Director of Implementation – Financial Empowerment

Position Description:

The Director of Implementation for Financial Empowerment Programs provides day-to-day management of the Financial Empowerment team, directly supervising financial coaches working within the Financial Opportunity Center® (FOC) model and housing counselors to ensure high-quality, consistent service delivery. This role focuses heavily on staff coaching and professional development that leads to higher participant engagement in long-term coaching services. The Director of Implementation develops and leads evaluation and continuous program improvement for FOC staff development and financial education curriculum. They support the growth of financial partnerships and resources for the program. This position serves as an internal subject matter resource on financial capability topics, housing counseling, safe and affordable financial products for low-income families, and complex client scenarios. The Director of Implementation works collaboratively across departments to strengthen integration of the Financial Opportunity Center® model and performs other duties as assigned in response to organizational priorities and evolving funding requirements.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Supervise and Support Effective Teams

• Leads onboarding and on-going staff development activities for financial coaches and housing counselors (may include researching trainings that align with industry best practices and standards and proactively working with Program Director on budgeting for needed development)
• Develops/enhances standardized coaching, client engagement, and retention practices across programs
• Provides regular coaching to staff to improve facilitation, adult education, motivational interviewing, and coaching skills with attention to culturally responsive and trauma informed approaches
• Collaborates with staff to improve follow-up systems, coaching cadence, and participant accountability practices
• Facilitates recurring 1:1 meetings and program working groups with assigned staff
• Supports staff with complex participant situations, referrals, housing counseling requirements, and financial products/resources
• Develops/enhances group education model and financial education curriculum
• Approves timecards, reimbursements, and time off requests

Supports and Coordinates Contract Partnerships

• Monitors and supports staff with managing credit builder loans
• Prepares for and attends funder-organized meetings, trainings, and events and actively contributes to peer learning
• Prepares for and attends homebuyer TA, trainings, conferences, and peer learning meetings
• Follows through on action steps assigned in meetings and incorporates learnings that could improve KOM programs
• Leads the development and refinement of workshop curriculum, lesson plans, and activities, tailoring design to community need and funder outcomes. Includes conducting regular evaluation and implementing continuous improvement process with the team.
• Documents all meetings, including a brief summary of meeting and action step assignment and deadlines included
• Submit quarterly reports to funders including quantitative data pulled from reports, but an emphasis on collecting qualitative data not readily available in data systems.
• Supports PD with collecting MOUs and letters of support/commitment

Develops and Enhances Informal Partnerships

• Supports Program Director with coordinating partnerships, program expansion, and funding opportunities
• Builds and maintains partnerships with financial institutions, housing organizations, community agencies, and referral partners
• Supports development of new financial empowerment initiatives, and products
• Assists with grant writing, reporting, and program design activities as requested
• Attends funder meetings, trainings, and community partnership meetings

Monitors Outcome Data and Resolves Issues

• Monitors outcome data, documentation quality, and compliance (Apricot, Salesforce, Homekeeper, Workforce One)
• Utilizes reporting systems and data tools to monitor services, efficacy, documentation, and outcomes
• Conducts regular file reviews and spot checks for compliance
• Collaborates with data staff to identify trends and resolve documentation or reporting issues
• Reviews coaching data and participant trends to identify barriers to engagement
• Reviews post-training data to evaluate for areas for improvement and implement a continuous improvement process for financial education curriculum

Contributes to Organizational Success

• Collaborates across departments to strengthen the Financial Opportunity Center model
• Provides office supervision and support as needed
• Demonstrates professionalism, cultural responsiveness, and adaptability
• Completes other duties as assigned in response to organizational priorities
• Supports in-person office staff with problem solving, de-escalation, challenging situations, and acts as ‘manager on-site’ at least one time per week

Required Minimum Education and Experience:

• At least 5 years’ experience in financial coaching, financial capability programming, housing counseling, and/or adult education
• At least 3 years of experience supervising staff or leading programs
• Experience formally designing, developing, and evaluating curriculum highly desired

Required Competencies (Knowledge, Skills, & Behavior):

• Strong coaching and staff development skills with ability to build high-performing teams
• Knowledge of financial capability topics including budgeting, credit, debt reduction, banking access, savings, consumer protection, homebuying, and asset building
• Ability to support staff navigating complex participant situations and referrals
• Familiarity with safe, vetted, low-cost financial products and services for low-income families
• Strong understanding of adult learning principles, facilitation strategies, and/or curriculum development
• Excellent cross-cultural communication skills and ability to work effectively with diverse communities
• Experience utilizing databases and reporting systems to monitor outcomes and compliance
• High level of competency in Microsoft Office and database applications

Beneficial Knowledge or Experience:

• Knowledge of HUD Housing counseling preferred (KOM is not HUD certified at this time)
• Experience with homeownership counseling, foreclosure prevention, or housing stability services
• Experience using Apricot, Salesforce, Homekeeper, Workforce One and/or comparable database systems
• Grant writing, program development, or partnership development experience a plus
• Demonstrated knowledge about the culture of different refugee groups from Burma. Qualified Karen, Karenni, and/or Burmese-speaking candidates or individuals from a refugee background are highly encouraged to apply

To Apply:

Email a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to Sara Johnson, Program Director– humanresources@mnkaren.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

About Karen Organization of Minnesota

The Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting refugee and immigrant communities as they resettle, integrate, and become increasingly self-sufficient in the United States. KOM provides a wide range of programs and services including social services, employment and training, youth programs, health navigation, financial empowerment, and walk-in support.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Karen Organization of Minnesota is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and communities to apply.