Deputy Director, NVPPA

International Rescue Committee•New York, NY

13d•Remote

About The Position

The Deputy Director leads the International Rescue Committee’s National Virtual Program for Professional Advancement (NVPPA), an Office of Refugee Resettlement-funded program implemented in FY27. The role leads the NVPPA team and is accountable for timely, on-budget, compliant delivery of the cooperative agreement, which runs from September 30, 2026 through September 29, 2027. The position has an end date of September 30, 2027. The Deputy Director oversees program start-up and service delivery, grant compliance and award management, budget and financial oversight, data and quality assurance, staffing and supervision, and coordination with IRC programs and external partners. The program provides professional advancement support to eligible participants through career navigation, training, job development, placement support, and direct financial assistance. This is a fully remote, U.S.-based position. It requires reliable high-speed internet, a private workspace suitable for confidential discussions, and scheduling flexibility across U.S. time zones. Occasional travel may be required. Compensation is $94,000–$105,000 annually, with the exact offer depending on work location and candidate experience and skills.

Requirements

University degree in Business, Public Administration, Social Work, Economics, Community Development, or a related field; comparable work and/or lived experience may be substituted.
At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience designing, developing, and implementing workforce, employment, or broader economic empowerment programs, including program monitoring and evaluation.
At least 5 years of staff management experience, including remote or geographically distributed teams, with demonstrated ability to coach staff and manage performance directly and through supervisors.
Demonstrated experience managing federally funded awards and their compliance and reporting requirements.
Demonstrated experience overseeing client-level direct financial assistance or comparable payment processes, with a strong grasp of internal controls.
Demonstrated ability to launch a program quickly and manage a budget of comparable scale through spend-down.
Demonstrated understanding of refugee resettlement and employment services in the U.S. context.
Excellent communication and organizational skills, including a track record of reporting difficult information to funders accurately and on time.
Microsoft Office Suite proficiency.
Commitment to anti-racism and ongoing learning.
English fluency.
Reliable high-speed internet and a private workspace suitable for confidential discussions.

Nice To Haves

ORR or other HHS award experience.
Experience with audits or funder monitoring.
Familiarity with credential evaluation and professional licensing pathways.
ETO or comparable client database experience.

Responsibilities

Lead program start-up, ensuring intake, staffing, data tools, referral protocols, interpretation, and device support are in place as clients arrive.
Set and enforce service standards for a high-volume, light-touch program, including a completed Professional Advancement Plan (PAP) and documented career navigation for every enrolled participant.
Oversee training, job development, and placement support, and ensure related records are maintained.
Ensure implementation complies with ORR policy, cooperative agreement terms, applicable federal award regulations and cost principles, and IRC policies on data protection, confidentiality, and safeguarding.
Partner with the Senior Director as the program’s primary contact with the ORR program officer and coordinate with ORR staff, partners, and technical assistance providers.
Ensure eligibility rules are applied consistently and eligibility documentation is collected and retained for every participant.
Manage internal controls for direct financial assistance, including pre-disbursement documentation, alignment with approved PAPs, vendor and training provider verification, and IRC Global Supply Chain protocols.
Maintain audit-ready documentation and ensure accurate, timely program and financial reports.
Identify, escalate, and resolve compliance risks, including suspected fraud, in collaboration with finance, compliance, and award management colleagues.
Manage the program budget with the Finance Manager, monitor spending, and ensure timely spend-down and award closeout.
Provide revised projections and propose reallocation to additional eligible services or a budget revision when a shortfall is projected, at ORR’s direction.
Ensure Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) is configured to program requirements and serves as the system of record; work with the data team on data quality, reporting, and staff training.
Monitor performance against outcome targets, use data to identify barriers, and adjust the service model.
Establish and oversee routine quality assurance for case files, PAPs, and assistance documentation, and track findings through resolution.
Lead recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of a newly formed, fully remote team; train staff on eligibility, eligible uses of funds, documentation standards, and the database.
Directly supervise the NVPPA Supervisor and Customer Service Representative; manage performance, workload distribution, and professional development, and adjust direct service capacity as enrollment becomes known.
In collaboration with the Program for Initial Resettlement (PIR), oversee guidance on appropriate co-enrollment with PIR and other ORR programs, such as Matching Grant.
Establish referral and coordination protocols with sister resettlement agencies, IRC offices, and other providers so eligible clients can access the program regardless of their resettlement agency.
Represent the program to IRC office leadership and external partners.

Benefits

10 paid sick leave days.
10 U.S. holidays.
20–25 paid time off days, depending on role and tenure.
Medical insurance starting at $163 per month.
Dental insurance starting at $6.50 per month.
Vision insurance starting at $5 per month.
Flexible spending accounts for healthcare, dependent care, and commuter expenses.
403(b) retirement savings plan with immediate-vesting employer match.
Non-elective employer retirement contribution based on age and years of service, with three-year vesting.
Disability insurance.
Life insurance.
Employee Assistance Program with confidential counseling and support services for employees and their families.