Join Our Team

The ONA Immigrant Community Navigator is responsible for providing comprehensive program management of all activities required to be completed for the Workforce Community Education, Community Navigator and Welcoming Communities Program.

• Establish and lead a local “Immigration Integration Round Table” program including but not limited to representatives
  from members of the private sector, local governments, community-based organizations, immigrants, local businesses, chambers of commerce, farm workers, farm owners, CAAs, refugee resettlement agencies, immigrant service providers and members of the community.
• Deliver research report regarding important economic, workforce issues facing immigrants in the region as identified by
  the immigrant community.
• Work with the ONA Opportunity Center(s) and other partners in the service area and develop and implement
  Employment/ Workforce Development workshops, expos, or other type of events to be held at the partner agency
  to meet the needs of the immigrant community.
• Coordinate and support ONA Press Office with advertising and other media related efforts.
• Create a strategic plan to recruit a significant number of community volunteers.
• Recruit significant number of community volunteers who will help low-income immigrants learn about existing services.
• Conduct community outreach impact days with volunteers.
• Track and create a calendar of local immigrant-related events on the ONA website.
• Create up to four (4) local tours for relevant stakeholders.
• Conduct Community Conversations about welcoming immigrants, particularly the low-income immigrant population, including outreach for these events.
• Conduct Community Navigator trainings, including outreach for these events.
• Responsible for all program documentation and reporting.

Bachelor’s degree in health and human services or education, or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred. Demonstrated previous experience working with low income communities. An understanding of the needs of low-income immigrants in the proposed region. Knowledge of the region and its economy, and the services provided to low-income immigrants through community-based organizations and other entities. Experience developing effective collaborative relationships with community-based organizations and other entities. Experience working with refugee/immigrant populations. Multi-cultural competence and familiarity with working with Limited English Proficient (LEP). Strong analytical and problem solving skills. Superior verbal/written skills, bi-lingual and bi-cultural skills and presentation skills. Strong knowledge and understanding of health, human, education and social related services, multicultural orientation, and community resources related to refugee populations. Ability to speak a language aside from English that is in the top languages spoken by limited English proficient low-income immigrants in the region is preferred.

The ONA Opportunity Center Program Coordinator for providing comprehensive program management of all activities required to be completed for the Legal Counsel, Citizenship Classes and Community Workshops.

• Establish and lead Community Workshops that cover a variety of topics that are of value to the Refugee and Immigrant Community.
• Work with the ONA Community Navigator and other partners in the service area and develop and implement Employment/ Workforce Development workshops, expos, or other type of events to be held at the partner agency to meet the needs of the immigrant community.
• Coordinate and support ONA Press Office with advertising and other media related efforts.
• Create a strategic plan to recruit a significant number of community volunteers.
• Recruit significant number of community volunteers who will help low-income immigrants learn about existing services.
• Conduct community outreach.
• Plan and oversee all Legal Counsel Days
• Oversee Volunteer Instructors for Citizenship Classes offered at the agency.
• Responsible for all program documentation and reporting.

Bachelor’s degree in health and human services or education, or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred. Demonstrated previous experience working with low income communities. An understanding of the needs of low-income immigrants in the proposed region. Knowledge of the region and its economy, and the services provided to low-income immigrants through community-based organizations and other entities. Experience developing effective collaborative relationships with community-based organizations and other entities. Experience working with refugee/immigrant populations. Multi-cultural competence and familiarity with working with Limited English Proficient (LEP). Strong analytical and problem solving skills. Superior verbal/written skills, bi-lingual and bi-cultural skills and presentation skills. Strong knowledge and understanding of health, human, education and social related services, multicultural orientation, and community resources related to refugee populations. Ability to speak a language aside from English that is in the top languages spoken by limited English proficient low-income immigrants in the region is preferred.

The Services to Older Refugees (SORP) Coordinator provides comprehensive case management to older refugee participants and collaborates with other local service providers to ensure that older refugee participants are receiving the services needed to live independently in their homes and community. The SORP Coordinator will work closely with The Center’s Resettlement Department to identify recent arrivals for possible enrollment in the program. The SORP Coordinator will also maintain regular contact with all agency staff to identify age-eligible older secondary migrants to recruit for the program. The position will also provide outreach to establish and/or expand the working relationships between The Center and the local Office for the Aging (OFA), as well as other relevant local service provider(s) to link older refugees to available services and providers as well as domestic seniors in the community.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS:

• Helping older refugees access mainstream aging services in the community by establishing or expanding working relationships with state or local agencies on aging.
• Coordinating and providing older refugees with appropriate services, including those that are not available in the community.
• Creating opportunities that enable older refugees to live independently as long as possible.
• Developing opportunities for older refugees to connect with their communities to avoid isolation.
• Assisting older refugees on the path to citizenship, especially those at risk of losing Supplemental Security Income or other federal benefits, to naturalize.
• Maintains client privacy and confidentiality in accordance with agency policy and procedures.
• Maintains knowledge and understanding of health, human, education and social related services, multicultural orientation, and community resources related to refugee populations.
• Coordinates with Compass Interpreters and Tone to facilitate interpretation and translation services as needed.
• Completes all program reporting documentation and submits reports as required in a timely manner.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

• Ensures programs are administered in accordance with federal and state regulations and in compliance with contract/funding requirements.
• Coordinates services with other departments of The Center to assure the client receives a full range of services provided by the agency.
• Participates in agency long range planning to assure future growth and development of The Center and promotes the general and mental health and well-being of the refugee community.
• Promotes the health and education programs in the community by attending community functions, speaking on behalf of the agency and serving as a liaison with related agencies and service providers.
• Any other duties required by the agency, contracts, the supervisory management or the Board of Directors of the agency.

The Center is currently seeking individuals who are interested in interning at our organization. Internship opportunities are available for the fall and spring semesters as well as a summer break.

Specific positions may change from semester to semester. Minimum hours and workload vary depending on the department and internship position. If you're the community builder we are looking for, apply today!

The organization prefers individuals who are pursuing studies in the following areas:

• International Studies/Relations
• Human Rights
• Human Services
• Government
• Journalism
• Communications
• Public Relations
• Computer Sciences/Graphic Design
• Human Service
• Language
• Anthropology

University students of any level of study will be considered. Prospective interns who match our organization's needs will be contacted for an interview.  After the interview process, a final decision will be made.

To apply:
1) Click Here to complete the application
2) Upload the completed application to the online application (access the online application by clicking "Apply Now" below)
3) Having difficulty with the online application: Send to Elise Incze elisei@thecenterutica.org 

Department: Compass Interpreters

Job Summary: Provides professional interpretation services for community service providers, limited English proficient individuals, and The Center staff from the source language to the target language as requested.

Accountabilities: Compass Interpreters was founded in 2011 and is the interpretation division of The Center. Located in Utica, NY, our skilled and experienced linguists provide interpreting services in over 50 languages. All interpreters report to the Manager of Compass Interpreters. Compass Interpreters, a division of The Center, is a multilingual interpretation, translation, and cultural outreach organization. The department provides educational and professional services to foster cultural understanding and appreciation, promote multicultural diversity, and empower communities to embrace new populations. Compass Interpreters provides professional linguistic services to clients in languages that are relevant to refugees and immigrants who are living in our community

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide onsite interpreting services for medical, social services, home visits, mental health, court, law enforcement, legal services, education (e.g., special education, state testing, parent-teacher conferences, home visits, etc.), victim services (e.g., domestic violence), human resources (e.g., orientation, training, health insurance enrollment), real estate, refugee event, and business conference.
• Provide remote interpretation via phone and video.
• Submit electronic timesheets, mileage forms, and other paperwork as requested in a timely manner. 
• Participate in mandatory training and meetings.
• If recruited as an untrained bilingual speaker, completion of Bridging the Gap training is mandatory to accept medical appointments.
• Strong work ethics and communication skills are required.

Additional Employment Expectations

• If applying as an “untrained” bilingual speaker, attendance and completion of Bridging the Gap training will be required to accept medical appointments
• Attend department information meetings as requested
• Participate in continuing education opportunities as available

We offer:

• A caring environment and supportive team;
• Competitive pay;
• Flexible schedule;
• Mileage and travel time reimbursement;
• Discount medical and court interpretation training; 
• Professional development assistance; and 
• Statewide work opportunities.

We are looking for interpreters that service the following language pairs:

• English to Albanian
• English to Arabic (Female preferred)
• English to American Sign Language
• English to Chinese Mandarin
• English to Korean
• English to Maay Maay
• English to Nepali
• English to Rohingya
• English to Somali

Department: TONE — translation of nearly everything

Job Summary: Tune in, turn it up, join us! Provides professional translation services from requested source text to target text in accordance with Project Manager requests, client specifications, and deadlines. We hire translators on a continuing basis. All positions are as freelance translators. No full-time positions are available.

Accountabilities: All translators report to the translation Manager and work closely with the Translation Coordinator. Translators are hired as independent contractors and can work anywhere around the world. All communication is done electronically and all translations are electronic documents. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Translate or review requested text accurately and completely, conveying the meaning of the source target into the target text
• Ability to translate 250 words p. hour, 2,000 words p. day, 10,000 words p. week.
• Complete accepted jobs in accordance with project specifications and within deadline
• Format all individual document requests in accordance with the original
  
  

Additional Employment Expectations:

• Translation Memory software – such as Wordfast, MemoQ, SDL Trados, XTM, Across, Xbench, Déjà Vu – is an advantage
• All applicants are subject to an interview process. Applicants may be asked to complete sample translation or deliver a small sample without payment unless proof of language proficiency, language testing, or a nationally/internationally recognized certificate is provided.

Volunteer with The Center to help refugees, immigrants, and the greater Mohawk Valley community feel welcome. 

We need volunteers in a number of areas, including refugee resettlement, tutoring English, assisting with citizenship test preparation, and administrative assistance. Some remote volunteer opportunities may be available. 

If you're interested in becoming a volunteer, complete the application below, and submit your updated resume and cover letter on the next page. 

The Center Volunteer Application

You'll be contacted about current volunteer opportunities. Thank you for helping to create a community of welcome. 

Volunteer with The Center's Employment & Workforce Development Department to help refugees, immigrants on the path to employment & workforce development. 

We need volunteers to assist with job orientations and with our employment specialists. 

If you're interested in becoming a volunteer, complete the application below, and submit your updated resume and cover letter on the next page. 

The Center Volunteer Application

You'll be contacted about current volunteer opportunities. Thank you for helping to create a community of welcome. 

Volunteer Position: MAC Mentor 

Department: Making a Connection Program (MAC Grant)

Position Summary: Mentors will be paired with one or more of our participants to help refugee youth and young adults achieve their academic and professional goals! 

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Meet and maintain communication with mentee
• Provide mentee with guidance necessary for adjusting to life in America and accomplishing their goals
• Follow-up with the MAC Program Manager to update them about the mentee's progress and any needs the mentee may have  
• Participate in MAC programming and events   

Accountabilities: This mentor position will be paired with a MAC participant based off of the participants needs and goals. Mentors will be required to maintain communication with their mentee and the MAC Program Manager. This is a new grant program at the Center with the purpose of matching refugee youth ages 15-24 with positive adult mentors to promote positive civic and social engagement and support individual educational and vocational advancement.

Volunteer Position: Tutor - Naturalization Exam

Department: Office for New Americans 

Position Summary: Work one on one or in small groups with immigrants and refugees studying for their naturalization exam to become U.S. Citizens. Individuals must learn 100 civics questions and be able to communicate in basic information in English.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Practice civics questions and speaking English with individuals or in small groups
• Keep track of progress and work on areas that need improvement
• Maintain confidentiality of clients at all times  

Accountabilities: This volunteer will report directly to the Project Coordinator for the Office of New Americans Opportunity Center

Volunteer Position: Tutor - English

Department: Adult Learning and/or Office for New Americans 

Position Summary: Work one on one or in small groups with immigrants and refugees studying the English language. 

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Practice English 
• Keep track of progress and work on areas that need improvement
• Maintain confidentiality of clients at all times  

Accountabilities: This volunteer position is available for two different departments at the Center. Our Adult Learning department which provides English classes everyday through a partnership with MVCC needs tutors for some of their students. Our Office for New Americans program also needs tutors to assist individuals outside of regular English language classes or at other locations in the City where English instruction is provided.