Occupational Therapist - Refugee Community Health

Salary: $25-$35 per hour

About Heartland Alliance International & Marjorie Kovler Center: Heartland Alliance International (HAI) is a global human rights organization advancing the health and human rights of marginalized communities. HAI implements programs addressing trauma-informed mental health care, access to justice for survivors of rights abuses, and stigma-free health services. Through innovative, equity-driven approaches, HAI promotes human rights protections and gender equality across its global and U.S.-based programs.

HAI's Marjorie Kovler Center (MKC), based in Chicago, is a nationally recognized treatment center for survivors of torture and severe trauma and their families. Serving individuals from more than 60 countries, MKC provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health, medical, and social services. The center also advocates for the end of torture worldwide and for the rights of immigrant and refugee communities.

Summary: The Occupational Therapist (OT) provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive individual and group services to individuals and families impacted by torture, forced displacement, and severe trauma. Embedded within the Marjorie Kovler Centers integrated programs including Survivors of Torture, Healing Journeys, and the Afghan Program the therapist supports participants in restoring meaningful engagement in daily life through occupational therapy interventions. This role also includes supervision of OT students, internal and external training, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to support clinical direction and program development.

**NOTE: This position is a Union position and is governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement. As a condition of employment, the employee shall remit dues or fees to the Union for contract administration.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Deliver trauma-informed, culturally and linguistically responsive occupational therapy services to individuals and families impacted by torture, forced displacement, and severe trauma.
• Conduct individual and group assessments and interventions on-site, in community settings, and virtually as needed.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams including clinical, case management, medical, legal, and social service providers to support participant goals and holistic care.
• Maintain timely and accurate clinical documentation in accordance with organizational and professional standards.
• Provide clinical supervision to OT students in alignment with AOTA guidelines and contribute to internal training and capacity building efforts.
• Participate in program development, including reviewing clinical policies, contributing to grant reporting, and supporting evaluation efforts.
• Represent the Marjorie Kovler Center in local and national coalitions, workgroups, and community partnerships.
• Provide education and training to staff, volunteers, and external partners on the role of occupational therapy in trauma recovery and forced migration contexts.
• Demonstrate adaptability and initiative in a cross-cultural, trauma-informed environment.
• Participate in regular individual supervision, team meetings, and professional development activities.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, ethical standards, and applicable licensing requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of program and organizational goals.

Supervisory Responsibilities: N/A

Education and Experience:

• Masters degree or higher in Occupational Therapy from an accredited institution.
• Current licensure as an Occupational Therapist in the State of Illinois.
• Minimum of 34 years of professional experience in occupational therapy, preferably in community-based or trauma-informed settings.
• At least 23 years of experience working with immigrant, refugee, or other vulnerable populations.
• Experience providing clinical supervision to OT students in accordance with AOTA standards.
• Familiarity with interdisciplinary collaboration in clinical environments.
• Experience working with interpreters in both individual and group settings is highly desirable.
• Multilingual abilities are a plus, especially in languages represented by the client population.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities (K/S/A):

• Deep understanding of trauma-informed care principles and their application in occupational therapy.
• Knowledge of the impact of social, psychological, and cultural dimensions of forced migration and torture on occupational performance.
• Ability to deliver culturally and linguistically responsive services in a cross-cultural setting.
• Experience working with interpreters in both individual and group therapeutic contexts.
• Strong clinical reasoning and assessment skills tailored to diverse populations.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams.
• Skilled in technical supervision and mentoring of OT students in accordance with AOTA standards.
• Effective communicator with the ability to educate others on the role of OT in trauma recovery and forced migration contexts.
• Demonstrated capacity for program development, training, and external partnership engagement.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 and electronic health record systems.
• Ability to remain calm, flexible, and solution-oriented in high-pressure or crisis situations.
• Commitment to ethical practice, confidentiality standards, and professional development.

Competencies:

• Trauma-Informed Practice: Applies trauma-informed principles to support healing and resilience in individuals impacted by torture and forced migration.
• Cultural Humility: Demonstrates respect for diverse cultural backgrounds and adapts therapeutic approaches to meet the linguistic and cultural needs of participants.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Works effectively within a multidisciplinary team to coordinate care and support holistic outcomes for clients.
• Clinical Judgment: Uses sound clinical reasoning and ethical decision-making in complex and evolving situations.

Work Environment:

HAI has a dynamic and collaborative work environment. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Sit, reach with arms and work with hands to operate computers or equipment
• Stand, walk, climb stairs, and may need to kneel or crouch to access workspace equipment
• May occasionally need to lift or move items up to 10 pounds

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Heartland Alliance International makes all hiring and employment decisions, and operates all programs, services, and functions without regard to race, receipt of an order of protection, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, amnesty, physical or mental disability, protected veterans status, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, use of FMLA, VESSA, military, and family military rights, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the organization's AIDS Policy Statement of September 1987.