Senior Casework Officer At International Rescue Committee

Background/Summary:

Founded in 1933, International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states. In this capacity, we work to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted, struggling to endure and wishing to advance on a path of development.

The Resettlement Support Center Asia (RSC Asia), funded by the US State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), assists persons throughout Asia seeking permanent resettlement in the United States. Responsible for a portfolio of 37 countries, RSC Asia: prepares refugee applications for the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) using START (a State Department–managed data system that supports the arrival and resettlement of refugees through technology); provides information to resettlement agencies about arriving refugees and offers cultural orientation training to refugees bound for the United States. RSC Asia is based in Bangkok, Thailand, with a sub-office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Senior Casework Officer (SCWO) provides both general processing and advanced casework services on behalf of refugee applicants to the USRAP, including data entry of refugee case file information into START. The SCWO ensures cases are error-free and are ready for adjudication by an officer of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for final adjudication. This position is also responsible for supporting USCIS circuit rides to Thailand and the region. Senior Casework Officers achieve and maintain a high-performance standard based on a thorough knowledge of, and adherence to, established resettlement policies and procedures regarding current refugee processing eligibility criteria, database, and file management guidelines, the role of US Resettlement Agencies, and refugee-producing country conditions. This position will also be responsible for interpretation and translation from Korean (Hangul) to English.

Major Responsibilities:

• Travel independently or as part of a team within Thailand or to regional locations to conduct pre-screening interviews or support USCIS circuit rides when required

• Conduct prescreening interviews of refugee applicants in a manner that demonstrates a senior-level understanding of the US Resettlement Admissions Program and background information relevant to specific caseloads

• Perform quality control following the interview process to finalize cases for USCIS presentation, ensuring error detection and correction in accordance with USRAP guidelines and the cooperative agreement.

• Support USCIS officers during circuit rides by ensuring schedules are accurate, briefing applicants, completing case files and document review prior to presenting a case to USCIS, completing quality checks of documents after USCIS interviews, completing case updates into START, and quality checking data in START after circuit rides.

• Maintain a high level of professionalism when representing RSC at meetings with partners when required

• Respond to case-specific inquiries from other RSC staff and/or partner organizations

• Send a regular report of quality check trends detected from case analysis of both the physical files and data in START

• Perform work in adherence to policy and procedure

• Keep immediate supervisor informed of developments in daily caseloads, including any urgent protection or medical conditions of applicants and their families

• Assume formal mentoring responsibilities for 1-2 assigned Caseworkers when required

• Interpretation services as needed

• Assist with coordinating with relevant embassy personnel

• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor, in line with the job scope

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Senior Casework Manager or Casework Manager

Position directly supervises: NA

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: All Bangkok and Malaysia RSC staff

External: IOM, RPC, RAs, UNHCR, USCIS, and local partners as required

Job Requirements:

Education:

• University degree in any field

Work Experience:

• At least two years of relevant professional experience with previous data collection and interviewing experience required

• Resettlement processing or other NGO experience is preferred

• Previous work in a multicultural environment is advantageous

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Able to travel whenever required, both domestically and internationally

• High level of professionalism while carrying out duties per the SOPs (ie. integrity and confidentiality)

• Solid organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple tasks, set priorities, effectively manage time, meet deadlines and work well under pressure in a fast-paced team environment

• Strong communication skills with a demonstrated ability to communicate and work effectively and professionally with partners, colleagues, beneficiaries, and interpreters

• Problem-solver who takes initiative to provide solutions

• Ability to perform interviews and data collection through good listening and analytical skills.

• Meticulously attentive to details, and able to ensure compliance of policies and procedures by team members, providing feedback in a professional and constructive way

• Excellent data entry and report writing skills; ability to produce grammatically correct, error-free reports

• Able to do an advanced quality check on cases utilizing Tableau reports

• When required, able to assist in providing the necessary guidance and support to co-workers

• Team oriented yet able to think and work independently

• Flexible and able to work in a fast-paced, multicultural environment

Language and Computer Skills:

• Excellent verbal and written English language skills are required.

• Working knowledge of a refugee language is desirable.

• High level of computer literacy and proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook) is required.

• Proven advanced data entry skills with extreme accuracy, attention to detail, and self-checking abilities required.

• Ability to type 40 words per minute required.

Working Environment:

The position is currently based in Bangkok in an urban office environment. The position may require both domestic and international travel to support the delivery of USRAP processing within Thailand and throughout the region. A valid passport and the ability to acquire US and other visas, as necessary, is a requirement.

The employee is required to adhere to The IRC Way for professional conduct, as well as to be in compliance with all relevant IRC and donor policies and procedures while carrying out his/her duties.