Economic Empowerment Director (Community Program Director)
Job Description
The University of Maryland Support, Advocacy, Freedom, and Empowerment (SAFE) Center for Human Trafficking Survivors is hiring a Director of Economic Empowerment (Community Program Director). The SAFE Center’s Economic Empowerment Program is foundational to its vision and services and is essential to helping trafficking survivors achieve their career and educational goals. The Director of Economic Empowerment will manage the ongoing development and delivery of the SAFE Center’s Economic Empowerment Program, supervise Economic Empowerment staff, and help strengthen workforce and education pathways for survivors. The Director will provide strategic direction on program design and services as well as management and supervision on the delivery of services.
The mission of the SAFE Center is to provide survivor-centered and trauma-informed services that empower trafficking survivors to heal and reclaim their lives and prevent trafficking and better serve survivors through research and policy advocacy. Through in-house service provision and collaboration with partners, the Center provides comprehensive social, legal, mental health, medical, and economic empowerment services to survivors of sex and labor trafficking of any age, nationality, or gender. The SAFE Center’s mission is rooted in social justice and active efforts to fight systemic racism which is one of the causes of human trafficking. More information is available on the SAFE Center’s website at www.umdsafecenter.org.
This position is located in College Park, Maryland, and offers the flexibility of a hybrid work arrangement. Candidates will be required to complete a background check.
Responsibilities
Program Leadership & Strategic Development
- Provide strategic leadership in development, implementation, and expansion of the SAFE Center’s Economic Empowerment Program, with a primary focus on building workforce pathways for survivors of human trafficking, including Limited English Proficient populations and youth clients.
- Develop programs focused on workforce readiness and financial literacy that are responsive to our clients' goals.
- Create and implement a strategic plan for program growth, establish measurable outcomes, identify funding and partnership opportunities, and ensure services align with evolving workforce trends and survivor needs.
Employer Partnerships & Workforce Pipeline Development
- Build and maintain partnerships with employers, workforce agencies, educational institutions, industry associations, and community organizations.
- Develop sustainable job pipelines in high-growth sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, skilled trades, and technology.
- Expand access to internships, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and career advancement opportunities.
- Serve as the SAFE Center’s primary liaison for workforce and employer engagement initiatives both at the county and state level.
Program Oversight & Direct Service Leadership
- Oversee Economic Empowerment staff and provide guidance related to career coaching, education navigation, and employment placement.
- Ensure delivery of individualized, trauma-informed workforce and educational services, identifying ways to decrease barriers to education and employment for clients.
- Integrate economic empowerment services within the SAFE Center’s multidisciplinary team, including legal, behavioral health, housing, and social services.
- Identify service gaps and implement innovative strategies to improve employment and education outcomes.
- Oversee management and maintenance of Economic Empowerment of program materials, including program manuals, curricula, forms, and partnership agreements.
Data, Evaluation & Performance Measurement
- Collaborate with data and evaluation staff to develop, implement, workflows, and tracking processes to effectively monitor participant engagement, service delivery, client progress, and education and employment outcomes.
- Establish and monitor core program performance indicators.
- Conduct ongoing analysis of program data to identify trends, disparities, barriers, and opportunities for program improvement and strategic growth.
- Utilize participant feedback and outcome data to lead continuous quality improvement efforts and strengthen program effectiveness.
- Oversee data collection, documentation, and reporting practices and ensure alignment with organizational policies, grant requirements, and best practices in trauma-informed and survivor-centered programming.
Grant Support
- Identify funding opportunities related to workforce development and economic empowerment.
- Support grant writing, budgeting, implementation planning, and reporting.
- Ensure compliance with grant requirements and organizational policies.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree. Degree in social sciences, such as social work or psychology preferred. Master's degree may be required based on associated licensure.
Experience: Five (5) years of experience involving program planning and coordination experience, preferably in a community or university setting.
Supervisory Experience: Two (2) years of work coordination, training, or supervision.
Other: Except for qualifications established by law, additional related experience and formal education in which one has gained the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for full performance of the work of the job class may be substituted for the education or experience requirement on a year-for-year basis with 30 undergraduate college credits being equivalent to one year of related experience. In instances where specific education and/or experience is required only directly related education and/or experience may be substituted.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Accomplishes responsibilities by primarily (>50%) performing significant managerial functions within area of responsibility. Possess subject matter expertise in a professional discipline. Achieves objectives through coordinated efforts of others, typically by managing recruitment, engagement, performance, and development of employees. Develops, implements, and manages goals and objectives. Participates in strategic planning. Determines and enforces processes, practices, and/or policies. Manages operations, workflow, projects, and/or systems that have strategic impact. Accountable for operational and/or financial resources. Accountable for legal and policy compliance. Primarily supports upper level senior professionals in the overall strategic direction (rather than daily operations) of, typically, a functional area (department OR major function within a school or campus wide office). Develops and executes strategic goals and objectives. Responsible for planning, development, and implementation of strategies. Substantial latitude to make managerial decisions within area of responsibility. Upper senior professionals rely on expertise and advice to make financial, personnel, and significant strategic decisions. Significant authority to act on behalf of upper level senior professionals as needed. Knowledge of position requirements. Knowledge of all applicable requirements, regulations, and laws. Skill in effective use of applicable technology/systems. Ability to effectively communicate both verbal and written thoughts, ideas, and facts. Ability to work cooperatively with others and independently. Ability to demonstrate, understand, apply, and adhere to the UMB Core Values of Respect and Integrity, Well-being and Sustainability, Equity and Justice, and Innovation and Discovery.
About Us
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is Maryland’s public health, law, and human services university. Six professional schools and the interdisciplinary Graduate School confer the majority of health care, human services, and law professional degrees in Maryland each year.
Our goal is to support the University’s mission of education, research, clinical care, and public service by amplifying UMB’s voice as a thought and action leader, and to enhance goodwill in the communities and people with whom we engage. UMB is a public university and constituent institution of the University System of Maryland. All employees are expected to work primarily physically within the State of Maryland.
UMB is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce and is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, ancestry or national origin, sex, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, marital status, protected veteran's status, or any other legally protected classification.
If you anticipate needing a reasonable accommodation for a disability under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), during any part of the employment process, please submit a UMB Job Applicant Accommodation Request. You may also contact HRDiversity@umaryland.edu. Please note that only inquiries concerning an ADA request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. Read the UMB Notice of Non-Discrimination for more information.
UMB is a public university and constituent institution of the University System of Maryland. All employees are expected to work primarily physically within the State of Maryland. Regular and contractual employee are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package
Job Info
- Job Identification 210
- Job Category Program Management
- Posting Date 10/16/2026, 06:03 PM
- Apply Before 10/31/2026, 03:55 AM
- Job Schedule Full time
- Locations 660 W Redwood St, Baltimore, MD, 21201, US (Hybrid)
- Expected Salary $100,000 - $108,000, commensurate with education and experience
- SOAPF 135-15005000-000000-SAFECTR1-310
- JobType Regular
