Hlub Hmong Center Program Manager

Are you a Hmong who loves Merced?

Do you want Hmong in Merced to have the best for their families and children?

Do you want to work with others to create a better Merced for all Hmong?

Hlub Hmong Center says YES! Hmong leaders of all ages started Hlub Hmong Center (HHC) in Merced CA to ensure the survival and prosperity of Hmong people and culture. HHC improves community services, solves tough cultural problems, and strengthens support for Hmong values and priorities. We seek teammates with the ability to create, analyze, and apply knowledge with strong attention to culture, language, and social equity at the individual and community levels. Our work is designed to impact change at the organizational and population levels.

HHC is hiring one full-time, on-site Program Manager. Program Managers lead program strategy and success by ensuring compliance with funder requirements, team effectiveness, community engagement and support for programs, and program sustainability. Responsibilities include working close with Program and Organization Directors to plan, execute, evaluate, and sustain a set of related programs, leading team management (including hiring, onboarding, performance evaluations, and development), planning and managing program reporting, evaluation, and budgeting in compliance with funder and organizational requirements, developing and strengthening relationships with community, funders, and key stakeholders, and planning and supporting sustainability of programs in alignment with organization and community priorities. Program Managers lead programs, sometimes overseeing other Program Managers or Program Coordinators, and is ultimately accountable for the program's success. Program Managers work with the supervision of the Program Director, CEO, and Community Board to usure performance quality and effectiveness.

Position Requirements

People from all backgrounds and experiences may apply. We are looking for people who wish to work as effective professionals for the well-being and prosperity of our Hmong community. Please do not be afraid to apply, regardless of your educational attainment, age, or other traditional factors for employment.

Core Competencies

1. Hmong focus: undeterred commitment to understanding and improving the quality of life for Hmong people.
2. Diversity: compassion and respect for all forms of diversity among people and communities.
3. Integrity: living with ethics, doing the right thing even when no one is watching and when it may be painful.
4. Social equity: creating the conditions for a community where all people have opportunities to get what they need to thrive by attending to current and historical conditions such as inequity, power, and marginalization.
5. Asset-based: appreciating and building strengths of self and others.
6. Enthusiasm: giving energy for the success of the team, organization, and community.
7. Management: leading teams, making decisions, and achieving goals; empowering teams to be their best.
8. Persistence: focusing and adapting to complete what must be done, with wisdom and regardless of setbacks.
9. Continuous improvement: passionate, ongoing learning and curiosity to improve self, team, and community.
10. Communication: communicating (in all forms, with all people) so others can understand and be understood.

Other Requirements

1. Must be eligible to be employed in the United States.
2. Must be able to complete a background check which may include criminal history, driving records, drug testing, credit history, employment and education verification, and professional license verification.
3. High proficiency in using computers and the internet.
4. Ability to work a flexible schedule in a 40-hour work week. Most days are normal working hours 8am to 5pm, but evenings, weekends, and holidays may be required with advance notice to accomplish work objectives.
5. Must have own transportation, valid driver’s license, and auto insurance to complete duties as needed. If you cannot drive, please let us know so we can consider accommodations.

Preferred Requirements: Ability to speak and write in Hmong.

Program Managers make these things possible (examples of HHC projects):

• HHC partners with local and state government agencies (e.g., behavioral health, public health, school districts, workforce development) to develop programs, policies, and organizational practices that increase access, use, and benefit for Hmong people. Examples of accomplishments include improvements in preK-12 education, public health, behavioral and mental health, and housing.
• HHC develops and leads partnerships to launch and sustain county-wide policies and practices recognizing Hmong people and culture. Examples include the Annual Merced Hmong American Day (starting in 2024), and Proclamations Against Asian America Violence at city, county, and school levels.
• HHC identifies and supports Hmong entrepreneurship by hiring Hmong contractors, promoting shopping at Hmong-owned businesses, and developing funding opportunities for Hmong people. Examples include buying from local Hmong food vendors for HHC events, engaging Hmong vendors in HHC events, and working with Hmong National Development to establish a Community Developing Financial Institution in Merced.
• HHC advises and coaches public institutions to develop data processes that disaggregate Hmong ethnicity from the larger Asian ethnicity in order to monitor access, use and benefits for the Hmong community. Examples include working with our local hospital to analyze Hepatitis B outcomes for Hmong people and helping Merced City School District identify and promote use of the Hmong ethnicity demographic on school forms.
• HHC collaborates with local and state agencies to develop and implement the Hmong History and Cultural Studies Model Curriculum, a legislated, statewide initiative in incorporate education about Hmong in all schools, from pre-K through college.
• HHC organizes and mobilizes Hmong and mainstream organizations, civic leaders, and the public to operate large-scale campaigns to raise awareness, respect, and support for our Hmong community. Examples include the Many Hands Campaign and Southeast Asian (SEA) Rise youth initiative.
• HHC creates and implements programs and services to train, celebrate, and advance Hmong people of all ages. Examples include the operating “Peb Lub Chaw - Our Place” (a shared space for youth and adults activities, and practice area for Blossom Dancers), the biannual Hmong Youth Academy strengthening Hmong identity and leadership, and field trips to Hmong cultural events like SEA-APA Scholarship Night, Hmong New Year, and Hmong Story 40/50, the Hmong Center of Art and Museum.

Fringe benefits include sick leave, flexible schedule, paid time off up to 4 weeks per year, professional development, participation in QSEHRA (for health benefits) and a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP).

Ability to speak and write in Hmong is preferred.