Joe Wiah

Summary

Lead all aspects of ECDC Vermont's two offices (Brattleboro and Bennington) refugee resettlement services. Under the direction of ECDC President provides strategic leadership and ensures the quality of resettlement services provided to refugees. As a senior-level manager; I manage a large and diverse team with a high degree of flexibility; excellent problem-solving skills; and in-depth knowledge of the US resettlement process.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy, Vision, and Representation

• Develops and submits an action plan for approval by ECDC President, updating it on a monthly basis and implementing strategies in each of the Key responsibilities.
• Actively engages with local leaders and the community to promote ECDC’'s mission and work locally; establishes collaborative working relationships with state and local agencies as well as other service providers, donors, advocacy partners, and community organizations.
• Leads annual planning process with agency staff. Coordinates with ECDC HQ and ensures that the ECDC VT annual plan reflects ECDC's overall mission and goals.
• Brings a community member-focused approach to the agency; interacts comfortably with staff and community members, and demonstrates respect for community members' cultural heritages. Ensures that services are innovative, holistic, demand-driven, and create a substantial and meaningful impact on the lives of refugees.
• Leads local and supports national advocacy efforts to create inclusive communities and welcoming policies for refugees and immigrants; hosts community members, ECDC senior staff, and donors; engages in and supports community and policy outreach efforts on behalf of refugees and the agency.
• Maintains a positive public image of the ECDC VT and develops working relationships with local media.
• Oversees the development of a marketing plan and appropriate marketing materials. Builds strong partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit sectors and refugee communities. Collaborates with partners to address refugee needs and support for a welcoming and supportive environment for refugee integration. Develops and maintains strong volunteer and intern programs.
• Ensures that the ECDC VT remains a learning organization that focuses on improved systems and processes and streamlined work. Leverages opportunities, such as partnerships with AmeriCorps and volunteers, to expand capacity.

General Management

• Fosters unity and collaborative work among staff. Delegates responsibilities effectively.
• Ensures that staff observe ECDC policies and procedures. Works with management-level staff to introduce and offer professional development opportunities. Manages external and internal challenges effectively and constructively. Oversees mechanisms for staff accountability. Works with ECDC's HR office prior to any hiring or terminating management-level employees.
• Ensures timely communication with ECDC HQ (Finance, HR, IT, Programs) regarding operational issues, policies, and reporting; and implements ECDC policies and safety protocols.
• Establishes, implements, and oversees quality control mechanisms for refugee programs.
• Works with ECDC HQ HR to ensure HR responsibilities are in compliance with local, state, and federal labor laws as well as ECDC policies and procedures. Develops annual plans related to staff training professional development, performance evaluation, and staff retention.

Finance

• Develops and executes annual fund development plan with ambitious revenue generation strategies and goals that reach more than $250K in private resources annually.
• Cultivates and develops local donor relationships, including individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Works closely with ECDC HQ community engagement staff to expand funding base from current and new sources of support for the agency.
• Develops the annual budget and reviews budget versus actual and profit and loss reports on a monthly basis to ensure the organization's financial sustainability.
• Accounts for revenue and expenses in accordance with established financial principles, cost allocation plans are established, and ECDC Brattleboro and Bennington maintain strong internal controls. Communicates and obtains approval from ECDC President and HQ Finance Director prior to entering into contracts, approving payments, or incurring debt outside of the approved monthly budgets.

• Led the SEVCA Housing Opportunity Program (HOP), under the United States Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing grant for 15 towns within Windham County, Vermont.
• Educated and connected individuals and families facing homelessness to a wide array of housing and other services.
• Determined eligibility for assistance based on a consistent and fair intake and assessment process.
• Provide sustainable alternatives to those in housing crisis as well as ongoing support for the best possible outcomes.
• Provided services that were people-centered and strength-based care.
• Provided other ongoing housing supportive services.
• Empowered program participants through self-sufficiency initiatives such as employment, financial empowerment, etc.
• Provided monthly or quarterly reports to the state of Vermont through the HUD Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).

• Worked with clients in the formulation of their Individual Recovery Plans (IRP) that were reviewed or modified regularly
• Provided outreach, case management, counseling, advocacy, and other needed services to clients
• Provided individually tailored services to each client such as housing, school, training & work opportunities, money management etc
• Compiled and submitted daily and monthly reports such as progress notes, incident reports etc
• Coordinated the referrals of clients to state and community services and advocated for them.

• Provided services to clients from their choice perspective
• Worked with clients, formulated their service plans and reviewed them regularly
• Assisted clients obtained affordable housing
• Coordinated the referral process to state and community agencies and ensured clients had full access to those services and resources
• Provided one to one support including job search, financial management, etc.

• Coordinated SIT faculty and students Global Leadership Seminar Series that promoted ideas and debate on global challenges
• Facilitated travels and accommodations of visiting professors who presented at these series.

• Led ICMEC Africa Research Project
• This project conducted in-depth research on legislation, policies, and best practices related to children that were abused and exploited in West Africa
• It identified trends, and common themes and performed gap analysis.

• Coordinated and supervised DBH programs from planning, implementation and exit phases
• Worked with program Directors and Finance Director to create annual program budgets
• Worked with the Finance office to track program spending and ensured all financial transactions were in compliance with DBH policy and donor regulations
• Represented the Child Protection Agencies of Liberia for the participation of children in the Truth and Reconciliation process for Liberia
• Represented DBH on the Taskforce that drafted, finalized and lobbied for the passage of the Children's law of Liberia
• Chaired five civil society organizations from Liberia and Sierra Leone to determine the threats of gender disparities to post-war recovery in the region
• Served as the Lead for DBH resource mobilization efforts, and in collaboration with Save The Children- Liberia, awarded a $4million grant for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Liberia (OVC) by USAID through World Learning
• Partnered with Cafod-UK and was awarded over $1million for DBH five years strategic plan by Comic Relief-UK
• Over the same period wrote grants that were awarded over $500,000 from Unicef-Liberia and over $500,000 from Trocaire-Ireland
• Coordinated DBH midterm and annual reports that were submitted to the donors and DBH Board
• Led the development of DBH's five years strategic plan and facilitated the organizational development and change (ODC) process that followed.