Micro-Enterprise Development Coordinator

Job Summary

Arizona’s Economic Empowerment programming provides wraparound support to refugees, immigrants, and other diverse and disadvantaged populations in securing employment, developing career pathways, learning financial management skills, and starting successful small businesses to help new Americans thrive! The Micro-enterprise Development (MED) Coordinator will support the development of the IRC MED Program by providing refugees, immigrants, and other diverse and disadvantaged entrepreneurs with individualized one-to-one support, access to financing, and linguistically and culturally accessible trainings that target the goals of growing small businesses with a specific focus on long-term sustainability and equitable economic growth.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide ongoing resources to ethnic community-based organization leaders to solicit qualified candidates;
• Ensure participants are eligible per donor requirements;
• Provide one-to-one technical assistance to clients, primarily on business plan development making outside referrals when needed;
• Develop loan applications, including business plans, cash flow projections and other required documentation; underwrite loans to ensure alignment with IRC’s loan policies prior to submission;
• Provide credit building and small business loans to eligible participants;
• Develop and coordinate training workshops as needed, including arrangement of guest speakers/trainers, identification and purchase of appropriate incentives as needed;
• Collect appropriate documentation ensuring participant eligibility to receive services;
• Keep case files for all program clients;
• Conduct participant surveys, especially for business workshops;
• Enter data into the program’s information data systems;
• Provide Economic Empowerment Supervisor with data for narrative reports to program funders;
• Follow all IRC policies, procedures and protocols including adherence to the IRC Way and Child Safeguarding.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Economic Empowerment Manager
Position directly supervises: Interns and volunteers within program

Indirect Reporting: Sr. Manager, Direct Services
Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: IRC staff, interns, and volunteers

External: Community partners, employers

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Finance, Business, Development, or related field required;
• Minimum of two years of related professional small business experience. Experience in business counseling or helping entrepreneurs access capital is strongly desirable;
• Proven understanding of U.S. businesses and U.S. business development systems and laws, with experience in business counseling, banking, entrepreneurship, or related endeavors;
• Lived experience as refugee or immigrant. In lieu of lived experience, experience working with refugees and/or immigrants; cross-cultural or overseas experience accepted;
• Proficiency in written and spoken English, bilingual ability preferred in Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Arabic, French or other refugee/immigrant language used in Arizona. Cross-cultural understanding and strong communication skills, both written and verbal;
• Computer proficiency with an emphasis on Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook). Proven experience in web-based data entry systems, with both data extraction and design preferred;
• Highly organized self-starter with shown success prioritizing multiple tasks, making critical decisions, and delivering results in a fast-paced environment;
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to prioritize time effectively;
• Flexibility with demonstrated ability to maintain responsibility for multiple tasks in the context of a diverse, fast-paced work environment;
• Strategic, creative, problem solver capable of working well independently and as a part of a team;
• Demonstrated understanding of coaching and motivational interviewing;
• Must have a valid driver’s license, active insurance policy, access to reliable transportation and the ability to travel regularly throughout the service delivery area for home visits;
• In accordance with Arizona State Law, must possess or be eligible to receive a fingerprint clearance card.

Working Environment***:***

Hybrid work environment combined with some travel throughout service delivery area.

Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

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.

US Benefits: The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.