Financial Education Specialist

Job Description

Job Overview:

The Financial Education Specialist will support the IRC’s Financial Education Programs through the coordination of Building Resilience, Communities in Action, and other Financial Capability programming activities to clients, leading financial education trainings and workshops, conducting individual assessments to measure Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) risks and financial capability, case management, debt navigation and credit repair mentoring, and providing stabilization support services to help low-income East County residents to achieve and maintain economic self-sufficiency. The Financial Education Specialist will also play an active role in providing access to consumer loans to IRC clients through IRC’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).

Major Responsibilities:

· Assist in the outreach and recruitment of Building Resilience and Communities in Action eligible program participants;

· Screen, assess, and enroll interested participants for program eligibility and participation;

· Conduct individual case management and provide necessary support services or internal referrals to employment, career development, transportation, micro-enterprise of external programs as appropriate;

· Conduct various pre and post assessments to demonstrate the effectiveness if IRC Economic Development programming increases financial capability and decreases risks for ACE;

· Collaborate with other IRC departments to ensure effective integration of financial education and coaching and ACE factors awareness;

· Support financial education training sessions and administer pre- and post-assessments. Assist program participants with effectively accessing mainstream financial services, including opening bank accounts, establishing savings, and building credit;

· Support debt navigation coaching sessions with an emphasis and the creation of a debt navigation plan, debt prioritization, debt supports, and debt consolidation;

· Support IRC clients in accessing capital from IRC’s CDFI through the facilitation and submission of auto, education and training, work support, or credit building applications;

· Ensure that information required for program eligibility and reporting purposes is collected and that accurate records are maintained, including case files and client data entry across multiple data bases. Ensure vital steps are taken to acquire relevant data in a timely fashion; follow-up with all clients at a minimum of every 90 days and record all contacts with case notes;

· Attend regularly scheduled meetings with other IRC staff and volunteers as part of the review, evaluation and program maintenance process;

· Assist in the planning and coordination of classroom activities and special events;

· Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

· Undergraduate degree in a related field strongly preferred; or mix of equivalent years of related work experience and education;

· 1+ years’ experience in the non-profit sector strongly preferred;

· Prior experience working with refugee and low-income populations preferred;

· High level of familiarity with U.S. credit and banking system and experience with personal budgeting, banking and credit counseling required;

· 1-3 years proven experience with client counseling, case management, or coaching required;

· Previous multi-cultural experience and demonstrated ability to communicate well with people of multifaceted backgrounds required;

· Ability to work independently, be a self-starter and maintain responsibility for multiple tasks;

· Excellent organizational skills;

· Strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to make presentations and provide one-one-one coaching in English and other relevant language(s);

· Proficiency in English and an additional language relevant to current refugee or immigrant populations required (Arabic, Swahili or Haitian Creole preferred).

Working Environment:

· During pandemic: At home work with reliable internet. Non-pandemic: Standard, professional office environment;

· Regular travel to off-site locations is required;

· Offices hours are scheduled as Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm; some evening and weekend events required;

· Access to a reliable vehicle to travel regularly throughout the service delivery area.

Benefits: We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days depending on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $120 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with immediately vested matching, disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement****: In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires candidates who are selected for interview to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for this position.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity****: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer****: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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