The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights invites applications for the position of Full-Time Volunteer Coordinator to be based in Harlingen, Texas. The Young Center is dedicated to promoting the best interests—safety and well-being—of unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in the United States. The immediate focus of the Young Center’s work is to serve as Child Advocate (guardian ad litem for children in immigration proceedings) for unaccompanied and separated children pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) and the 2013 Violence Against Women Act. The Young Center is at the forefront of best interests advocacy for unaccompanied immigrant children and is the only organization in the country overseeing the work of Child Advocates pursuant to the 2008 TVPRA. The Young Center is a project of the Tides Center.

The Young Center works on a volunteer-based model; we train lay volunteers, who—supervised by our staff—act as Child Advocates for unaccompanied immigrant children. The Harlingen Volunteer Coordinator will manage the Harlingen office’s volunteer program, including recruitment, training, and retention. S/he will also oversee the day-to-day operations and administration of the Harlingen office.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Manage site’s volunteer program, including recruitment, training, and engagement.
Work with the National Volunteer Coordinator and the corresponding Volunteer Coordinators in Young Center’s other sites on continuing education opportunities for volunteers, as well as strategies for volunteer engagement.
Develop and implement outreach plans to recruit new Child Advocates, including identifying stakeholders and building strategic relationships.
Manage and maintain all volunteer records.
Oversee volunteer compliance with multi-state background clearance process, including updated clearances for longstanding volunteers.
Lead staff planning and logistics for the for site’s Child Advocates trainings, including creating and administering an annual training budget.
Oversee day-to-day office operations and administration, including relationships with vendors and facilities management, as well as Young Center headquarters operations staff
Create and maintain case files in Young Center’s client database and assist with managing case referrals and appointments to cases by the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Coordinate all events (fundraisers, meetings, conferences, etc.), including space, and refreshments, materials, technology, and supplies.
Serve as point of contact for:
National Volunteer Coordinator
Managing Director

QUALIFICATIONS:

B.A. degree
Proficiency in Spanish
Significant experience as a volunteer or working with volunteers
Excellent writing skills (English) and organizational skills

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Ability to take initiative and to work in a highly collaborative environment.
Ability to balance competing priorities and deadlines.
Enthusiasm for a volunteer-based service model and commitment to identifying and implementing strategies to recruit and retain volunteers.
Passion, tenacity and optimism for the issues affecting immigrant children and their families.
A valid driver’s license is necessary for traveling to meetings and Child Advocate trainings in and around Harlingen, Texas.

The Young Center, a project of Tides Center, is an “at-will” and equal opportunity employer. Applicants and employees shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender (including pregnancy and gender expression) identity, color, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise Tides in writing of special needs at the time of application.

Job offer is conditioned on clearance of fingerprint criminal background check, child abuse and neglect check (CANS), and tuberculosis test.

How to apply

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please email a cover letter, resume and three references to jobs@TheYoungCenter.org and include the title “Harlingen Volunteer Coordinator” in the subject line. To learn more about the Young Center’s work, please visit www.TheYoungCenter.org.