Economic Empowerment Specialist at Rising Ground, Inc. – New York, New York

About Rising Ground

Founded as an orphanage in 1831, Rising Ground has been at the forefront of evolving community needs. Driven by the belief that each of us can thrive when life has hope and opportunity, Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity, and each year, Rising Ground is a positive force in the lives of more than 72,000 individuals annually. We do this through 101 programs across 138 sites, throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity is shown not just through our work with supported persons but is integral to the building of a strong staff that reflects the communities we serve. Rising Ground is headquartered in New York City.

Our commitment to trauma informed practice, social justice and restorative justice is not just reflected in the work we do with individuals and families but also in our dedication to addressing the systemic inequities that perpetuate harm. Through our programs, we advocate for justice, equity, and healing for marginalized communities that have historically been underserved. We foster an inclusive environment where all staff and clients are supported, respected, and empowered to rise above adversity. Rising Ground’s holistic and trauma-responsive services reflect our ongoing mission to challenge oppression, reduce harm, and create lasting positive change in the lives of those we serve. Our strong dedication to anti-oppressive practice extends to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we support, where each team member is a valued contributor in the pursuit of equity and healing. Our staff reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, and our passion for equity drives all aspects of our work.

About the Role

The Economic Empowerment Specialist (EES) is a core member of Rising Ground’s Paths to Healing Community-Based Services team, which provides holistic, survivor-centered services to individuals impacted by intimate partner violence, gender-based violence, and other forms of trauma. The EES delivers trauma-informed, anti-oppressive economic support, advocacy, and financial empowerment programming that recognizes the deep impact of financial abuse, systemic oppression, and intersectional barriers on a survivor’s path to healing.

Through individualized sessions, group workshops, and case coordination, the EES supports survivors in identifying and reaching economic goals such as housing stability, employment, education, budgeting, credit repair, childcare access, and public benefit navigation. The EES collaborates closely with shelter staff, therapists, legal advocates, and housing providers to ensure that survivors experience seamless, wraparound support, whether exiting DV shelters or seeking safety and financial independence in the community.

This is a unique opportunity to walk alongside survivors as they reclaim financial autonomy and stability, rebuild trust in systems, and move forward with dignity and power.

What You’ll Do

• Provide weekly trauma-informed, survivor-driven economic empowerment sessions tailored to each client’s needs and strengths.
• Develop self-sufficiency plans with measurable benchmarks and goals related to employment, income stability, housing access, education, and financial wellness.
• Assist clients in creating and refining resumes, completing job applications, preparing for interviews, and exploring long-term career development pathways.
• Provide psychoeducation and coaching in budgeting, credit understanding, debt reduction, opening bank accounts, tax prep resources, and financial goal setting.
• Support clients in accessing public benefits such as SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, childcare subsidies, and housing vouchers (including assistance with applications and renewals).
• Coordinate warm hand-offs with domestic violence shelters and shelter staff, creating trauma-informed aftercare plans to support survivors’ transition to the community.
• Co-lead EE workshops and group-based trainings focused on economic literacy, workforce readiness, and asset building.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local and citywide economic opportunity programs, including WorkForce1, CAMBA, VIP Mujeres, Hot Bread Kitchen, Urban Resource Institute, and Sanctuary for Families.
• Track all client services and referrals using HIPAA-compliant systems, and participate in quality assurance and reporting processes as needed.
• Attend regular case conferences, weekly supervision, team meetings, and professional development trainings.
• Uphold the core values of equity, anti-oppression, and healing justice in all interactions with survivors, staff, and external partners.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in social work, mental health counseling, education, public administration, or a related field strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of economic abuse, systemic poverty, and the unique financial barriers faced by survivors of IPV/GBV.
• Experience working with survivors of violence, marginalized communities, or individuals impacted by systems of harm and disinvestment.
• Deep commitment to trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and culturally responsive practice.
• Strong knowledge of NYC public benefit systems, housing subsidies, employment resources, and financial advocacy.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and organizational skills.
• Experience facilitating workshops and/or group sessions on financial or job readiness topics preferred.
• Flexibility and creativity in working both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Proficiency in English required; Bilingual Spanish or Haitian Creole strongly preferred.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Supervisory Responsibility

None required but may support interns or peers in collaborative settings.

Work Environment:

Hybrid (3 days In-office and 2 days remote), with flexibility to meet clients at various community locations or virtually.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday in our Harlem Hub location at 317 Lenox Ave in Manhattan. Work hours options are 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, 10 am - 6 pm.

Additional Requirements:

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Rising Ground that the Agency wholly complies with equal treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to an individual’s perceived or actual race, creed, color, national origin, alienate, citizenship status, gender, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or veteran status in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, layoff and termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.