New York Program Director

About Us

Emma’s Torch is a nonprofit social enterprise that empowers refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking through culinary training, career readiness, and job placement.

We’re seeking a thoughtful, creative, and mission-driven New York Program Director to lead our workforce development programs across New York City—ensuring that every student experiences a dignified, trauma-informed, and transformative journey from training to long-term career success.

About the Role

We’re seeking a New York Program Director to lead our workforce development programs across New York City. This role oversees our Brooklyn and Inwood sites and ensures that every student experiences a dignified, trauma-informed, and high-impact journey from training to long-term career success.

The ideal candidate is a compassionate and strategic leader with experience in workforce development, social services, or social enterprise. You’re equally comfortable managing data dashboards as you are coaching staff, building partnerships, and problem-solving with students. You thrive in dynamic, mission-driven environments and believe in the transformative power of opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

Program Management (40%)

• Lead design, implementation, and continuous improvement of our culinary workforce development programs.
• Align curricula with industry standards, student needs, and organizational goals.
• Oversee recruitment, admissions, and onboarding to ensure equitable access and smooth processes.
• Partner with the Employer Partnerships Manager to achieve and sustain 92%+ job placement within two months of graduation.
• Serve as the organizational lead for student crisis management, ensuring trauma-informed and supportive practices.

Team Leadership (30%)

• Supervise and develop program team members across both sites, including program managers, an employer partnerships manager, and MSW interns.
• Establish clear goals, professional development pathways, and accountability systems.
• Provide clinical supervision for MSW interns (if eligible).
• Collaborate closely with our D.C. Program team to share learnings and promote cross-site innovation.

Community & Employer Partnerships (15%)

• Build and sustain relationships with community organizations, government agencies, and employer partners.
• Represent Emma’s Torch in coalitions and collaborative networks to advance workforce equity and share best practices.
• Expand wraparound supports through partnerships that provide legal, mental health, and financial resources for students.

Data & Evaluation (15%)

• Oversee program data collection, analysis, and reporting through Salesforce and related tools.
• Monitor key metrics including graduation, job placement, and alumni retention to drive continuous improvement.
• Facilitate quarterly data reviews with program and culinary teams to identify trends and insights.

What We’re Looking For

• MSW preferred, with eligibility to supervise MSW interns.
• 3+ years of management experience in workforce development, social enterprise, or nonprofit program leadership.
• Proven success managing diverse teams and building strong, mission-driven partnerships.
• Strong organizational and data management skills; Salesforce experience preferred.
• Exceptional judgment and empathy when working with individuals overcoming systemic barriers.
• A deep belief in dignity, resilience, and opportunity for all.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Emma’s Torch encourages individuals of all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply for

this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to this effort. Emma’s Torch is committed to providing equal employment

opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity,

religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age,

marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member) or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Paid parental leave
• Ample vacation, sick, and personal days
• Professional development and training support
• A supportive, purpose-driven work environment where we take our mission seriously—but not ourselves