Associate Director for Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment

 

If you are passionate about transforming communities with a mission-driven organization, then we have the opportunity for you!

The Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment Program strengthens employment services and supports the economic self-sufficiency and community integration of refugees and other eligible newcomers through a network of subaward partners, employers, workforce development organizations, and community stakeholders. The program ensures Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-eligible individuals, particularly Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)recipients, access employment training and placement services as well as English language instruction. Reporting to the Director for Resettlement, the Associate Director for the Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment Program provides strategic, programmatic, and operational leadership for the effective implementation, quality, growth, and compliance of the Texas-based program. The Associate Director supervises Program Officers and other assigned staff; leads partner engagement, onboarding, training, technical assistance, and monitoring; oversees subaward performance and compliance with Global Refuge and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) requirements; and directs grants, agreements, reporting, proposals, budgeting, and knowledge management. Through close collaboration with internal teams and external stakeholders, the Associate Director ensures timely, high-quality services that advance participant employment, self-sufficiency, and community integration.

 

Global Refuge, formerly known as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), is a nonprofit serving newcomers seeking safety, support, and a share in the American dream. Since 1939, we have welcomed those seeking refuge, upholding a legacy of compassion and grace for people in crisis. We walk alongside individuals, families, and children as they begin their new lives in the United States through our work in refugee resettlement, care for unaccompanied children, and economic empowerment and employment. Our work also extends to Guatemala and Mexico, where we help young people with skills training and community reintegration. To date, we have served over 800,000 people from around the globe. Our comprehensive services leverage our extensive organizational expertise as well as government, community, and faith partnerships.

Attracting and retaining the best talent is vital to our continued growth and we are proud to offer an excellent benefits package including:

• medical, dental, vision available the first day of employment
• generous paid time off including 20 days of vacation, 12 days of sick leave, 12 paid holidays
• 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave and up to 12 weeks of fully paid FMLA leave
• company 403(b) contribution of 3%, an additional 7% match which vests immediately

At Global Refuge, welcoming newcomers isn't just our duty-it's an inherent part of our identity, rooted in our Lutheran heritage and inspired values and serving as a testament to our unwavering commitment to those in search of refuge. Please join us as we make a difference in the lives of newcomers.

 

Responsibilities/Duties

• Provide strategic, programmatic, and operational leadership for the Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment Program, ensuring alignment with Global Refuge priorities and ORR requirements.
• Supervise, coach, and support Program Officers and other assigned staff; establish clear expectations, promote professional development, and foster a collaborative, accountable, and inclusive team environment.
• Lead informational sessions, onboarding, training, and ongoing engagement for new and existing subaward partner staff and other program stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with subaward partners, employers, workforce development organizations, community organizations, State Refugee Coordinator, ORR-funded programs, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Programs Administration, Finance, and other internal teams to guide the timely development, execution, amendment, and management of contracts, subawards, memoranda of understanding, and related agreements.
• Oversee monitoring and evaluation of subaward partners for program quality, performance, fiscal stewardship, and compliance with Global Refuge and ORR requirements.
• Direct responsive training and technical assistance related to program implementation, employment service delivery, documentation, reporting, data quality, and compliance.
• Review program, partner, and participant data to assess capacity, progress, outcomes, risks, and trends; use findings to strengthen performance and inform program strategy.
• Approve and participate in remote and on-site monitoring visits, stakeholder meetings, desk audits, and other quality-assurance activities.
• Ensure the timely completion of monitoring reports, recommendations, corrective action plans, Performance Improvement Plans, and follow-up on identified issues.
• Oversee timely, accurate quarterly, semiannual, annual, and other required programmatic and financial reporting; review and approve reports before submission.
• Lead development and continuous refinement of monitoring tools, procedures, training materials, standard operating procedures, work plans, and other program resources.
• Oversee program content and partner resources in Global Refuge Connect, the Learning Management System, and other knowledge-management platforms.
• Manage program budgets, forecasts, and resource allocation in collaboration with Finance; monitor expenditures and ensure adherence to funding requirements.
• Lead or significantly contribute to funding proposals, continuation applications, grant modifications, and other resource-development efforts.
• Promote consistent, participant-centered, culturally and linguistically responsive services and effective program practices across the partner network.
• Represent Global Refuge in meetings, presentations, and collaborative initiatives with funders, partners, coalitions, and national stakeholders.
• Maintain awareness of emerging trends, policies, and promising practices affecting refugee employment and economic integration, and translate them into program improvements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in social work, social sciences, nonprofit management, public administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience; graduate degree preferred.
• Minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience serving refugees, immigrants, or people with limited English proficiency, including substantial program-management experience; experience with refugee resettlement and ORR programs strongly preferred.
• Minimum of five years of staff-supervision or team-leadership experience, including coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-partner programs and managing competing priorities in a changing environment.
• Strong knowledge of employment services, workforce development, refugee economic integration, English language services, and participant-centered service delivery.
• Experience interpreting and ensuring compliance with federal grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, subawards, and applicable policies and regulations.
• Experience designing and overseeing partner monitoring, performance improvement, continuous quality improvement, and risk-management processes.
• Experience developing and delivering training and technical assistance to service providers, subrecipients, or partner organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to collect, analyze, interpret, and communicate program and financial information to assess compliance, outcomes, trends, and performance.
• Experience managing program budgets and contributing to grant proposals, continuation applications, and funder reports.
• Excellent writing, editing, analysis, presentation, and reporting skills, including the ability to interpret technical requirements and communicate effectively with varied audiences.
• Strong relationship-management, facilitation, negotiation, networking, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational and project-management skills, sound judgment, attention to detail, and a consistent focus on action and outcomes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; familiarity with databases, learning-management systems, and other program-management applications.
• Deep commitment to Global Refuge's core values and the ability to model those values in leadership and relationships with colleagues, partners, and communities.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.

Global Refuge is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We participate in E-Verify in the states that permit its use.

We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package in an innovative and rewarding work environment. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage effective on your first day of employment, 403(b) with company contribution and match, 20 days of vacation per year, tuition reimbursement, professional development, and much more. Salaries are based on the latest market data and reflect the education, skills, and requirements for the role. Differentials may exist based on the region and language abilities.