Program Manager, Economic Empowerment

Background:

The International Rescue Committee, Inc. (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to people forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 25 U.S cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to rebuild their lives. The IRC in Baltimore was established in 1999 and currently serves over 2,500 immigrants and refugees per year.

Scope of Work:

The program manager for economic empowerment (EE) programs is responsible for the strategic guidance, outcome tracking and measurement, management, and daily coordination of economic empowerment programs in the Baltimore office. This includes overseeing grant-funded employment programs covering entry level and career development services, financial coaching and loan programs, and new and short-term economic empowerment initiatives. The manager will work with the deputy director, other program leads and the senior management team to develop strategies to effectively identify needs, implement new and existing programs, ensure holistic service delivery, and support proposal development and program design.

Reports to: Deputy Director

Supervises: Employment Services Coordinator, Career Development Services Coordinator, Financial Coach and Job Readiness Training Specialist

Responsibilities:

·Directly manage the IRC in Baltimore’s EEP portfolio to serve refugees and other eligible populations with entry level employment, career development, financial coaching and loan services. This includes program implementation, oversight, monitoring, and evaluation for all programs.

·Provide leadership, development support and supervision to direct service staff who work in economic empowerment programs through leading team meetings; providing individual supervision, coaching and goal-setting; managing workload and prioritizing tasks; and helping staff troubleshoot challenges.

·Identify opportunities to advance gender equality for women and girls, and to better serve vulnerable individuals within the broader caseload.

·Ensure all programs fulfill funder and agency requirements for documentation, case files, data tracking, and other areas of administrative compliance.

·Produce high-quality program reports in a timely manner. This includes completing or overseeing staff completion of monthly, trimester, quarterly and/or interim or final reports to IRC headquarters, the Maryland Office of Refugee and Asylees (MORA), Baltimore City’s Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MIMA) and other private funders.

·Regularly review documentation and data to assess quality of services, ensure progress toward deliverables and outcomes, and identify areas of strength and focus for quality improvement.

·Ensure that services provided abide by humanitarian principles and service delivery expectations set forth by the IRC, MORA, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and U.S. Department of State; and are delivered in accordance with relevant quality assurance standards and HIPAA requirements.

·Develop and deliver training to the EEP team and the broader IRC in Baltimore team as needed.

·Where appropriate, attend partner or employer meetings on behalf of the IRC in Baltimore.

·Coordinate services with the broader IRC in Baltimore team to ensure a holistic approach to supporting individuals and entire families toward initial self-sufficiency and ultimately toward economic and overall well-being.

·Support and contribute to strategic planning and program design for EEP initiatives and proposals.

·Coordinate with IRC Silver Spring colleagues to implement economic empowerment programs funded by statewide grants.

·Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

·Bachelor’s degree required; relevant master’s degree a plus.

·Minimum three years of experience securing employment opportunities for clients, either in domestic refugee resettlement, other workforce development fields or closely related social service delivery; and/or at least two years of supervisory experience in refugee resettlement or other nonprofit agency specializing in workforce development programs.

·Highly organized self-starter with demonstrated success in managing multiple priorities and delivering quantifiable results under pressure, with tight deadlines, and in a fast-paced environment.

·Excellent program and staff management skills: experience developing, leading, implementing, and monitoring projects or programs in nonprofit or community-based organizations. Strong ability to coach staff, take initiative and implement pilot projects required.

·Proven negotiation, interpersonal, and oral and written communication skills, especially in a multi-cultural environment.

·Must be mission and outcome driven, high level of energy, self-confidence, and commitment to client success.

·Knowledge and familiarity with the Baltimore metropolitan area, job market and area vocational training providers strongly preferred.

·Strong technical skills using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) and web-based databases and applications.

·Excellent communication skills, with fluency in written and spoken English. Bilingual ability in one of the predominant languages of the local client base preferred.

·Strong writing skills; proposal development experience a plus.

·Valid driver’s license, reliable access to a vehicle with current insurance and the ability to travel regularly throughout Baltimore required.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.