Small Business Cultural Navigator

This job posting was opened on May 12, 2025. Please note that we will be prioritizing candidates who are current IRC (and recently employed by IRC) staff before other applicants. If necessary, we will extend the opportunity to external candidates.

IRC Background:

The IRC's Center for Financial Opportunity (CFO) helps newly arrived refugees and other low-income individuals reach self-sufficiency by finding entry-level employment and progressing to living wage jobs, learn basic financial management skills and building assets, and starting small businesses. The IRC's Center of Financial Opportunity hosts a Small Business Development Center, the IRC SBDC, helping small business owners and entrepreneurs prosper by delivering in-language and no-cost business assistance and access to loan products.

Partnering with the San Diego Foundation, Price Philanthropies, and the Girardi Foundation, the IRC supports childcare providers across the region. The IRC SBDC administers the STEPS program, a 14-week intensive training series. Through training, technical assistance, and coaching, existing family childcare businesses enhance their sustainability and profitability, contributing to a thriving community.

Job Overview:

The Small Business Cultural Navigator will support the continued development of the STEPS Program through culturally and linguistically competent coaching, complementing the training and TA to continue learning outside of the "classroom." The Small Business Cultural Navigator represents the refugee community served by the STEPS program and supports FCC providers in implementing new policies and practices in their programs through one-on-one assistance.

Major Responsibilities:

• Lead outreach, recruitment, and enrollment of eligible and motivated FCC providers into the STEPS program
• Provide technical assistance with implementing some of the concepts from the training during or following workshops.
• Provide additional technical assistance based on FCC provider needs related to training, assessments, or observations, contracts, licensing, renewals, or other concerns. Technical assistance can be provided 1:1 or in groups, remotely or at IRC, or on-site in a provider's home.
• Provide on-site coaching that can include ongoing relationship-building, goal setting, connecting FCCs to related resources, and recommending goal-related learning opportunities, reflective practice support, observation, co-completion of parts or all of quality assessments, modeling of key practices, and more.
• Collection of baseline and post-intervention data and documents
• Collaborate with SDSU, providing data and insights to evaluate the implementation of the STEPS program.
• Data entry in internal and funder databases, as necessary, to log key outcomes such as milestones, scope of work, surveys, etc.
• Participate in ongoing STEPS meeting
• Assist in the planning and coordination of training activities and special events.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree in related field; experience in lieu of formal education is acceptable;
• Experience in FCC Business development and/or early childhood education is preferred;
• At least 1 year of experience in the non-profit sector and experience with refugee or SIV populations is strongly preferred;
• Proficiency in English and Kiswahili required;
• Experience in program-focused community outreach required, familiarity with the City of San Diego a plus;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to make in-language presentations.
• Ability to work independently, be a self-starter, and maintain responsibility for multiple tasks.

Working Environment:

• Standard office environment, including the current hybrid mode of remote work within San Diego County and required in-office days, and frequent 'field' time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities. The office working environment is subject to change based on the organization's/business's needs.
• May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.
• Access to a reliable vehicle to travel throughout the service delivery area with a valid driver's license and current insurance required.

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.