Women’s Economic Empowerment Specialist

Job Overview:

The Women’s Economic Empowerment Specialist will work cross-departmentally to support women who are facing economic barriers through offering financial capabilities training and coaching, and employment navigation. The Specialist will work alongside Financial Coaches, Employment Specialists, and Caseworkers, either as the assigned economic empowerment focal point for clients accessing economic empowerment services, or to supplement case management led by Caseworkers in areas such as Safety & Wellness. The Specialist is required to be trained in IPV/DV, financial literacy, and employment navigation for women from forcibly displaced populations, including asylum seekers. The Specialist will report to the Economic Empowerment Supervisor, with additional support from the Safety & Wellness Program Manager.

Major Responsibilities:

• Serve as economic empowerment coach for female-identifying clients who face higher barriers to employment and financial independence. This may include refugees, SIV holders, asylees, asylum seekers, other forcibly displaced persons, and individuals from broader immigrant communities. The Specialist will work with both female-identifying survivors of crime, as well as clients who have higher barriers to financial independence.
• Complete screening, intake, and assessment requirements.
• Provide one-on-one counseling and coaching to help program participants develop financial plans, increase assets, reduce debts, and establish positive credit histories. Refer program participants to employment, career development, transportation, and micro-enterprise programs as appropriate.
• For clients interested in getting a job, work with her to develop a comprehensive employment plan.
• Determine specific employment opportunities appropriate to clients and assist clients in accessing these opportunities by guiding them through the hiring process.
• Assist clients and employers as necessary with post placement issues and continuing employment needs;
• Monitor job performance, wage level, and employer/employee satisfaction.
• Assist program participants with accessing mainstream financial services, including off-site visits to open bank accounts and apply for credit cards.
• Support female-identifying survivors of crime to craft a safe and feasible path to financial independence, empowering them to reach their financial goals and end the victimization.
• Refer clients to survivors of crime program and other internal/external resources, as needed.
• Support/lead financial literacy classes as assigned, including as a special topic in existing classes, or as stand-alone workshops. Administer pre- and post-test.
• Conduct series of economic empowerment workshops and programs through IRC’s Women’s Resilience Center.
• Support newly resettled clients through cultural orientation and family budget development.
• Mentor specified colleagues on identifying signs of financial control and IPV, so that they can make appropriate referrals to the Specialist or Safety & Wellness.
• Ensure that information required for program eligibility and reporting purposes is collected and that accurate records are maintained, including case files and client data entry. Ensure necessary steps are taken to obtain relevant data in a timely fashion; follow-up with all clients regularly and record all contacts with case notes.
• Ensuring timely and accurate compliance to all reporting requirements, and entry into Efforts-to-Outcome Database (ETO).
• Attend regularly scheduled team meetings, all-staff meetings, and meetings with other IRC staff and volunteers as part of the review, evaluation and program maintenance process.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Education: Undergraduate degree in social work or relevant field preferred.

Work Experience:

• Preferred to have completed 60 hour DV/SA training.
• +2 years working in non-profit sector, including economic empowerment and/or wellness programs strongly preferred; 2+ years with client counseling, case management, or coaching required.

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:

• High level of familiarity with U.S. credit and banking system and experience with personal budgeting, banking and credit counseling required.
• Demonstrated experience working with refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, and/or immigrant populations desired. Experience working with non-native speakers of varying levels and backgrounds required.
• Ability to work independently, be a self-starter and maintain responsibility for multiple tasks;
• Strong written and oral and interpersonal communication skills: the ability to communicate effectively with colleagues and partners in a cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary environment, and the ability to present to a varied public required.
• Solid diplomatic and networking skills: the ability to effectively manage a variety of internal and external relationships required.
• Solid organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple tasks, set priorities, effectively manage time, and meet deadlines required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills: the ability to work effectively with partners and colleagues in a cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary environment required.
• Microsoft Office suite required.
• Fluency in spoken and written English.
• Fluency in an additional language relevant to current refugee populations preferred;

Working Environment:**

• Standard office environment, including the current hybrid mode of remote work within San Diego County and required in-office days, and some ‘field’ time within the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities. Office working environment is subject to change based on organization/business need.
• May require occasional weekend and/or evening work.
• Offices hours are scheduled as Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm.
• Access to a reliable vehicle to travel throughout the service delivery area with a valid driver’s license and current insurance required.

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 requirement.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

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, 20-30 vacation days depending on role and tenure, 8 weeks parental leave, multiple options for medical insurance starting at $135 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $6 per month, a 403(b) retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, 100% employer paid 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.