Refugee Advisory Council (English)

Refugee Advisory Council Application


CORE is a technical assistance program that connects and supports refugee resettlement staff globally to deliver effective Cultural Orientation. We work with Resettlement Support Centers (RSCs) and Resettlement Agencies (RA) to improve the Cultural Orientation refugees receive before departing and after arrival to the United States. We are currently recruiting for CORE’s Refugee Advisory Council and we are looking for individuals who are interested in participating.  

Program & Job Overview

Implemented by the IRC, the Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange (CORE) is a technical assistance program that connects and supports refugee resettlement staff globally to deliver effective Cultural Orientation (CO) which helps refugees achieve self-sufficiency in the United States. As part of this work, CORE hosts and manages the CORE website, a learning platform, the Resettlement Navigator website, and the Settle In mobile app. CORE is funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

CORE is seeking formerly resettled refugees to join the Refugee Advisory Council (RAC) on a part-time, temporary, one-year basis. The RAC consists of up to 20 former refugees resettled through the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). As a member of the RAC, selected advisors will work in coordination with the Refugee Information Officer and other CORE staff members to provide targeted feedback and inform CORE’s initiatives as a Cultural Orientation (CO) technical assistance provider.

Participation in the RAC will require strong teamwork and the ability to commit, on average, 5-8 hours a month for 12 months. This is a competitive, paid position. Applicants must reside within the United States and have been resettled through the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). In order to participate with the RAC, applicants must be able to read and speak in one or more of the following languages: Arabic, Burmese, Dari, English, Farsi, Kinyarwanda, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and/or Swahili.

Major Responsibilities:

  • Collaborate with the Refugee Information Officer, CORE staff members, and other RAC participants to amplify refugee voice and provide targeted feedback on Cultural Orientation-related topics (ie., housing, cultural adjustment, employment, health, etc.) via focus group discussions, individual interviews, or other user-centered testing and/or survey methods;
  • On an as-needed basis, review materials in advance of meetings and offer feedback including fact sheets, videos, and other information designed for use with newly arriving refugees;
  • Attend individual or group monthly meetings in a virtual setting;
  • On an as-needed basis, complete homework or pre-work, participate in conference calls, surveys, and other tasks as defined in the project scope. Some examples of scopes of work include but are not limited to:
    • User testing for CORE’s refugee-facing digital platforms, COREnav and Settle In;
    • Individual interviews and focus group discussions pertaining to topics around diversity, equity, and inclusion;
    • Providing feedback on CORE’s refugee facing resources, such as CORE’s “How to Interact with the Police” fact sheet and video.

Job Requirements:

  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and in a team environment;
  • Strong communication skills and able to provide open and honest feedback in group or individual settings;
  • Passion for innovation and refugee leadership in the resettlement program, and ability and interest to work with CORE on a temporary, consultancy basis;
  • Ability to commit to, on average, 5-8 hours a month in a virtual setting for 12 months;
  • Ability to read and speak in one or more of the following languages: Arabic, Burmese, Dari, English, Farsi, Kinyarwanda, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and/or Swahili. CORE will provide interpretation as needed;

Basic digital literacy and digital access including the ability to join a telephonic session or Zoom call using a telephone, tablet, or computer with stable internet; ability to review online documents and websites; ability to complete paperwork online.

Working Environment: Remote work; may require occasional evening work to accommodate time zone differences.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How do I apply?

The application for participating in the Refugee Advisory Council requires submitting a brief survey and your resume. If you are interested in applying to the Refugee Advisory Council, please complete the steps outline below:

  1. Open this link to access the job application and select your language. If you are unable to select your language, you may access the job application in the following languages: Arabic, Burmese, Dari, English, Farsi, Kinyarwanda, Russian, Somali, Spanish, or Swahili.
  2. Answer the questions in the application and then attach your resume to the application. If you are unable to attach your resume to the job application, you may also email us directly at coresourceexchange@rescue.org.
  3. Submit your application.

After you apply, we will contact those that qualify for interviews. CORE will provide interpretation for interviews as needed. Prospective participants should note interpretation needs in advance. In addition, all email communications will be primarily in English and CORE will provide translated communications on an as-needed basis.

Apply now →
Questions? Visit the FAQ and About the RAC →
Need help? Contact CORE →

About the Refugee Advisory Council and Frequently Asked Questions


CORE is a technical assistance program that connects and supports refugee resettlement staff globally to deliver effective Cultural Orientation. We work with Resettlement Support Centers (RSCs) and Resettlement Agencies (RA) to improve the Cultural Orientation refugees receive before departing and after arrival to the United States. We are currently recruiting for CORE’s Refugee Advisory Council and we are looking for individuals who are interested in participating.  

The Refugee Advisory Council (RAC) is a formalized space to hear from formerly resettled refugees regarding their experiences with Cultural Orientation and early resettlement to the United States. Members of the RAC will help contribute to the improvement of Cultural Orientation for future clients resettled through the USRAP.

The RAC consists of a diverse group of refugees and/or SIV applicants who have been in the United States in the last 6 to 24 months. This is a formal space to provide targeted feedback on CORE’s resources and initiatives; specific individual service needs should still be communicated to the local Resettlement Agency.

Yes, this is a competitive, part-time, paid position. Participants are contracted for no more than 12 months of service. Participants are compensated at $40 per hour.

To participate in the RAC, participants must reside in the United States and have been resettled through the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) in the last 6 to 24 months. Participants do not need to know about CORE or its work but should have experience with refugee resettlement process and, as relevant, Cultural Orientation. In addition, participants must be able to commit to 12 months of service. To see a full list of requirements, please see the job description.

CORE is looking for 10 to 12 participants resettled by a domestic Resettlement Agency through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program within the past 6 to 24 months. Ideally, the RAC should represent a diverse set of perspectives. As such, CORE is seeking participants between the ages of 18 and 64, from each of the following regions:

  • Middle East
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Eastern Europe
  • Southeast Asia & Afghanistan
  • Latin America

 

Applicants with diverse and lived experience are encouraged to apply. Diverse and lived experiences can include, but are not limited to, experiences in regard to race, ability, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and/or national origin.

Participants must be able to read and speak in one or more of the following languages: Arabic, Burmese, Dari, English, Farsi, Kinyarwanda, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and/or Swahili. A basic level of English is preferred, but not required. Interpretation will be provided as needed. Prospective participants should note interpretation needs in advance. In addition, CORE will provide translations of onboarding materials, worksheets, or documents as needed.

 

To have geographic reach across the U.S. participants must be available to complete RAC work in a virtual setting. While CORE will do its best to accommodate varying digital literacy abilities, participants should have a basic level of digital literacy and access. This includes the ability to join a telephonic session or a Zoom call using a telephone, or a tablet or computer with stable internet connection.

Participants will commit to 12 months of service which includes short monthly meetings via Zoom and one to two larger projects like focus group discussions, interviews, and/or user testing.  For more information on what projects participants will work on this year, please see the job description.

Monthly meetings are between 60-90 minutes in a virtual setting. Dates and times of monthly meetings will be decided in consultation with participants and CORE staff. Participants will need a stable internet connection and access to a computer or tablet to attend the virtual Zoom call, or ability to call in via a mobile phone. In some cases, pre-work may be required but CORE will communicate all work prior to the monthly meeting.

To apply, follow the steps outlined here. Once we receive your application, we will follow up with you with an interview if you are selected to participate.

Refugee Advisory Council Job Application

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