Reporting to the ESOL Program Director, the Counselor is responsible for ensuring ESOL students have access to available resources. The Counselor will work with ESOL to improve student attendance and retention by engaging students for an individual needs assessment. The Counselor will be a part of a collaborative group that focuses on resource navigation to connect them to services that may assist clients in obtaining access to public benefits, health care, legal services, or other services.
Sunnyside Community Services provides ESOL instruction to over 500 students annually. Our approach includes innovative in-person learning strategies, a whole-person approach allowing students to access services internally, and a commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. We have recently developed in-house curricula for beginning through intermediate proficiency levels and we have developed an English for specific purposes curriculum focused on health.
Adult and Immigrant Services (AIS) offers English language classes to immigrant community members, assists in providing resources and benefits to those in vulnerable community members, provides free legal immigration consultations, engages with community members on public health initiatives and advocates alongside and on behalf of immigrants and low-income adults.
Responsibilities
Participant Advisement, Counseling, & Case Notes
- Connect with ESOL students and other immigrant community members one-on-one to determine their needs.
- Manage caseload of at least 20 ESOL students a week and maintain on-going contact in accordance with organization’s confidentiality policies and procedures.
- Develop individual needs assessments with participants to determine best way forward.
- Refer participants to specialists within the organizations or to partners in the community.
- Collaborate with instructors to help students improve study habits, social skills, and time management.
- Coordinate for workshops with AIS members or other partners as needed (ex: paralegal/legal & social services, community resources, child schooling, know your rights (KYR) if available, advocacy/ civic engagement sessions) that meet the students’ needs and funders guidelines for program outcomes.
Data Collection, Tracking and Reporting
- Collect, maintain, and track comprehensive electronic files as necessary.
- Collect, maintain, and track programmatic data and resources including individual needs assessment, participant demographic information using internal and external database and monitoring tools.
- Create and maintain up-to-date case notes and outcomes for each client in ALE Asists Database (if available), DYCD NYC Rise Database, and Salesforce.
- Conduct three surveys per session to determine the best ways to assist students with reaching their goals and improve students’ performance, attendance, and learning experience at SCS.
- Collaborate with other staff, including the resource navigation and career development team, to determine best practice in connecting individuals to resources.
Other
- Perform other duties as required. (Ex: participation in BEST Plus 3.0 testing, registration, outreach, recruitment, field trips and events)
Qualifications
- Bilingual required, Spanish preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field, plus 2-3 years relevant experience.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including oral and written communication.
- Flexibility, patience, resourcefulness and a willingness to learn and ability to work independently and creatively.
Job Classification: 35 hours per week, full-time (non-exempt)
Contract Term: September 21, 2026 – June 30, 2027
Salary: $50,000 – $56,000
Reports to: ESOL Program Director
Shift: 9 am – 5 pm
SCS Offers an Excellent Benefits Package:
Comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance
403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution
Flexible spending account and transit checks
Employee Assistance Program
20 days of paid vacation and 12 paid sick days per year
12 paid holidays
Five personal/floating days
Life insurance
Long-term disability
How to Apply
If you would like to join our team, please forward a cover letter and resume to the ESOL Program Director Batul Shakeir at bshakeir@scsny.org. Please indicate “Counselor” in the email subject line.
All positions at Sunnyside Community Services are filled without regard to race/color, religion/creed, national origin, age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, pregnancy-related condition or lactation, military/veteran status, marital status, familial status, caregiver status, sexual or reproductive health decisions, height, weight, status as a victim of domestic violence/stalking/sex offenses, predisposing genetic characteristic, immigration or citizenship status, prior arrest or conviction record, credit history, salary history, unemployment status, pre-employment marijuana testing, union affiliation/activity, or for reporting or opposing discrimination on these bases or for reporting or opposing violations of workplace health and safety, pay equity or practices, or for participating in any internal or any legally protected status listed in the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL). All are encouraged to apply.
Sunnyside Community Services strives to address, explore, and educate all our stakeholders about the diversity of human experience and to advance and integrate racial equity and social justice into all organizational policies and programs. We believe that everyone, regardless of who they are or what they do for the organization, should feel equally involved and supported.
Sunnyside Community Services represents a commitment to considering the whole person and how systemic barriers and access to opportunities can affect their well-being.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer