Financial Empowerment Manager

Background

The City of Newport News sits on a prime vantage point where the James River meets the Chesapeake Bay. The city runs approximately 23 miles along the James River and the Hampton Roads Harbor. Steeped in history, ours is a community of diverse trades including shipbuilding, technological research and international commerce.

Summary

**This position is a grant funded position that is expected to last for 2 years.**

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Under limited supervision, the Financial Empowerment Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating a citywide strategy to improve residents’ financial stability and economic mobility. The position plays a key role in advancing the City’s economic mobility and community resilience efforts. This role involves working across City departments and with external partners to expand access to financial services, integrate financial empowerment into existing programs, and build sustainable systems that support long-term financial well-being. Reports to a Deputy City Manager.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Develops and implements a citywide financial empowerment strategy that aligns with City priorities and national best practices. Conducts landscape analyses of local programs and services to identify gaps, overlaps, and opportunities for improvement. Coordinates financial empowerment efforts across City departments, ensuring strategies are integrated into housing, workforce development, human services, and community safety initiatives. Oversees and coordinates financial empowerment programs delivered through external partners, ensuring alignment with City goals, standards, and desired outcomes.

Builds and maintains strong partnerships with community-based organizations, nonprofit service providers, financial institutions, and educational partners. Serves as the City’s primary liaison to the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, participating in national learning networks and technical assistance opportunities. Establishes performance measures, tracks outcomes, and uses data to guide program improvements and inform policy recommendations. Prepares reports, briefings, and presentations for City leadership, funders, and stakeholders, while also supporting funding strategies such as grants and partnerships. Stays informed on best practices and emerging trends in financial empowerment and economic mobility. Performs related duties as assigned.

Requirements

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE

• Financial Empowerment Strategies – Understanding of banking access, financial coaching, credit building, benefits access, and community wealth-building approaches.
• Economic Mobility – Knowledge of barriers facing unbanked and underbanked populations.
• Public Sector Programs & Funding – Familiarity with local, state, and federal funding streams and program structures.
• Data & Performance Management -Understanding of how to use data to measure outcomes and improve programs. Knowledge of how to interpret data and use insights to inform decision-making.
• Strategic Planning – Thorough knowledge of strategic planning principles and theories to ensure a path to achieve defined goals and objectives, as well as implementing plans to accomplish desired outcomes.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Interpersonal Relationships – – Develops and maintains cooperative and professional relationships with employees and all levels of management to include representatives from other departments, organizations, and vendors.
• Judgment/Decision Making — Evaluates the best method of research and then exercises appropriate judgment in establishing priorities and resolving complex matters. Considers the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Partnership Development – Engages individuals and organizations across diverse sectors, cultures, and businesses to encourage community collaboration. Utilizes a variety of techniques to build and strengthen relationships and provides opportunities to bring groups together toward common objectives and goals.
• Computer Skills – Utilizes a personal computer to effectively complete a variety of administrative tasks with reasonable speed and accuracy.

REQUIRED ABILITIES

• Project Management – Ability to manage multiple initiatives, timelines, and stakeholders effectively.
• Communication – Excellent ability to communicate complex ideas effectively so others will understand. Excellent ability to listen and understand information and ideas presented verbally or in writing. Ability to prepare detailed technical reports, manuals and studies.
• Time Management – Ability to plan and organize daily work routine. Ability to establish priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology.
• Leadership & Coordination – Ability to lead cross-departmental initiatives and align stakeholders around shared goals. Ability to work across organizational boundaries and influence without direct authority.
• Initiative/Adaptability – Ability to adjust strategies in response to changing conditions and priorities. Ability to independently identify opportunities and drive new initiatives forward.
• Accounting and Budgeting – Ability to perform arithmetic, algebraic, and statistical applications. Ability to employ economic and accounting principles and practices in the analysis and reporting of financial data.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Economics, Social Work, Nonprofit Management, or a related field, and 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in public sector, nonprofit, or community-based work related to financial stability, economic mobility, or program coordination, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s Degree preferred

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Requires a comprehensive background investigation to include a state and local criminal history check, and a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Requires the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work.
• Some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds).
• Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or work station.

Compensation and Benefits

Target Hiring Range: $82,800 – 100,050 Based on Experience

How to Apply

To be considered for this position, all applicants must submit an application on our City website: https://selfservice.nnva.gov/ess/EmploymentOpportunities/JobDetail.aspx?req=3031026&sreq=6&form=GENL&desc=FINANCIAL%20EMPOWERMENT%20MANAGER