Housing Counseling Program Manager

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

This position is open to candidates with existing work authorization in the location where the position is advertised.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Program Manager, Housing Counseling provides technical and administrative support for the development of network-wide Housing Counseling toolkits, curricula, guidelines, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that build IRC’s capacity to deliver and sustain housing counseling services under IRC’s Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Counseling Multi-State Organization (MSO). The role will support local offices in expanding housing counseling activities that strengthen client housing stabilization and homelessness prevention. This role will also support IRC’s housing programs and services in collaboration with the HQ Resettlement Team, Economic Empowerment Team, and other teams across RAI US. The position sits within the HQ Resettlement Housing Team and reports to the Director, Initial Resettlement.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Draft and update Housing Counseling curricula, toolkits, and SOPs aligned with HUD regulations and guidance (e.g., Handbook 7610.1 and 24 CFR part 214) and IRC’s Strategy 100, for use by housing counseling staff across IRC’s U.S. network and those preparing to take the HUD Housing Counselor Certification exam.
• Prepare client-facing housing counseling curriculum materials for in-person counseling and workshop, plus online LMS platforms.
• Maintain and update Resource Navigation tools that map available local, state, and federal housing stabilization, homelessness prevention, and rental assistance resources across the network.
• Help plan and facilitate Housing Counseling and counselor certification training, as well as other IRC housing training, peer learning, and knowledge-sharing opportunities across the network, including through the Monthly Housing Call, Communities of Practice, Switchboard, and similar forums.
• Serve as a first point of contact for day-to-day operational questions, providing technical assistance to support offices in launching, expanding, and sustaining housing counseling programming and other IRC housing programs and their requirements.
• Respond to office requests for guidance on housing counseling program design, documentation, and compliance, applying established HUD requirements and IRC guidance, and escalating complex or ambiguous cases as needed.
• Collaborate with the HQ Housing Team, HQ Economic Empowerment Team, Resettlement colleagues, and other HQ departments (e.g., Preferred Communities and Policy) to support the alignment of housing counseling programming with IRC’s broader housing and resettlement strategy.
• Support data collection, outcome tracking, and HUD-required reporting (e.g., HUD Form 9902), compile and summarize program data to flag trends and gaps for program improvements, and contribute to housing related grant proposals, donor reports and applications, including mapping local funding opportunities in collaboration with field offices and HQ staff.
• Draft standardized practices and quality assurance protocols (e.g., case file review guidance, supervisory monitoring templates) that align affiliate housing counseling practice with HUD Housing Counseling Program requirements, for review and approval.
• Monitor changes to HUD Housing Counseling Program regulations and guidance, flag their implications for the network, and update network tools, curricula, and training materials as directed.
• Attend HUD, intermediary, and national housing counseling meetings or forums, as assigned, and share key updates with the team.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Social Work, Urban Planning, Public Policy and Administration, or a related field preferred.
• HUD Housing Counselor Certification strongly preferred, or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire; demonstrated working knowledge of HUD Housing Counseling Program requirements (24 CFR part 214, HUD Handbook 7610.1) required. Experience supporting HUD-approved housing counseling agency in compliance, technical assistance and capacity-building support preferred.
• Minimum of 2–3 years of relevant professional experience in housing counseling, affordable housing programs, or housing case management, including experience contributing to curricula, SOPs, or training materials.
• Demonstrated ability to draft, adapt, and facilitate curricula, toolkits, and training materials for adult learners across diverse organizational contexts.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, with experience supporting multi-site or multi-state initiatives, and the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience working with refugee, immigrant, or other underserved populations preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to promote an organizational culture that reflects IRC’s core values of integrity, service, equality, and accountability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office required; familiarity with types of AI solutions for operational productivity and accuracy required; experience with the HUD Housing Counseling System (HCS), client management systems (CMS), reporting, and other software used for counseling and IRC housing services is a plus.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time to visit IRC field offices and affiliates as required. Preference for candidates living within reasonable proximity of an IRC Housing Counseling location, to perform housing counseling activities as needed.

Compensation: (Pay Rate: $60,000-75,000/yr). 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.

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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Benefits: IRC offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. Highlights include 10 paid sick leave, 10 U.S. holidays, 20-25 generous paid time off based on role and tenure, medical insurance starting at $163/month, dental starting at $6.50/month, and vision starting at $5/month, flexible spending accounts (healthcare, dependent care, and commuter), a 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match (immediate vesting) along with a non-elective employer contribution based on age and years of service (3-year vesting), disability and life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential counseling and support services for employees and their families.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.