Overview
The Economic Empowerment Program Manager will build a workforce development program for IRC Montana from the ground up, focusing on service delivery, partnerships, and geographic expansion.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and launch a workforce development program, including service design, eligibility criteria, intake, case management, and success metrics.
- Develop program policies, procedures, and client-facing materials.
- Conduct outreach and recruitment of prospective participants.
- Collaborate on new program design and grant proposals.
- Identify and attend workforce development board meetings.
- Position IRC Montana as a local expert on serving English Language Learners and diverse low-income job seekers.
- Build sustained relationships with board members and system partners.
- Influence board funding priorities to draw down public-sector workforce funding.
- Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with employers, donors, career service providers, and other entities.
- Build relationships with the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, community colleges, and vocational training providers.
- Represent IRC Montana at community events and coalitions.
- Develop a strategy for identifying and prioritizing new geographic areas for program expansion.
- Travel regularly to new and existing communities to conduct outreach, needs assessments, and relationship-building.
- Adapt program design to local conditions and build local partnerships.
- Oversee delivery of job readiness training, placement support, and retention services.
- Track individual client outcomes and aggregate program data.
- Hire, train, and manage staff supporting the program.
- Collaborate as an active member of the office leadership team.
- Represent IRC Montana in public, professional, and governmental forums.
- Lead planning of special events.
- Develop and monitor department, program, and grant budgets.
- Implement process improvements.
- Ensure compliance with funder requirements.
- Serve as the Executive Director's point person for workforce development programming.
- Implement decisions and priorities set by the Executive Director and technical team.
- Ensure clear role boundaries, shared planning, and consistent communication.
- Participate in regional leadership meetings and organizational forums.
- Comply with all IRC policies, procedures, and protocols.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Establish data collection systems.
- Regularly report performance to leadership and funders.
- Document lessons learned as the program expands.
Required Experience
Minimum 3-5 years of related program experience, including program development, monitoring, and evaluation. Experience designing or launching workforce development, employment, or job readiness programs, ideally within a nonprofit or public-sector context. Experience engaging with public workforce systems (e.g., workforce development boards, WIOA-funded programs) strongly preferred. Previous fundraising and grant writing experience. Demonstrated success building and sustaining relationships with employers, government agencies, or community institutions.
Qualifications
University degree (four-year, B.A.) required; advanced degree in a related field preferred.
