National Refugee Leadership and Lived Experience Council Program Director

About the National Refugee Leadership and Lived Experience Council Program (NRLLEC)

The NRLLEC is a new program funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) that designs, implements, evaluates, and promotes national-level councils consisting of refugees and other ORR-eligible populations who have resettled into communities throughout the United States within the last five years. The program's primary goal is to positively impact the lives of council members and their refugee and larger communities by building council members' capacity to serve as leaders.

Position Summary

The NRLLEC Program Director oversees the implementation and administration of the new National Refugee Leadership and Lived Experience Council (NRLLEC) program. This position reports to the Refugee Congress Executive Director. The Program Director is responsible for ensuring the success of the design, implementation, promotion, evaluation, and dissemination of NRLLEC activities. This includes managing and coordinating the work of the Executive Committee and the activities of subcommittees.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build the NRLLEC staff team, including hiring and supervising two NRLLEC program staff.
• Manage relationships with subrecipients, including developing and updating subgrant agreements.
• Serve as the point of contact with and establish strong working relationships with ORR.
• Lead, along with an Executive Committee composed of representatives of project partners, the planning and design of three cohorts of the National Young Adult Leadership Council (NYALC) and two additional councils with a thematic focus.
• Create a management plan for all program activities, in accordance with the timeline and milestones set forth by the Executive Committee.
• Oversee implementation of all program activities, which include: recruitment of council members; coordinate council meetings; identify professional development and leadership opportunities; lead organization of regular convenings; and other activities as identified by the Executive Committee.
• Serve as an ex officio, non-voting member of the Executive Committee, chair two subcommittees, and coordinate connection of activities of all subcommittees.
• Establish communication mechanisms to ensure communication and coordination among and across subrecipients.
• Serve as primary contact to build the engagement of current and prospective program partners.
• Ensure the project meets grant requirements, working closely with the Finance and Grants Manager.
• Ensure that the project maintains secure case files for council members, with a required document checklist and updated and maintained in their AirTable platform.
• Manage reporting on required data collection by tracking each data point outlined in the funding notice.
• Work with the Finance and Grants Manager to prepare all progress and final reports, including communication with subrecipients.

The NRLLEC Program Director will participate in leadership team meetings, staff check-ins, organizational planning sessions, and professional development opportunities.

Requirements/Qualifications:

• A minimum of 8+ years of experience with project management and/or implementing new programs.
• Commitment to refugee leadership development.
• Demonstrated capacity for working in cross-cultural settings.
• Experience in refugee resettlement and/or refugee policies.
• Strong relationship-building, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Additional languages are an asset.
• Master’s Degree preferred but not required.
• Experience working with forcibly displaced people.
• Candidates with direct lived experience of forced displacement are strongly encouraged to apply.

Location: While this is a remote position, candidates who reside in the Washington DC region are strongly preferred.

Salary Range: $ 85,000 - $95,000

Benefits: Benefits include health, vision, and dental insurance; paid time off; a 403(b); and other benefits.

How to Apply

NOTE: Only complete applications will be considered.

Please submit a resume and cover letter discussing your interest in the NRLLEC program, Refugee Congress’ mission, and your experiences and skills that qualify you for this position, along with references to jobs@refugeecongress.org, using the subject line “NRLLEC Program Director.” Please reach out to jobs@refugeecongress.org with any questions.

About Refugee Congress

Refugee Congress (RC) is a national nonpartisan organization, built and led by leaders who have experienced forced displacement, that promotes the well-being, inclusion, and dignity of refugees, asylees, and other forcibly displaced peoples (FDPs). We envision a world where forcibly displaced people are treated with dignity and respect, their contributions are recognized, and their voices are integral to shaping policies that affect their lives. Our mission is to promote the well-being, inclusion, and dignity of refugees, asylees, and other FDPs through leadership development, public education, and advocacy. Through our work, we aim to ensure that policies and programs are more inclusive and equitable by involving those who have experienced forced displacement in their creation.

Refugee Congress is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. People of color, women, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender/gender identify, age, or disability.

For more information about Refugee Congress, please visit our website at www.refugeecongress.org.