POSITION TITLE: Access Specialist
REPORTS TO: Access Specialist Coordinator
WORKSITE: Omaha, NE

COMPENSATION:

• Pay rate starting at $22.50 per hour, commensurate with experience.
• Excellent benefits include:

• Unlimited paid time off (including employee birthday); 9 paid holidays with year-end holiday break
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and AD&D insurance; 403b retirement plan with an automatic 5% contribution; and FMLA
• Employee Wellness Program (including enriching snacks, support groups, and engaging activities)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) (includes life event referral program, 5 free counseling sessions, financial and legal resources, and employee discount/savings program)
• Yearly stipends for employee development opportunities
• Relocation assistance; travel and expense reimbursement

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION:
In 2022, Immigrant Legal Center and Refugee Empowerment Center merged, and the combined nonprofit organization is now CIRA, the Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement. Our comprehensive team of experts provides exceptional, compassionate legal representation, refugee services, and social work services.
We take on the most complex immigration cases, resettle refugees from around the world, and ensure all clients have access to much-needed resources. Operating in 6 different offices from Council Bluffs to Scottsbluff, our team of more than 100 full-time employees helps communities welcome immigrants and refugees as they build their lives here. We assist with all forms of family and humanitarian-based immigration, and we never turn any family away due to inability to pay.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:
An Access Specialist is an integral part of CIRA’s legal team. The core functions of this position are (1) client intake and referral, and (2) client outreach and education. The ideal candidate for this position has exceptional interpersonal and customer service phone skills, is passionate about providing compassionate legal support services, and is fluent in Spanish and other languages in addition to English (written and orally).
This role has expanded to meet emerging community needs. You'll conduct phone and in-person intakes with individuals referred by partner nonprofits who've unexpectedly lost immigration protections due to policy changes. Working closely with our lead attorney on the referral program, you'll help organize documentation, coordinate with panel attorneys, and maintain program data. Travel may occasionally be required to conduct live intake events hosted by partner organizations when technology presents a barrier to accessing the program.

CORE FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:
Client Intake and Case Management

• Screen participants through intake calls or in-person intake to determine eligibility for legal immigration services
• Conduct conflict of interest checks and collaborate with an CIRA attorney to select individuals for consultations and specialty clinics
• Obtain and summarize eligibility and case information from prospective clients for legal representatives
• Document all actions in CIRA’s case management system and maintain the waitlist for legal services
• Schedule consultations with CIRA representatives as assigned from the waitlist
• Relay eligibility, legal facts, and advice provided by attorneys to clients, and follow up with written materials if applicable
• Adapt to changing procedures and processes

Client & Community Outreach:

• Engage in community outreach and maintain communication with service providers across the state about service needs and case referrals
• Collect information on unmet needs within the immigrant community and identify ways to enhance access to CIRA’s services
• Track and report on client outreach activities
• Educate clients and the public about CIRA programs, resources, and services
• Develop and nurture positive relationships with social service organizations, including nonprofits, schools, and state agencies that serve immigrants

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Fluency in English and Spanish is required
• Minimum 1 – 3 years of call center, customer service, client communication, nonprofit, social work, or equivalent combination of experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job is required
• Minimum 1 – 3 years of experience and demonstrated ability to professionally interpret in the Spanish language (written, and orally) and follow procedures is required
• Dedication to CIRA’s Mission and Values in serving immigrants/refugees/newcomers
• Ability to work sensitively with numerous staff, volunteers, and clients having diverse personalities, lifestyles, cultures, political orientations, and faiths
• Fluency in using Office 365 applications (ex. Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, etc.) and a strong ability to learn new software is required  
• Exceptional interpersonal communications and customer service skills
• Exceptional multi-tasking skills and ability to think critically and problem solve during client calls while ensuring data is input into the data management systems accurately
• Exhibits responsibility through good attendance, effective time management, dependability, self-discipline, flexibility, and working independently
• Openly supports departmental and organizational changes and demonstrates comfort working in a rapidly growing and evolving organization
• Ability to pass all required background checks
• Must be authorized to work in the United States

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• This job consists of regularly sitting at a desk and using a computer and phone
• Position requires occasional travel to rural communities throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa to meet with clients and provide services
• Work schedule is Monday – Thursday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

TO APPLY:
We invite you to apply by uploading a cover letter, resume, and three professional references all in PDF format to the job application link.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities associated with it.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT:

Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement (CIRA) makes all employment decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We evaluate candidates exclusively on their ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. Selection criteria are applied uniformly to all candidates regardless of protected characteristics.
We do not discriminate based on an individual’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military service, or any characteristics prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment at CIRA, including recruiting, hiring, assignments, training, promotions, compensation, employee benefits, employee discipline and discharge, and all other terms and conditions of employment.