POSITION SUMMARY

HIAS seeks an Community Outreach Officer to oversee all the programmatic-related tasks in HIAS “Empower” Project Romania. Reporting to the Country Director, this role will be responsible for daily liaison and communication with persons of African descent in Romania, coordination of language and vocational courses, organizing leadership council, and supporting advocacy mitigating discrimination plus referral to partner organizations for legal, medical, and protection services.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Identification of individuals in the community in need of legal support, psychosocial support (including counseling, protection concerns, medical assistance etc.), and/or who would benefit from participating in HIAS’ vocational and economic inclusion training (including Romanian language classes)
• Support community awareness and information dissemination to members of the community.
• Assisting in the referral of vulnerable individuals in the community to partner agencies for appropriate intervention.
• Provide support to caseworkers in the follow-up and tracking of individual cases and updating the status accordingly.
• Assist with translation for refugees in the community during assessments, counseling sessions, and other activities as may be required.
• Assist in mobilizing community members for support groups, community forums, and sensitization campaigns.
• Accompany case workers for home visits, conduct individual visits and follow-ups and provide feedback reports to the case workers.
• Provide weekly and monthly quantitative and qualitative reports to the line manager highlighting individual performance, progress against targets, and client needs and outcomes of assistance provided.
• Attend regular staff meetings, monthly debriefings, trainings, and other meetings as required and ensure regular personal development and supervision.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Assists with updating local policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• 2 years of professional experience in social or community work.
• Fluency in English and Romanian. The ability to speak Ukrainian is a plus.
• Computer knowledge: Microsoft Excel and Outlook skills.
• High attention to detail and ability to work well in a deadline-driven and time-sensitive environment.
• No less than 1 year working experience, including at least 6 months working with the African descent community, preferably with an NGO.

• Experience in the field of social work is an added advantage.
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong cultural and gender-sensitive awareness

• Should be well integrated into the dynamics and needs of members of the African-descent community within their areas.

• Good working knowledge of the community needs and gaps

• Ability to work with members of the community with little or no supervision

• Computer literacy

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

• Basic counselling skills

• Strong problem-solving skills

• Legal status permitting full-time employment in Romania

DISCLAIMER:

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills required or permanent location. Location is subject to change based on programmatic needs. Flexibility is essential as we grow and develop. The successful candidate must be comfortable in a fast-paced, changing work environment with many crucial deadlines. All team members may be required to perform duties outside of their normal work hours of responsibilities as needed.

ABOUT US:

Over one hundred years ago, the Jewish community founded HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) in New York City, the immigrant gateway to America. Supporting Jews fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe, our founders were guided by the traditions, texts and history of the Jewish people—a history of oppression, displacement and diaspora. HIAS has since helped generations of Jews facing violence because of who they were, and HIAS remains committed to helping Jewish refugees anywhere in the world. Today, our clients at HIAS come from diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds, as do our staff. We bring our experience, history and values to our work across five continents, ensuring that refugees today receive the vital services and opportunities they need to thrive.

HIAS is a learning community, committed to diversity and inclusion. We do our work with inteity, accountability, transparency and a commitment to the highest ethical standards. We seek employees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to join our teams located in the United States and across the globe. People who identify as BIPOC, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and people with lived experiences of forced displacement or immigration are all encouraged to apply. We are committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects our vision, mission and values.

VISION:

HIAS stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety and opportunity.

MISSION:

Drawing on our Jewish values and history, HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives.

VALUES:

Welcome • Acogimiento • Hospitalité • (Hachnasat Orchim)

We Welcome the Stranger

Justice • Justicia • Justice • (Tzedek)

We Pursue Justice

Empathy • Empatía • Empathie (Chesed)

We Approach our Clients with Empathy

Partnership • Compañerismo • Coopération • (Chevruta)

We Believe in Changing the World through Partnership

Courage • Coraje • Courage • (Ometz)

We Act with Courage to Build a Better World

Resilience • Resiliencia • Résilience • (Ruach)

We Adapt and Thrive, Continuously Demonstrating our Resilience

DIVERSITY:

HIAS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, citizenship status, religious creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, pregnancy, childbirth, military status, protected veteran status, political orientation or other legally protected status.