IRC Senior Economic Empowerment Manager, US Programs (Phoenix, Arizona)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is hiring a Senior Economic Empowerment Manager for its US Programs, based in Phoenix, Arizona. The full-time role pays between USD 69,939 and 92,500 a year and asks for five to nine years of relevant experience. The posting lists 30 November 2026 as its closing date.

Economic empowerment is one of the IRC’s core program areas in the United States. The team helps refugees and immigrants find stable jobs, start small businesses, build financial skills, and reach long-term self-sufficiency. This manager role leads that work in Phoenix — overseeing program quality, staff, and partnerships with local employers.

What the job actually involves

The Senior Economic Empowerment Manager leads the IRC’s economic empowerment programs serving refugees and immigrants in the Phoenix area. In practice, that means guiding the team that works directly with clients, keeping services at a high standard, tracking results, and building partnerships with employers, training providers, and community organisations.

It is a management position, not an entry-level advisor job: you own the program’s direction and performance, support frontline staff, and report to funders and senior leadership. If you have led workforce development, financial coaching, small-business support, or similar programs, the shape of the work will feel familiar.

The pay, put in context

The IRC puts the range at USD 69,939 to 92,500 a year — strong for a mid-to-senior nonprofit program management role in Phoenix, where the cost of living sits below the average for major US metros. Where you land in the range will depend on your experience, but even the lower end is competitive for the sector.

Key details at a glance

Who should apply

You are a strong fit if you:

• have five to nine years of relevant experience — the posting states this as a requirement, not a preference;
• hold a university degree;
• are fluent in English;
• hold a valid driver’s licence;
• can obtain an Arizona Level One fingerprint clearance card — a background check Arizona requires for people working with vulnerable populations;
• have led programs that help refugees, immigrants, or other vulnerable groups reach economic stability.

Who should probably not apply

Be honest with yourself before spending time on the application. If you have less than five years of relevant experience, this posting is unlikely to work — the requirement is explicit and the word “Senior” is in the title. The role is based in Phoenix with no mention of remote work, so it suits people who can work there. A purely commercial background with no nonprofit or community program exposure would also be a hard sell.

An honest note on work authorisation

This is a US-based role, and the posting does not mention visa sponsorship anywhere. My honest assessment: an NGO management role at this level almost certainly expects existing US work authorisation. To be clear — the official page says nothing about sponsorship, and I cannot promise it exists.

If you are applying from outside the US, check the application form early. Most IRC applications ask directly about work authorisation, and it is better to know the answer before investing hours in tailoring your CV. If you do have US work authorisation, this is a genuinely strong opportunity.

How to apply

Applications go through the IRC’s own careers portal:

1. Open the official IRC careers page for this role.
2. Read the full posting and confirm you meet each requirement.
3. Prepare your CV, tailored to economic empowerment and program management experience.
4. Submit your application through the official portal before the closing date of 30 November 2026.

Treat any third-party job board listing as a signpost to the official page, not the application itself — the real application lives on the IRC’s careers site.

What happens after you apply

Large NGOs like the IRC usually run a multi-stage process: application screening, then one or more interviews — often a panel interview, sometimes a practical exercise. Timelines can be slow; several weeks between stages is normal in the humanitarian sector. If you are not shortlisted, it is usually because the competition was large, not because of one flaw in your application.

If you are also exploring other senior nonprofit openings, see our coverage of the World Vision Regional Leader role for the Middle East and Cyprus and the Gates Foundation Deputy Director for TB Delivery in Seattle.

Making your application stand out

Your application should show more than management skill — it should show genuine understanding of refugee and immigrant economic inclusion. Name the specific programs you have led: workforce development, financial coaching, microenterprise support, career pathways. Numbers help: clients served, placement rates, budgets managed.

Use the language of the sector without copying the posting: terms like “economic self-sufficiency,” “client-centred services,” and “community partnerships” signal that you know this field. And address the Phoenix context — knowledge of the local job market, employer networks, or Arizona’s refugee communities is a real advantage many applicants will not have.

Frequently asked questions