Under the direction of the Manager of Instruction, the Vocational ESOL Instructor will lead and develop Vocational English classes and trainings to support immigrant and refugee participants' job placement and career advancement. Classes are held at least three evenings per week from 5:30-8:30pm. This role involves developing and modifying contextualized curriculum and daily lesson plans for Vocational English for Speakers of Other Languages (VESOL) classes, conducting participant intake and orientation, delivering vocational ESOL instruction and trainings, regularly evaluating student goals, progress, and skill attainment, tracking outcomes, supporting efforts to advance instructional quality, and collaborating with staff across the department and agency to ensure client career growth and achieve other programmatic and organizational goals. Program participants are immigrant and refugee adults seeking career advancement through training, education, and/or securing a new or better job. All VESOL students also receive integrated, tailored career coaching from other Refugee Services staff to support their career goals.

Requirements

Demonstrated ability to teach, motivate, and relate to adult learners
Excellent presentation, facilitation, and classroom management skills, both in person and remotely.
Knowledge of adult learning theory
Strong interpersonal, organizational, and written and oral communication skills
Strong Microsoft Office Suite/365 skills.
Ability to deal tactfully and effectively with a diverse group of clients at all levels of the organization
Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently

Nice To Haves

TESOL/TEFL, and/or CELTA certificate preferred
Bilingual or additional language skills encouraged, especially in languages spoken by refugee and immigrant participants (e.g., Spanish, Haitian Creole, Arabic, Dari, French, Pashto, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Swahili, Ukrainian)

Responsibilities

Take ownership of the instructor role as leader both in and outside the classroom.
Meet class goals and outcomes, as well as establish, track and meet program dashboard indicators (e.g., enrollment, attendance/participation, retention, skills gains, student/employer/partner satisfaction).
Provide assistance with assessment, enrollment, delivery of services, pre/post testing with the goal of ensuring that clients obtain their predetermined goals.
Assist with planning and implementation of changes in the program, curriculum, or instruction.
Assist with planning and implementation of student celebration ceremonies, as needed.
Collaborate and communicate regularly with supervisor and program leadership to ensure smooth delivery of services.
Track outcomes and contribute to reports for funders and/or evaluators as needed.
Model behaviors and skills JVS delivers in classrooms and programs.
Create a classroom environment where all students feel heard, can express ideas, learn and problem solve in creative ways.
Establish relationships with colleagues and partners, and work collaboratively in a structured and on-going manner.
Support and promote the mission and philosophy of JVS.
Establish positive working relationships with all members of the agency.
Work collaboratively with and encourage collaboration between team members to ensure performance goals for departments are met.
Attend and actively participate in staff meetings and team-based projects.
Work collaboratively across JVS departments to assist in the building and implementation of cross-departmental processes.
Provide group-based career coaching services and develop, plan and facilitate job readiness workshops as needed.
Perform other duties as requested.
Generate strategy and solutions in response to unforeseen change, setbacks and challenges.
Develop and modify curriculum based on the needs of both the students and employers.
Follow the course description and outline of topics provided for each class.
Incorporate organizational and workplace materials into the curriculum as appropriate.
Develop daily lesson plans that engage and retain the learners in the classroom.
Create emergency lesson plans and submit these plans to their supervisor at the beginning of each active cycle.
Be flexible to individual learning styles and set appropriate limits to ensure all students have an equal opportunity to learn.
Incorporate the JVS Core Skills regularly into the curriculum (test taking, organization, scheduling, research, critical thinking/problem solving, study skills, computer skills, and soft skills).
Manage tasks for all classroom volunteers.
Communicate with supervisor as directed for attendance and enrollment (may vary for each class/program).
Communicate with supervisor regarding any concerns that may impact the student’s progress in the classroom.
Communicate regularly with supervisor/manager and team to ensure successful program performance.
Complete final reports for all classes as needed.
Assist with planning and implementation of any Celebration of Achievement / Graduation ceremonies.
Demonstrate strong communication skills and a highly professional presence.