Education Officer

BACKGROUND 
Over the past 90 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. 

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable. 

IRC UK 
IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK works to raise the profile, deliver policy, and practice change, and increase funding to help restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in England, a programme that is rapidly growing.  

IRC Education Programming UK

IRC has been delivering education programmes in the UK since May 2022. This consists of the Healing Classrooms Programme (and its various iterations) and the Healing Spaces programme. The Healing Classrooms programme delivers trauma-informed training to schools and teaches to help them better support refugee and asylum-seeking students. The Healing Spaces programme is similar but provides training to volunteers and staff that support refugee and asylum-seeking youth outside of school settings.

The Purpose of the Role

The Education Officer is responsible for the coordination, management, and development of IRC’s Healing Spaces programme in the UK as well as supporting the delivery and development of the Healing Classrooms programme.

Key Working Relationships:

The position reports to the Education Manager, UK. The Education Officer also works closely with and receives technical guidance from RAI education technical units.

Key Accountabilities

Programme design and delivery

• Lead Healing Spaces design processes that ensure the programme is aligned to IRC’s Outcomes to Evidence framework, evidence-based, and appropriate to context to maximize impact.
• Lead on the delivery of the Healing Spaces programme, this includes online sessions, in-person sessions and in-person conferences with up to 50 attendees. This also includes providing 1-1 follow up support for any participants who request it.
• Lead on the creation and distribution of Healing Spaces resources (worksheets, information booklets, blogs).
• Align the UK Healing Spaces programme with programming priorities and best practices across RAI, as well as IRC’s organizational strategy.
• Where necessary support with the delivery of the Healing Classrooms programme.
• Support the wider education team in the organisation and delivery of large in-person events to deliver training and promote the Healing Spaces and Healing Classroom programmes.

Coordination and management

• Meet regularly with staff and partners to assess progress toward objectives, discuss issues and assist in finding solutions to identified challenges.
• Update the Education Manager regularly on progress.
• Analyse data emerging from the education program and ensure that this analysis informs programming.
• Engage effectively with IRC staff (comms, procurement etc.) to ensure effective delivery and promotion of the programme.

External Relations

• ·    Carry out effective outreach and engagement to promote the Healing Spaces programme throughout England.

• Develop effective working relationships with key partners – including NGOs, civil society, public authorities at the national and local levels and education institutions.
• Identify and develop strategic partnerships with UK partners for programming.

• ·    Support in the development of new business opportunities to allow the portfolio to grow and develop.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• ·   Relevant work experience, esp. in the implementation of projects in support of asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants.
•     An excellent understanding of the needs and issues facing refugee and asylum-seeking youth in the UK.
•     Experience as a teacher in England is preferred but not essential.
•     Professional written and oral communication skills in English.
•     Excellent public speaking and presentation skills.
•     Ability to create innovative and effective programmes and resources
•     Proven diplomatic and networking skills: the ability to effectively handle a variety of internal and external relationships including with civil society sector leaders
  
•     Ability to travel occasionally to the service delivery area and ability to respond to multiple priorities promptly, producing high-quality outcomes.