Placement Specialist

ICF is currently seeking a Placement Specialist to provide support to ORR in meeting their mission goals.  This support covers a variety of activities across multiple divisions within each federal program. 

The Placement Specialist will use his/her expertise to support application reviews and service referrals, placement support, transfer support, and support clear communication between all stakeholders involved in placements and transfers.   

The mission of ORR is to promote the health, well-being and stability of refugees, unaccompanied children (UC), and other eligible individuals and families, through culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and strengths-based services. ORR’s vision is for all new arrivals to be welcomed with equitable, high-quality services and resources so they maximize their potential. 

The purpose of the Mission Support Project is to provide technical, acquisition, program management, administrative, and business support services to ORR in order to meet ACF mission requirements. 

In this role you will have a thorough knowledge of ORR policy and practice related to placement and transfers and services available to support UC.  The Placement Specialist will report to a divisional or bureau lead for supervision and assignments.  The supervisor structure will provide oversight, quality assurance, and support for all placement duties. 

Positions will be fully remote, onsite embedded in the client site, and hybrid. 

This role will include shift work to process referrals of unaccompanied children and identify initial placement locations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Additionally, some Placement Specialists may be asked to specialize in Placement Transfers and Long-Term Foster Care (LTFC) and work during business hours to process transfers, movement operations, and LTFC referrals.  

Key Responsibilities:

Placement Specialist responsibilities include: 

• Providing support for reviewing and processing applications for placement and services.  
• Assisting in the review of referrals for additional services and assisting in the identification of the need for additional services for existing recipients of agency services. This support will include review and analysis of case files and making recommendations for services based on relevant statutes, regulations, and agency policies and procedures.  
• Assisting federal staff in coordinating access to services. Researching and drafting technical assistance related to access to services for review and use by federal staff.  
• Assisting in the tracking of case information including but not limited to, placements, services received, and outcomes for service recipients.  
• Maintaining familiarity with ORR database and technology systems supporting the work of the Placement Operations Division, as well as remaining up to date on policy, procedure, and litigation that impacts the initial placement, transfer, and movement of unaccompanied children. 
• Developing and updating existing and new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).  
• Developing and keeping up to date training curriculum to onboard new staff.  
• Communicating with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) field personnel to inform and assist in the placement of minors referred to ORR for care and placement.  
• Identifying sensitive cases that need the attention of UC Bureau’s (UCB) management. 
• Communicating with ORR Field Operations and internal stakeholders to support the transfer and movement of all unaccompanied children in and outside the network.  
• Answering initial placement calls and inquiries from DHS Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), facility program staff, advocates, attorneys, and others seeking immediate shelter or long-term placement decisions, or information for newly apprehended unaccompanied children.  
• Contacting regions, districts, and facilities to gather more information.  
• Recording all significant incidents reported during off office hours and report them to UCB management by email.  
• Producing reports regarding capacity, referrals, and placements as needed. Reports must contain details such as the referrals received, transfers, movement operations and LTFC referrals by UCB per day, discharge rate for unaccompanied children in care, and total capacity in UCB facilities, among other data reporting. 

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, public administration, business, social services, or related field which requires an understanding of business analysis.  
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience working with unaccompanied children placed with ORR or other relevant experience with immigrating or migrant families. 

Preferred Skills:

• Master’s degree in social work, public administration, business, or other advanced degree in a related field  
• Working knowledge of ORR mission and activities as well as a deep understanding of unaccompanied child placement options and requirements. 
• Experience working for a refugee program. 

Professional Skills:

• Solid team player with proven ability to manage competing priorities, perspectives and stakeholder needs. 
• Exceptional collaboration skills. 
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities. 
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple activities simultaneously in a fast-paced, changing environment.  
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills. 
• Demonstrated outstanding level of professionalism, including ability to exercise good judgment, discretion, tact, and diplomacy. 
• Proficient with MS office applications (i.e., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). 

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Working at ICF

ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future.

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Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location, education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position.

The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is:

$60,927.00 - $103,576.00

Texas Remote Office (TX99)