The Purpose of the Role
The Economic Empowerment (EE) Programme Manager oversees the development, implementation, and completion of all grants, contracts and activities related to the Economic Empowerment department, including refugee employment, workforce development, small business development, and financial capabilities. The portfolio currently includes a large private donor grant and several small local authority contracts. Responsibilities include supervision of economic empowerment staff, primarily the ESOL & Adult Education Lead and Employment Caseworkers, and ensuring compliance with programme requirements.
Key Working Relationships:
Position directly supervises: ESOL & Adult Education Lead and Employment Caseworkers and work closely with the Finance Manager, other Programmes Managers, Senior Programme Development Advisor and other departments where there is overlap in client caseload.
The position work with external partners such as Community-based organisations, employers, and workforce agencies.
Key Accountabilities:
Oversight and growth of Programmes:
- Effectively manage the development, implementation, compliance, and completion of all grants and contracts within the department.
- Responsible for the development of grant proposals, including working with the Senior Programme Development Advisor to find new opportunities and strengthen donor relations to grow the EE portfolio of work.
- Monitor the provision of services through regular and systematic case file reviews, and quality assurance protocols including data QA to ensure compliance with donor requirements and provision of quality services.
Staff Supervision and Other Responsibilities:
- Participate as an active member of the RAI management team and relevant internal and external groups.
- Support the Economic Empowerment team members; formally evaluate team and individual performance to ensure objectives have been met.
- Recruit and train staff in all aspects of economic empowerment programmes responsibilities.
- Represent IRC in public, professional and governmental forums.
- Facilitate interdepartmental communication and information sharing for monthly newsletters, program reports, etc.
- Other duties as assigned.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:
- University degree (four year, B.A.) or equivalent experience; advanced degree in related field such as business, public policy.
- Strong analytical and training skills; excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Highly organized self-starter with proven success managing multiple priorities, making critical decisions, and delivering results in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
- Solid diplomacy, relationship building and networking skills; ability to effectively manage internal and external relationships, including community stakeholders and donors.
- Demonstrated success achieving goals and communicating effectively a multi-cultural environment.
- Fluent in English, both spoken and written. Proficiency in a second language desirable.
- Demonstrated proficiency in working with MS Office applications, with strong command of Excel
- Strong understanding of the UK employment support ecosystem, including Jobcentre Plus, local authorities, DWP-commissioned programmes (e.g., Connect to work, Restart, Flexible Support Fund), adult education funding (AEB, Multiply), and local careers/employer networks***.
- Knowledge of employer needs, labour market trends, and sector-based recruitment models in the UK (e.g., health & social care, hospitality, logistics, construction).
Experience:
- Minimum five years of related program management experience including staff management, program development, and monitoring and evaluation***.
- Minimum of three or more years’ experience implementing economic empowerment programmes; this could include workforce development, financial inclusion, and/or small business development programmes***
- Knowledge and familiarity with UK integration services for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants***
- Demonstrated experience working with relevant key partners including industry/private sector, adult education and/or colleges, workforce system, public benefits system(s), financial service(s) providers, and/or small business centers strongly preferred
- Previous fundraising and grant writing experience
- Demonstrated ability to promote an organizational culture that reflects IRC’s core values of service, accountability, integrity, and equality. Ability to lead in a way that recognizes that IRC’s work is best accomplished through the true collaboration of individuals from many cultures with a great variety of skills and perspectives.
- Direct experience delivering economic empowerment programmes tailored to people facing barriers such as refugees, migrants, women returning to work, long-term unemployed or ESOL learners***
- Knowledge of effective approaches for: ESOL-for-Employment models; Skills assessments and vocational profiling; CV and interview preparation, coaching, and workplace readiness; Sector-based work academies (SWAP), work experience and employer engagement; Self-employment/micro-enterprise pathways relevant to refugee communities
- Track record building partnerships with UK employers and training providers to create inclusive recruitment pipelines.
- Experience influencing employers to adopt refugee-inclusive recruitment practices (e.g., guaranteed interviews, contextual hiring, supported placements).
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