Job Overview: The Economic Empowerment Programs Manager at the New Jersey Office for Refugees (NJOR) oversees a portfolio of awards related to Economic Empowerment and contributes to NJOR’s strategic activities in these areas. Awards include Refugee Support Services (RSS) Employment programs, Financial Coaching, Career Pathways, and Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA). The Economic Empowerment Programs Manager ensures NJOR’s portfolio of Economic Empowerment programs is best in class through responsibilities in three main areas: sub-award management, technical support, and business development. The Economic Empowerment Programs Manager also focuses on project management, program implementation, stakeholder outreach and education, and networking as needed to advance the Economic Empowerment goals and strategies of NJOR. The Economic Empowerment Programs Manager reports to the Program Officer, Economic Empowerment, and works in partnership with NJOR staff, project colleagues at sub-award agencies, and other stakeholders.
Major Responsibilities:
Sub-Award Management
- Support the Program Officer in reviewing new policy releases from ORR and where necessary update guideline and procedure documents for sub-award agencies on all NJOR Economic Empowerment-related grant programs including RSS Employment Services and Refugee Cash Assistance.
- Collaborate with the Program Officer to create guidelines and procedure documents for sub-award agencies on all NJOR Economic Empowerment grant programs.
- Participate in the review and development of all Economic Empowerment related sub-award agreements’ scope of work.
- Implement sub-award management initiatives for all Economic Empowerment programs’ pre-award assessments, program review meetings, monitoring, and program opening and closing processes.
- Review data and narrative reports submitted from sub-award agencies and compile information from data and narrative reports for ORR Semi-Annual Reports.
- Coordinate developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation tools and systems for sub-award partners.
- Collaborate with the data team to oversee the collection and analysis of data for all Economic Empowerment programs and ensure regulations compliance.
- Contribute to the review of partner sub-award budget submissions, monthly financial reports, and budget vs actual reports and make recommendations to ensure project and compliance goals are met.
- Participate in program monthly check-ins and provide ongoing technical support.
Technical and Administrative Support
- Support regular updating of the RCA and RSS Manual of Policy and Procedures.
- Maintain all RCA and RSS program-related forms, including translated documents.
- Focal point for all questions and clarifications regarding the RCA and RSS program and eligibility issues.
- In consultation with the Program Officer, respond to all SAA inquiries.
- Support the development of training resources and materials for SAA implementing the RCA and RSS programs.
- Identify skill and capacity gaps within SAA and provide technical assistance which may include preparing and instructing training materials.
- Support SAA in the development of work plans and Scopes of Work (SOW).
Program Implementation, Monitoring and Reporting
- Participate in monthly program meetings with SAA and communicate the outcome of such meetings within NJOR.
- Conduct monthly quality assurance for RCA reconciling programmatic and finance data.
- Effectively communicate SAA changes and any compliance issues within NJOR and externally to respective SAA.
- Participate in the monthly Budget Vs Actual (BVA) meetings to analyze SAA expenditure.
- Ensure quality programming through coordination of meetings, training, and conferences within the Economic Empowerment department.
- Work closely with the payment benefits coordinator to resolve any issues between enrollment and payment of clients.
- Participate in the Communities of Practice (COP)
- Conduct annual monitoring of the RSS and RCA program across all SAA through case file review, staff interviews, client interviews, and program observations.
- Review data and narrative reports submitted from SAA and compile information from data and narrative reports for ORR Semi-Annual Reports.
Business Development
- Support the Program Officer to coordinate the identification of potential business development and funding opportunities for Economic Empowerment programming.
- Support proposal development, program design, and submission for Economic Empowerment related business development opportunities.
Other Duties
- Support the Senior Program Officer and Program Officer to develop and oversee the implementation of interventions that strengthen statewide systems that support refugee Economic Empowerment.
- Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Requirements
- Undergraduate degree preferred, ideally in management, administration, or a related field.
- Minimum 2 years’ experience with administrative or operational responsibilities. Experience in non-profit administration is a plus.
- Previous experience supporting grants or contract management is an advantage.
- Experience and training in support group facilitation and adult education techniques.
- Prior experience working in refugee/immigrant support services is strongly preferred.
- Experience in program management software client relationship management, relational databases, or other information systems for client management.
- Excellent analytical and report-writing skills are strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office suite, particularly Excel.
- Excellent diplomatic and cross-cultural skills and ability to work with various stakeholders across multiple teams.
- Attention to detail and the ability to follow instructions fully and precisely are essential.
- Solid organizational skills: work productively and accurately while under pressure in a fast-paced, demanding environment.
- Excellent communication skills (written and verbal).
- Proven ability to contribute both independently and as a key team member.
- Self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills, proven ability to multi-task, prioritize duties and manage time effectively.
- Fluent in English both spoken and written required.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook).
- Willingness and ability to travel between assigned offices (travel will account for 20% of this role).
Working Environment:
- A combination of standard office environment, remote work, and ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above-outlined responsibilities.
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.
Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.
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: The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.
In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.