Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a leading humanitarian organization that responds to crises worldwide, and they are seeking an Economic Empowerment Program Manager to develop a workforce development program in Montana. This role involves program design, community engagement, and establishing partnerships to enhance job opportunities for diverse populations.
Responsibilities
- Design and launch a workforce development program from the ground up — including service design, eligibility criteria, intake and referral processes, case management, and success metrics
- Develop program policies, procedures, and client-facing materials suited to Montana's rural and geographically dispersed population
- Conduct outreach and recruitment of prospective participants, screening and assessing for program eligibility
- Collaborate with the development team on new program design and grant proposals to grow services; contribute to program and office-wide strategic planning, with measurable goals for placements, partnerships, and reach
- Identify and regularly attend the workforce development board(s) covering each Montana community IRC serves, securing access through partner relationships where meetings are not readily public
- Position IRC Montana as the local expert on serving English Language Learners and diverse low-income job seekers, adapting framing by community
- Build sustained relationships with board members and system partners over time, recognizing that trust- and funding-influence take months or years to develop
- Work to influence board funding priorities, positioning IRC Montana to draw down multi-year, public-sector workforce funding as a stable complement to grant-based revenue
- Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with employers, donors, career service providers, registered apprenticeship providers, small business and corporate entities, educational institutions, and financial experts and mentors to expand client opportunities
- Build relationships with the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, community colleges, and vocational training providers
- Represent IRC Montana at community events and coalitions; maintain an up-to-date partner map and relationship status across the state, in coordination with office leadership
- Develop a strategy for identifying and prioritizing new geographic areas for program expansion, informed by population needs, labor market data, and funder priorities
- Travel regularly to new and existing communities to conduct outreach, needs assessments, and relationship-building ahead of program launch
- Adapt program design to local conditions and build local partnerships before or alongside rollout in each new area
- Oversee delivery of job readiness training, placement support, and retention services, ensuring they are culturally responsive and accessible (addressing language, transportation, and documentation-related barriers)
- Track individual client outcomes and aggregate program data for funder and organizational reporting
- Hire, train, and manage staff supporting the program as it grows; collaborate as an active member of the office leadership team
- Represent IRC Montana in public, professional, and governmental forums; lead planning of special events such as partner engagement events and client workshops
- In coordination with office leadership, develop and monitor department, program, and grant budgets, and implement process improvements as the program grows
- Ensure compliance with funder requirements across federal, state, and foundation-funded grants
- Serve as the Executive Director's point person for workforce development programming and priorities
- Implement decisions and priorities set by the Executive Director and technical team input as they relate to workforce development
- Ensure clear role boundaries, shared planning, and consistent communication with site leadership and other program staff to avoid duplication of effort
- Participate in regional leadership meetings and organizational forums as requested
- Comply with all IRC policies, procedures, and protocols
- Establish data collection systems suited to a new program, and regularly report performance to leadership and funders
- Document lessons learned as the program expands, to make replication in new geographic areas progressively easier
Skills
- University degree (four-year, B.A.) required
- Minimum 3-5 years of related program experience, including program development, monitoring, and evaluation
- Experience designing or launching workforce development, employment, or job readiness programs, ideally within a nonprofit or public-sector context
- Previous fundraising and grant writing experience
- Demonstrated success building and sustaining relationships with employers, government agencies, or community institutions, with comfort in relationship-building processes that unfold over months or years
- Highly organized self-starter able to manage multiple priorities and deliver results independently in a fast-paced environment — particularly suited to building a new program from scratch
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including comfort representing the organization publicly; fluent in English, with a second language desirable
- Willingness to travel regularly across Montana; proficiency with MS Office applications, including a strong command of Excel
- Demonstrated commitment to IRC's core values of service, accountability, integrity, and equality
- Advanced degree in a related field preferred
- Experience engaging with public workforce systems (e.g., workforce development boards, WIOA-funded programs) strongly preferred
- Experience working with refugee, immigrant, or other diverse low-income populations preferred
Benefits
- 10 sick days
- 10 US holidays
- 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure)
- Medical insurance starting at $145 per month
- Dental starting at $7 per month
- Vision starting at $5 per month
- FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs
- A 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution
- Plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting)
- Disability & life insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (available to staff and their families) to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles
- FSA for healthcare and commuter costs
- 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching
- Disability & life insurance
- 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
Company Overview
Company H1B Sponsorship