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Senior Advisor-Economic Empowerment

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, the IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. In the U.S., the IRC supports newly arrived refugees admitted to the United States by providing initial basic support and an expanding array of extended services through a network of staff members and volunteers, enabling refugees to establish new lives and become self-sufficient, productive citizens.

US Programs:
Economic stability and empowerment are essential elements to IRC’s work in the U.S. In support of these goals, the IRC implements a variety of Economic Empowerment (EE) programs designed to protect, support and improve household livelihoods and financial security. These programs vary in degree and complexity throughout the IRC’s domestic network. These include employment services, vocational training, career development, financial education and counseling, tax preparation services, microenterprise development, and asset and credit building initiatives.

Scope:
Under the supervision of the Deputy Vice President for U.S. Programs, the Senior Technical Advisor (STA) will provide direction and leadership to IRC’s EE programs in the United States. The STA will be charged with implementing a new challenging and rewarding initiative within the EE programs. The STA will be responsible for ensuring adequate and effective communication with all organizational stakeholders regarding these programs.

Responsibilities:

  • Lead the development of strategy, policy and tool development for IRC’s economic empowerment work in the U.S.
  • Provide technical oversight of key EE programs.
  • Ensure that IRC’s domestic EE programs are technically sound and of the highest quality.
  • Develop and implement feedback mechanisms for strategic programs with IRC’s senior management to ensure consistent awareness of successes and challenges.
  • Create and lead the implementation of a business development / fundraising strategy for IRC’s EE programming in the U.S.
  • Identify and communicate with key donors and secure funding for EE programs.
  • Lead the development of core fundraising materials.
  • Represent IRC at broader community EE forums, as appropriate.
  • Serve as primary liaison to any Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certified subsidiary(s) established by IRC.
  • Ensure economic empowerment methodologies are evidence-based.
  • Develop and implement systems to measure the effectiveness and results of IRC’s economic empowerment programming.

Requirements

  • BA required, Masters preferred in community development, business, economics or related field.
  • 5+ years of progressive experience establishing and managing economic programming at the community level.
  • Experience designing and implementing programs that support EE initiatives.
  • Demonstrated understanding of community finance institutions including Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).
  • Demonstrated success securing funding for economic programs.
  • Strong knowledge of and experience with U.S. Government donors including the Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of the Treasury, inter-agency initiatives and partner organizations in economic fields
  • Strong skills developing and managing budgets.
  • Excellent demonstrated interpersonal skills required.
  • Experience and confidence presenting to senior level stakeholders.
  • Experience working in a matrix environment preferred.


Senior Advisor-Economic Empowerment