Job Details

Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited and the forgotten? Do you believe in our calling as Christians to welcome the least of these and love our neighbor?

If you answered 'yes', to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you.

At this pivotal moment in time, we are rapidly expanding and growing our team to meet the increasing needs of our world. We are looking for people who want to use their gifts and talents to make a real and tangible difference in our world and the lives of the suffering.

If you're looking for a purpose-driven career in which you can grow your talents, while also standing up for the rights of the vulnerable, we want you to join us today.

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY

World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world's greatest crises in partnership with the church. The organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of war-torn Europe. Since then, for 80 years, across 100 countries, World Relief has partnered with local churches and communities to build a world where families thrive and communities flourish.

Today, organizational programming focuses on humanitarian and disaster response, community strengthening and resilience, and refugee & immigrant services and advocacy.

POSITION SUMMARY:

World Relief Chicagoland serves adult immigrants and refugees at every stage of their language and career development journey, including contextualized English instruction, career-specific training, and workforce readiness. The Student Success Coach ensures learners achieve successful outcomes by providing proactive outreach, individualized coaching, and barrier mitigation. This role supports participants in completing industry-recognized credentials and transitioning seamlessly to employment or further education through intentional planning and warm hand-offs, while strengthening community relationships that build partnerships for increased opportunity.

This is a part time position for 32 hours per week. 1 day onsite and 4 work from home days.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Guide learners through academic training plan: Collaborate with students to create individualized career maps anchored in SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound), ensuring timely completion of credentialing steps and alignment with long-term career objectives.
• Support credential attainment: Coach learners through Pre-Bridge, Bridge, and ICAPS training; build study skills and exam readiness for industry-recognized credentials.
• Remove systemic barriers: Connect students to wraparound supports (transportation, childcare, technology access, food security, and mental health services) to promote persistence and completion.
• Foster motivation and self-advocacy: Maintain regular check-ins, track progress against SMART milestones, and implement personalized strategies to overcome obstacles.
• Deliver proactive outreach: Communicate via Zoom, email, text, and in-person appointments, using qualified interpretation to ensure language access.
• Coordinate warm hand-offs: Partner with Community Colleges for post-secondary transitions and with Career Pathways Specialists for employment and additional vocational training, ensuring employer readiness and alignment with career goals.
• Collaborate across teams: Work closely with instructors, Workforce Development, Case Management, Counseling, and Student Support Services to monitor progress, identify barriers, and deploy targeted interventions.
• Track and report outcomes: Document participation, progress toward SMART goals, and credential attainment for evaluation and continuous improvement.
• Maintain strong lines of communication with partner community colleges to coordinate placement, registration, advising, and clinical scheduling, ensuring smooth transitions from adult education into credit-bearing and credential programs.
• Represent the department with community partners (employers, libraries, community centers, social service agencies) by attending meetings, sharing program updates, and elevating learner needs to strengthen referral pathways and employer readiness.
• Contribute to partnership quality assurance by gathering feedback on learner preparedness and workplace performance, and by coordinating continuous improvement with department leadership.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Mature and personal Christian faith
• Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
• Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
• Able to affirm and/or acknowledge World Reliefs Core Beliefs, Statement of Faith, Christian Identity and National Association of Evangelicals' For the Health of The Nation document
• Bachelor's degree required, preferred in the following areas: education, human services, counseling or other related fields
• At least one year's experience in the field of Adult Education as a Student Success Coach or equivalent (Academic Advisor, Transitions Coordinator, Learning & Development, Corporate Training, etc.)
• Ability to commute to WR office, as well as flexibility to visit partner community colleges and local partners for transitions support and rapport building.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Initiative and Independent Work
• Manage Competing Priorities
• Organizational & Time Management Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Cross-cultural sensitivity
• Trauma-informed academic advising skills
• Cross-Cultural Communication Skills (oral and written)
• Ability to Engage Interpretation Services
• Knowledge of World Relief
• Confidentiality and Professionalism

$27 - $29 an hour

World Relief offers a competitive benefits package and employee discount program for full-time, Regular, employees.

World Relief is honored to be recognized with the Gold-level Cigna Healthy Workforce Designation for exceeding the core components of our well-being program including leadership and culture, program foundations and execution, and whole person health.

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Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

For World Relief staff, strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief is essential, and Christian faith is a prerequisite for employment, based upon United States federal guidelines provided in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.