Program Manager: Newcomer & Refugee Asylee - English Language Learners Multilingual Achievement (2025-26)

Ref:7922

Position must be posted for a minimum of 10 days

TITLE:

Program Manager Newcomer and Refugee/Asylee

REPORTS TO:

Assigned Supervisor

DEPARTMENT:

As Assigned

CLASSIFICATION:

Classified Management

FLSA:

Exempt

WORK YEAR/HOURS:

261 days/7.5 hours

ISSUED:

Created: July 2017

SALARY GRADE:

ADCL 15

BASIC FUNCTION: Under direction of assigned supervisor the Newcomer and Refugee/Asylee Program Manager facilitates the collaboration between the District and newcomer students and families social services schools student services educational partners community organizations and government agencies to ensure the social emotional and educational needs of the newcomers attending Oakland Unified schools are being met. The Program Manager promotes and support the OUSD Strategic Plan to create equitable opportunities for learning and success that ensure all students are college and career ready and plays an integral role in achieving the mission and goals of a Full Service Community District by providing support to schools and families.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES: (Incumbents may perform any combination of the essential functions shown below. This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties knowledge or abilities associated with this classification but is intended to reflect the principal job elements accurately.)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Supervise staff in English Language Learner and Multilingual Achievement (ELLMA) Student Services office to ensure that services for newcomer students are accessible and efficacious to meet the academic social and emotional needs of newcomer students and families to OUSD.
• Lead professional development for site-based support staff teachers and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) around services available for newcomer students to enable equitable access to these supports and to build capacity of staff within schools and CBOs.
• Facilitate the delivery of timely accurate accessible and language-specific information to families of newcomer students about OUSD and community services relevant to their needs.
• Manage outreach to schools governmental entities families students refugee resettlement organizations county-funded Social Adjustment Service Providers and other community-based organizations to coordinate and expand effective programming resolve issues and conflicts and exchange information in support of refugee and asylee students and their families.
• Establish and sustain systems to manage and maintain quality partnerships including regular meetings planning sessions collaborative problem solving and agreements to ensure open and ongoing communication and collaboration in support of students needs.
• Provide to department leadership recommendations for goals for the program in conjunction with key community partners and in compliance with grant mandates District and ELLMA goals and changing student and school site needs.
• Partner with school sites District departments and refugee service agencies to ensure access to a wide array of academic and enrichment supports.
• Facilitate the identification of different subgroups of newcomer students including refugees asylees and Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth and enroll these students in appropriate schools assist with school choice and transfers and facilitate outreach to each newly resettled refugee community.
• Coordinate referrals to legal service providers for asylum-seekers and ensure access to all applicable services for recently granted Asylee students including public benefits and youth employment opportunities.
• Coordinate services for and directly outreach to school-aged refugee/asylee youth who have left school and work with school and community partners to re-engage students with school and facilitate their re-enrollment; communicate enrollment issues to District enrollment staff as applicable.
• Obtain and distribute school readiness supplies and materials to refugee and asylee children and youth and their families. Cultivate and manage partnerships with voluntary faith-based and other local partners to coordinate donations of supplies.
• Collaborate as needed with District transportation department to provide transportation assistance for refugee and asylee children and youth and their families.
• Provide students and families with school orientation and support with student placement and choice workshops for families on OUSD/U.S. school norms access to key community and school-based support services (such as after school programs summer programs and enrichment programs) needs- assessments student support plans and access to translation services.
• Support schools with family-school communication and engagement. Connect refugee/asylee students and families with tutoring counseling and mentoring services as needed.
• Collaborate with District parent and family engagement staff to provide parent education programs through partnership with school sites community navigators OUSD Adult Education and local partner agencies.
• Maintain coordination with IT to sustain newcomer student data in district databases to document refugee status identify needs services brokered and received and track the impact on school attendance and achievement.
• Collaborate with District partners to design Districtwide newcomer summer programming for Refugee and Newcomer English Language Learners as well provide referrals to other District summer programs as well those offered in the community.
• Support maintenance of grants including proposal writing report writing and grant compliance.
• Partner with the District Talent Division and other offices to identify sources for recruitment; actively participate in the recruitment and selection process for ELLMA staff summer enrichment programs and community volunteers. Compile and submit contracts and oversee progress and activities of contractors.
• Supervise train and evaluate personnel funded by grants and other sources as assigned.
• Provide cross-training to other District personnel related to ELLMA services.
• Stay abreast of current policies associated with the refugee program and current refugee resettlement trends to ensure district compliance with laws and procedures and make recommendations/advocate for changes that will result in more effective and efficient operations and services in the District.
• Advocate for refugee/asylee students by serving as district liaison to local regional state and federal agencies and partner with district and community partners to advocate for local resources for refugee/asylee students and families.
• Prepare and present written and oral reports for the appropriate District leaders agencies private providers community and other audiences.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The District determines whether a candidate is qualified based on fulfillment of prerequisites relevant work experience ability to perform the essential functions reference checks effective interpersonal and communication skills demonstrated by interview performance and/or writing samples and achievement on performance-based assessments (if applicable) that demonstrate the candidate possesses the requisite knowledge skills and abilities. Meeting prerequisites only satisfies the initial screening process and does not indicate the candidate is qualified to perform the essential functions of the position.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Current issues pertaining to immigration in relation to the refugee resettlement newcomer education and changes in federal immigration policy

Local health and education services

Related community agency organization resources and services

Budgetary principles and practices

Highly difficult technical educational cultural social and recreational programs

Advanced training techniques; correct English usage grammar spelling and punctuation

Telephone techniques systems and etiquette

Interpersonal skills using tact patience and courtesy; good communication skills and techniques

Applicable federal state and District codes regulations policies and procedures

Principles and practices of evaluation and supervision

Collection and organization of information including electronic data

Methods to interpret apply and explain rules regulations policies and procedures

Computer software hardware and related technology

Training programs and techniques

Facilitation practices and skills

ABILITY TO:

Interpret implement and maintain current knowledge of applicable laws codes policies procedures and District regulations governing work scope

Ensure the development and implementation of communication with appropriate agencies to develop effective newcomer services

Identify contact develop and coordinate community and educational resources

Prepare clear concise and comprehensive reports recommendations and assessments

Make effective oral presentations to individuals and groups

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with school district staff and agency personnel and others contacted in the course of work

Perform a variety of highly difficult technical duties involving specialized knowledge and independent judgment

Prioritize responsibilities to provide timely support to schools in using a broad range of tools and activities

Communicate clearly; understand and interpret District and other rules policies and procedures

Understand and follow oral and written directions

Work independently

Work with computer software hardware and related technology

Meet schedules and timelines

Maintain records

Analyze situations accurately and take appropriate action

Work cooperatively with others

Complete work accurately and as directed with many interruptions

Organize coordinate and prioritize a large volume of activities programs and services

Identify and resolve school site and other issues in a timely manner

Train employees and others

Prepare presentations and use expert facilitation skills

PREREQUISITES

• Bachelor Degree from an accredited college; 3 years of relevant experience working with related student populations and at least one (1) year of leadership or supervisory experience; experience working with newcomer students
• Masters degree in related field preferred
• Experience working with immigrant youth in an urban school district environment preferred
• Experience developing and facilitating community partnerships on behalf of immigrant youth preferred
• Proficient in California education codes Welfare and Institutions codes and other laws and protections governing the education rights of foster children and youth and their families
• Combination of skills education experience and ability to fulfill all representative duties associated with this position
• Valid California Drivers License if applicable

PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROCESS:

Employment eligibility will include fingerprints tuberculosis and/or other employment clearance

WORKING CONDITIONS

ENVIRONMENT:

Office and diverse school site environments; driving a vehicle to conduct work; fast-paced work; constant interruptions

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Consistent mental alertness; sitting or standing for extended periods of time; lifting carrying pushing and pulling objects up to 30 pounds occasionally 30 pounds; bending and twisting at the waist reaching overhead above the shoulders and horizontally; dexterity of both hands and fingers while performing duties; seeing to read write and use the computer; hearing and speaking to exchange information in person or on the telephone and make presentations.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY:

The Oakland Unified School District does not discriminate in any program activity or in employment on the basis of actual or perceived race religion color national origin ancestry age marital status pregnancy physical or mental disability medical condition genetic information veteran status gender sex or sexual orientation.

Required Experience:

Manager