Director, Economic Inclusion, North America

POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS seeks a Director, Economic Inclusion, North America to provide strategic leadership in our Economic Inclusion programs in the North America Region, including employment and career pathways, financial wellness curricula and supports through a bundled service model, asset building, travel loans administration and the relationship maintenance to support continued education, as well as thought leadership on the entrepreneurship activities and the build-out of its Community Development Financial Institution model to that end. HIAS’ EI work serves refugees and asylees, as well as asylum seekers when funding allows.

The Director, Economic Inclusion, North America co-creates and executes the strategy for the EI team and administered programs. The position actively supports the team and ensures quality delivery in our 29-site resettlement network, identifying opportunities for program growth and new effective models of delivery. The position builds off the mapping of the strengths and weaknesses of EI programming across the affiliate partner map, including the strategy and built out for meeting more need, and for positioning refugees for maximum income potential and for the ability to weather setbacks when they do occur.

As the head of this unit, the position provides supervision and thought partnership to program leads specializing in aspects of EI programming. They also collaborate with the other unit leads, the Directors of Initial Resettlement (focused on the first 90 days of arrival) and Social Inclusion (the team serving more vulnerable clients) both managing a portfolio of programs with a different program focus than EI, but often supporting the same clients. The Director, Economic Inclusion, North America looks for opportunities across the entire Resettlement & Integration unit for cross-collaboration in order to better serve refugees.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provides mastery in some or all of the topics in the portfolio, including workforce development, entrepreneurship and skills training, both vocational and general life skills like English as well as digital and financial literacy.
• Identifies and approaches funders, writes concept notes, and tracks grants for program outcomes and financial performance.
• Works with HIAS’ Institutional Development team to build a community of funders from private philanthropy, individual donors, and corporations—with respective HIAS teams—to build out the programming at the partner sites.
• Speaks knowledgably and at ease with a variety of audiences to build the HIAS brand in EI work and the importance of this work for long term integration.
• Collaborates with the Economic Inclusion & Livelihoods staff in HIAS’ global Technical Team that supports programming across all 23 HIAS country office locations for idea generation, synergies and coordinated communications across corporate partners and other shared audiences.
• Works with the MEAL Specialist, North America Programs to build evidence-based strategies and track programs for outcome achievement.
• Designs programs for newcomers with skills gaps and builds the strategy around provision of holistic programming, including bundled services, for better outcome achievement.
• Supervises four program leads and their direct reports, and builds a collaborative team environment.
• Collaborates with supervisor (Vice President, Resettlement & Integration) in building programming and the team, and in publicizing the goals and virtues of this service area for refugees.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Undergraduate degree required; graduate degree preferred.
• Minimum of 6-8 years of professional experience.
• Minimum of 4 years of supervision experience.
• Track record of raising money in years or awards; strong experience in fundraising.
• Experience working with newcomers; bonus if experience is in local resettlement agency.
• Experience working with federal agencies in some capacity required (i.e. program delivery, grant writing, or federal reporting).
• Good knowledge and professional experience required of managing an EI program demonstrating experience in EI infrastructure, including service delivery system and funder community.
• Experience scaling programs preferred.
• Strategic vision for growing quality programs, exhibiting a collaborative style and with the support of a well-managed team is a requirement.
• Strong public speaking skills required to inspire staff, federal funders and the wider donor community by advocating for the needs of refugees effectively.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to regularly communicate with a variety of audiences and advocate for why EI programming is critical to achieving economic self-sufficiency and financial well-being.
• Travel in the U.S. on occasion required.
• 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.