Economic Empower Director; GEMS

The Economic Empowerment Director (EED) is responsible for designing and implementing both macro and micro level economic empowerment programming for girls and young women who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking. The goal of GEMS’ economic empowerment programming is to support its members in reaching their educational and vocational goals and move toward economic independence. The Economic Empowerment Director will lead a team of educational and employment-readiness specialists to deliver its Educational Initiative and Pathways programs and financial literacy curriculum.

The economic empowerment team will utilize a trauma-informed and strengths-based lens to provide both individual and group support to members and identify and build relationships with appropriate community partners. The Economic Empowerment Director will serve as an integral part of the Support Services Team and will support all staff to move members toward economic independence by breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty.

Economic Empowerment Programming

• Provide overall direction for strategic learning and development within the organization generally and to the Economic Empowerment Program.
• Research, develop and facilitate educational preparation, employment readiness, and financial literacy programming that is trauma- and survivor-informed, utilizes best practices, and is responsive to member wants and needs.
• Supervise the Economic Employment Manager, including creating opportunities for skill enhancement, training development and special projects as they arise.
• Develop and implement strengths-based educational and employment readiness assessments and plans with individual members based on their interests, skills and goals to support them in developing a career pathway to living wage employment.
• Create realistic budgets with members that utilizes available resources and supports them in moving toward their definition of economic independence.
• Facilitate weekly employment readiness, skill-building and financial literacy workshops with members, including resume and cover letter writing, job search and interview skills, budgeting, credit, bank accounts, Microsoft Office, office behavior and skills, etc.
• Identify ways to decrease physical and emotional barriers to education and employment, including the use of financial incentives, Metrocards, in-house tutoring, etc., to ensure members are motivated and able to succeed in educational programs, vocational training, internships/externships and/or employment.
• Provide ongoing education and job coaching to ensure retention; match members to professional mentors in their field of interest.
• Lead related events, activities and field trips to expose members to an array of educational and vocational opportunities and careers, such as college tours, Educational Initiative Ceremony, Career Days, etc.
• Develop and maintain relationships with educational, vocational and job-readiness programs, trade schools, internship programs, and employers that are better positioned with resources and services to support members’ needs; provide consistent contact and support.
• Maintain a list of open immediate employment opportunities that members are qualified for.
• In conjunction with members’ Support Services Coordinators and the economic empowerment staff, utilize a team approach to provide regular check-ins, case management and advocacy.
• Manage and edit resource binders, program manuals, forms and contracts; support Program Director in building out data collection forms in the data management system, Apricot.
• In coordination with the Training Department plan for and help facilitate trainings for community partners.

Administrative Duties

• Attend weekly or…