Director, Economic Inclusion & Livelihoods

POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS seeks a Director, Economic Inclusion & Livelihoods to provide strategic leadership to our economic development, cash-based interventions and livelihoods programs. They will work closely with HIAS’ core sector leaders, namely, Legal Protection, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Gender and GBV, Child Protection and Food Security. They will lead and drive HIAS’ global technical strategy, own capacity building initiatives (including resource development and standards of program design and delivery), promote integration of best practices and ensure that programs are evidence-based. With a focus on emergency and development programming, the postholder shares in the overall ownership of HIAS’ impact and is responsible for ensuring that resources are available to deliver and position HIAS as a global leader in the provision of economic inclusion and livelihoods services to refugees, host communication and displaced populations.

Additionally, the postholder develops, monitors and supports economic inclusion programs in line with HIAS’ refugee rights impact framework. Our programs center on the voices and needs of refugees and displaced populations in program design and implementation. The Director, Economic Inclusion & Livelihoods further leads HIAS on the application of international standards to its programs, contributing to HIAS’ advocacy to ensure public policy and self-reliance frameworks permit refugees access to their basic needs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Sets and drives global strategy for HIAS’ economic and livelihoods programming, including design and delivery approaches with focus on visibility, sustainability and impact at scale.
• Develops targeted strategies seeking out partnerships with communities and institutions to promote economic resilience; facilitates self-reliance opportunities through skills development and entrepreneurship to empower individuals and communities.
• Develops evidenced-based technical standards/benchmarks for measurement, ensuring that processes for measurement are clear, realistic and responsive to the needs of beneficiaries and stakeholders (including donors).
• Supports program delivery and acts as a conduit for communicating global standards with specific emphasis on workforce development, entrepreneurship, livelihoods and similar business development practices.
• Works closely with business owners to facilitate access to finance and markets.
• Identifies and maps HIAS’ global capacity gaps, developing tools and resources to address identified gaps, and anticipating future technical programming needs on a timely basis aimed at reducing risk.
• Designs and supports the implementation of employer outreach strategies and engagement with corporate partners.
• Reinforces and scales-up HIAS’ Graduation Model approach.
• Drives initiatives that support self-reliance in emergency contexts, including cash-based interventions with gender transformative lens.
• Develops and implements a strategic plan for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) for refugees, displaced populations and host communities.
• Oversees the development of cash-based interventions strategy.
• Works closely with refugee youth and adolescents to develop economic inclusion and empowerment strategy that positions them to build thriving businesses to protect their future.
• Works with Institution Development, regional teams and relevant departments to identify and build relationships aimed at expanding HIAS’ revenue.
• Supports country teams to develop robust program proposals and build HIAS’ global profile in the sector.
• Represents HIAS in relevant global platforms/spaces to amplify HIAS' leadership relating to economic inclusion and livelihoods programming at international level to influence policy.
• Facilitates and uses research as a learning tool to inform program design and delivery to advance HIAS’ emergency and development principles.
• Manages a global team of technical experts, consultants and, when necessary, program budgets.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Undergraduate degree required; graduate degree preferred.
• 6-8 years of experience overseeing global economic inclusion and livelihoods programming in emergency and development settings; 3-5 years of experience with direct implementation of economic inclusion and livelihoods programs, particularly in Africa, Europe, or Latin America and the Caribbean preferred.
• English fluency required; Spanish and/or French fluency preferred.
• Knowledge and understanding of refugee economic inclusion programming preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of entrepreneurship practice, workforce development, graduation model approach, cash-based interventions, business regulatory environment for refugees and technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
• Demonstrated experience with creating inclusive strategic visions that contribute to micro enterprise development including business startups, incubation and supporting small and growing business (SGBs) to the next level through access to financial services, branding and enhanced access to market opportunities.
• Deep understanding of humanitarian architecture and donor landscapes related to economic inclusion and livelihoods.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, including the ability to regularly communicate with, motivate and inspire staff, as well as effectively communicate global and regional priorities.
• Experience working in partnership with UN Agencies and/or the US Department of State, USAID, Bureau of Population, Refugees & Migration and corporate donors, is a plus.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to think creatively, logically and critically about solutions to gaps in refugee economic development and protection.
• Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills, including the ability to motivate and support field-based staff, effectively communicate key program achievements and operational challenges to HQ, and represent programs to external stakeholders, including donors.
• Meticulous research, drafting and editing skills.
• Travel up to 25% of time.
• Travel, to include travel to insecure operating environments, may be required.

HIRING PROCESS:

We are committed to a fair and respectful hiring process, and we do our absolute best to respond to every applicant. We prioritize communication and transparency with all candidates, even those who are not moving forward. Here’s a snapshot of our hiring process:

Step 1: Submit your application!

Step 2: Phone screen with a HIAS recruiter.

Step 3: Video interview with the hiring manager.

Step 4: Video interview with a panel of HIAS employees.

Step 5: Online reference check with SkillSurvey.

Step 6: Offer and background check with Shield Screening or HireRight.

Step 7: Start your professional journey with HIAS!

Note: Some of our hiring processes may vary, and not all candidates will advance to each step.

ABOUT US:

Over one hundred years ago, the Jewish community founded HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) in New York City, the immigrant gateway to America. Supporting Jews fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe, our founders were guided by the traditions, texts and history of the Jewish people—a history of oppression, displacement and diaspora. HIAS has since helped generations of Jews facing violence because of who they were, and HIAS remains committed to helping Jewish refugees anywhere in the world. Today, our clients at HIAS come from diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds, as do our staff. We bring our experience, history and values to our work across five continents, ensuring that refugees today receive the vital services and opportunities they need to thrive.

HIAS is a learning community, committed to diversity and inclusion. We do our work with integrity, accountability, transparency and a commitment to the highest ethical standards. We seek employees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to join our teams located in the United States and across the globe. People who identify as BIPOC, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and people with lived experiences of forced displacement or immigration are all encouraged to apply. We are committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects our vision, mission and values.

VISION:

HIAS stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety and opportunity.

MISSION:

Drawing on our Jewish values and history, HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives.

VALUES:

Welcome • Acogimiento • Hospitalité • Hachnasat Orchim

We Welcome the Stranger

Justice • Justicia • Justice • Tzedek

We Pursue Justice

Empathy • Empatía • Empathie • Chesed

We Approach our Clients with Empathy

Partnership • Compañerismo • Coopération • Chevruta

We Believe in Changing the World through Partnership

Courage • Coraje • Courage • Ometz

We Act with Courage to Build a Better World

Resilience • Resiliencia • Résilience • Ruach

We Adapt and Thrive, Continuously Demonstrating our Resilience

DIVERSITY:

HIAS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, citizenship status, religious creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, pregnancy, childbirth, military status, protected veteran status, political orientation or other legally protected status.

SAFEGUARDING:

HIAS is committed to the protection of children, vulnerable adults and any other person from any harm caused directly or indirectly due to their coming into contact with HIAS. We will not tolerate sexual exploitation, abuse or any form of child abuse or neglect by our staff or associated personnel. Any candidate offered a job with HIAS will be expected to sign and adhere to HIAS’ Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records. HIAS also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. Likewise, HIAS will share this information when other organizations inquire about current and former HIAS staff as part of their recruitment process. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

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