Technical Advisor, Economic Empowerment

The Technical Advisor, Economic Empowerment provides technical support and leadership to IRC’s Economic Empowerment (EE) programs in nearly 30 U.S. cities and, in a more limited capacity, in support of IRC’s work in Europe.The Technical Advisor is responsible for helping field offices identify opportunities, and build and monitor sustainable, cost-effective workforce programs and services that promote clients’ economic well-being and self-reliance.This Technical Advisor position will promote the development, adaptation and dissemination of microenterprise models and develop strong institutional relationships with industry, public-sector partners, donors and other partners to expand microenterprise programming. S/h/xe will ensure that offices develop efficient, sustainable, evidence-based program models, and help the IRC increase the scope of its Economic Empowerment (EE) programs.

Major Responsibilities:

Technical Support to Field Offices

•Ensure that IRC’s RAI EE programs are technically sound and of highest quality, with an emphasis on microenterprise and asset building programs

•Provide remote and on-site technical support and assistance in the design, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EE programming, with an emphasis on microenterprise and asset building programs

•Develop and adapt tools, policy and curriculum to support standard program delivery, in particular in the area of sector-specific training curricula for entrepreneurs

•Actively participate and be accountable as an internal loan committee member for IRC’s Center for Economic Opportunity

•Establish best practices and develop resources to support replication of successful EE model, with emphasis on microenterprise and asset building services

•Coordinate delivery of technical training on EE program topics

•Identify and implement ways to leverage internal and external technical resources to expand IRC capacity

•Monitor and report to USP senior management on the successes and challenges of EE program

Strategy, policy & institutional capacity building

•Contribute to the development of organizational strategy and policy to promote economic wellbeing of IRC clients in the US and to support global economic wellbeing outcomes with a focus on the role that microenterprise and asset building programming plays in this strategy

•Contribute to the development of best practices and internal and external learning around microenterprise with other core sectors

•Research and liaise with external communities of practice on trends in EE programs, in particular microenterprise development

•Support field offices in the recruitment and selection of new EE field staff

Business Development and Representation

•Research and document sustainable microenterprise funding models and facilitate those models across the network in partnership with local field offices

•Attract financial and technical resources towards the achievement of USP economic wellbeingoutcomes

•Build corporate and institutional partnerships that promote opportunities for in-kind and volunteer opportunities that assist our clients’ businesses to develop further

•Cultivate donor and academic relationships to support EE programs and related initiatives

•Lead the development of concept notes and proposals for EE programs, especially as relates to microenterprise and asset building programming

•Provide guidance and support to field offices to effectively access funding and provide technical review of proposals prepared by field staff

Assessment & Evaluation

•Ensure economic empowerment methodologies are evidence-based

•Coordinate tracking, compilation and analysis of key indicators and outcomes for economic wellbeing

•Adapt and develop evidence-based tools for measurement and assessments of EE programs

•Contribute new evidence, ideas and analysis to promote program impact and cost-effectiveness

•Identify and share best practices across the network and with external partners

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position reports to: Deputy Director, Economic Empowerment

The TA maintains close working relationships with Executive Directors, and technical staff in the field offices, staff in the Program Quality & Innovation unit, Research, Analysis and Learning unit, Resource Acquisition and Institutional Partnerships & Philanthropy teams.The TA is also expected to develop and maintain external relationships with corporate partners, public agencies, peer service providers and research institutions across the country.

Requirements:

•Masters/post-graduate degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Community Development or related fields required;

•Minimum of five years of experience with progressive responsibility in implementation of microenterprise development or related programming

•Demonstrated expertise in program design, monitoring and evaluation, with the ability to turn concepts and strategy into measurable action;

•Demonstrated understanding of microenterprise development services a must; experience with financial capabilities or workforce development an asset, ideally within the context of serving low-income immigrant and refugee communities

•Demonstrated success in securing public and private funding, in particular, related to microenterprise development

•Strong track record of external and public relations with partners and donors

•Excellent communication, teambuilding and interpersonal skills

•Ability to think strategically and creatively.

•Strong organizational skills with ability to juggle multiple tasks, set priorities, effectively manage time and meet deadlines, and proven ability to work under pressure

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