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Economic Empowerment Program Manager

San Jose

  • Organization: IRC - International Rescue Committee
  • Location: San Jose
  • Grade: Mid level - Mid level
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Economics
    • Project and Programme Management
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

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

Key Working Relationships: 

Position Reports to:  IRC San Jose, Director
Position directly supervises: Employment Coordinators, Employment Specialists, Employment Caseworkers, Financial Empowerment, Digital Inclusion, Employer Engagement, Career Development, Micro-Enterprise staff and VESL instructors

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

Working Environment:  

  • Standard office work environment

Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget.  Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer: 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.

US Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $143 per month, dental starting at $6.50 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.
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Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:
The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.
We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.