Economic Empowerment Program Manager International Rescue Committee Experience: 3 to 5 Years California, United States of America Apply By: 06-02-2025

Job Overview/Summary: The Economic Empowerment Program Manager will be responsible for supervising the Matching Grant, Santa Clara County employment, Career Development, Digital Inclusion, Employer Engagement, Financial Empowerment, Micro-Enterprise programs. He/she will be responsible for ensuring that these programs meet all performance goals per funder and contract requirements, are responsive to client needs, and operate within budget and compliance parameters.  He/she will also be responsible for ensure sustainability of this program area through program development and grant writing and will directly supervise direct service staff in this program area.  The Economic Empowerment Program Manager must be committed to working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a team committed to offering high-quality, community-based programs.  He/she must have sound judgment and be comfortable making decisions in a fluid environment.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Major Responsibilities: 

• Oversee and manage Matching Grant, Santa Clara County employment programs which serve newly-arrived refugees and other qualified populations
• Provide supervision to Career Development, Digital Inclusion, Employer Engagement, Financial Empowerment, Micro-Enterprise program and staff, including daily administration, support, and performance reviews.
• Ensure that the programs consistently meets all established grant outcomes as well as internal benchmarks established by IRC.
• Provide leadership and supervision to direct service staff who work in the Matching Grant, Santa Clara County employment programs including leading team meetings, providing individual supervision, coaching and goal-setting and performance feedback through the context of the Performance Management System; managing workload, and helping staff troubleshoot challenges
• Ensure that the program is compliant with funder and agency requirements in terms of documentation, case files, data tracking, and other areas of administrative compliance; produce high-quality program reports in a timely manner
• Support program sustainability through program development and grant writing
• Work collaboratively with other agency staff to ensure that Matching Grant and County Employment programming is integrated into the continuum of IRC services
• Conduct regular outreach to community organizations to advocate for the program, and recruit new volunteers and interns
• Develop and implement intensive job-readiness classes that prepare students for the workplace and working culture of the United States, enhancing their employability
• Organize field experience to supplement professional development classes, allowing clients to apply their professional skill set in real-life employment situations.
• Provide intake, assessment, and pre-employment/job readiness orientation to clients eligible for employment services
• Monitor client performance, and progress in their job readiness plan at frequent intervals, ensuring that they are complying with program policy and participating to the best of their ability.
• Provide ongoing coaching and counseling to program clients while also facilitating access to specialized local resources, helping them to overcome the barriers they face to achieve their goals for economic and social self sufficiency
• Organize and expand community partnerships to supplement Employment Program Curriculum with workshops focusing on crucial life-skills and development of employable skills, included but not limited to, health, financial literacy, networking, legal rights, and technology.
• Maintain a monthly employment program schedule, organizing appropriate class scheduling, community workshops, student level assignment, and instructors, updating frequently as client arrivals change
• Coordinate scheduling with VESL and Employment volunteers, taking into account their strengths and placing them into the program in a position that will maximize client benefits and volunteer experience
• In coordination with Employment Specialists Maintain good relations with employers, assisting in hiring process as needed, ensuring their satisfaction with client performance in job.
• Organize and update employment intern task database and weekly schedule, assigning tasks to each individual, maximizing benefits of interns to the Employment program and creating an educational experience for interns.
• Communicate with Social Services or other local agencies to report any errors or changes with client information.
• Encourage employment as the pathway to self-sufficiency for newly arrived refugees.
• Assist clients with necessary referrals through social services, medical clinics, or other community organizations as needed.
• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion within the IRC Economic Empowerment team in San Jose
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies
• Related duties as assigned

Job Requirements: 

• Undergraduate degree preferred; equivalent related work experience may be substituted
• Three years related professional work experience; preferably in a non-profit or human services environment
• Previous work experience in job development with refugees.; Knowledge of the US job market ; and San Jose environment specifically, is preferred
• Previous supervisory experience preferred
• Excellent ability to communicate clearly and convincingly both in writing and orally in English.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural work environment
• High quality computer/network capacity. Familiarity with Microsoft Office suite preferred
• Commitment to the mission and values of the IRC and ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks in fast paced, team work environment
• Additional language skills in a language common to our client populations preferred

Source: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/job/req56524/Economic-Empowerment-Program-Manager