Complementary Pathways Caseworker

Opportunity
IRAP is seeking a Complementary Pathways Caseworker to assist the Legal Services Department in its individual representation of refugees seeking relocation through humanitarian visas, family reunification, and other pathways to the U.S., Europe, and elsewhere. The Caseworker will conduct intake and follow-up interviews with clients and potential clients and draft visa and family reunification applications. Casework with clients will primarily be done virtually (via phone and video), as IRAP clients are located throughout the world. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual interested in refugee rights, immigration, and international law to be part of a growing organization that makes an impact on the lives of refugees and other displaced people. The position will report to either the Europe Legal Program Manager or the Complementary Pathways Project Manager, depending on the Caseworker’s location
 

Responsibilities

• Conduct remote intake and follow-up interviews with clients and potential clients seeking relocation through complementary pathways. 
• Serve as primary point of contact (with the assistance of interpreters where necessary) with the Complementary Pathways team’s clients. 
• Under the supervision of the team’s leadership, draft humanitarian visa and family reunification applications and supporting documents. 
• Provide casework support to pilot project providing remote legal assistance to unaccompanied children and their family members in East and North Africa seeking reunification with family members primarily in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 
• Conduct and update research on new and existing complementary pathways to resettlement, staying apprised of developments in this space and providing regular updates to team members. 
• Ensure detailed and accurate record-keeping regarding all potential and active cases. 
• Provide support to attorneys and other caseworkers on complementary pathways cases, including through proof-reading, fact-checking, and collating applications and supporting materials.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), plus two years of work experience in a relevant field, OR five years of work experience in a relevant field.
• Demonstrated experience in refugee protection casework or refugee law.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills.
• Prior experience interviewing and counseling clients in a legal setting.
• Highly organized and flexible; able to multi-task and manage a high-volume workload; and excellent time management skills.
• Sensitivity to client empowerment and to working with clients of all backgrounds, including LGBTI clients, survivors of trauma, and other vulnerable populations.
• Fluency in oral and written English.

Preferred

• Fluency in Arabic, Tigrinya, and/or French strongly preferred. 
• Knowledge of refugee law and/or EU migration laws.
• Experience in Refugee Status Determination and/or Resettlement processes is a plus.
• At least 5 hours of the Caseworker’s workday should overlap with 10am-6pm Central European Time (GMT+1). (For example, if based in NYC, a standard work day could be 7am-3pm.)

IRAP believes that diversity is critical to fostering a strong workplace and serving our clients well. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences in the communities that we serve, members of other marginalized communities, and individuals whose identities are underrepresented in the legal profession. 

IRAP offers excellent benefits including family health, dental and vision benefits with no employee-paid premiums, a retirement plan with an employer matching component, and twenty days of vacation, five personal days, and twelve sick days per year.