Full Time

Position Description 

The Program Director is part of Ariva’s management team and has lead responsibility for the management and performance of two year-round VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) tax sites and up to six seasonal tax sites. The Program Director directly supervises three permanent staff and approximately 12 seasonal employees. The director is responsible for ensuring that the sites within their portfolio meet all internal and external contract goals.

Ariva is one of the most established non-profit free tax assistance organizations in the Bronx. We are an IRS-sponsored VITA program and a Certified Acceptance Agent for ITINs. The program serves over 8,000 New Yorkers each year at about 10 seasonal and three year-round locations.

The tax team is composed of 5 full-time, year-round staff; 20-25 seasonal staff; and about 100 volunteers. This position involves frequent local travel to sites around NYC and requires some evenings and weekend hours over the course of the year. During the main filing season (January-April), the Program Director can expect to work most evenings and Saturdays.

Face-to-face, in-person service is an essential component of this position.  All staff must follow the health and safety procedures in our offices.

This position is 100% in person. The average work week is about 45 hours but can be more during the income tax filing season.

Ariva is a growing organization, and this position offers the opportunity to grow with us.

Responsibilities

The Program Director has full responsibility for six tax sites in their portfolio.  The Program Director directly oversees projects and tax sites and supervises line staff. They also provide coverage as needed in the absence of site staff to ensure seamless and efficient operations of the tax sites.

The Tax Program is a VITA program highly regulated by the IRS.   The Program Director ensures that all aspects of  the tax sites in their portfolio are fully compliant with all IRS VITA program requirements.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Primary Responsibilities

• Tax site performance monitoring and reporting on the tax program. Ensuring the tax sites at all times meet all IRS and local funder requirements, including but not limited to the 10 IRS Quality Site Requirements.
• Recruiting, mentoring, retention, and supervision of site coordinators and seasonal staff at assigned sites.
• Overseeing community outreach campaigns and marketing to support a client pipeline at assigned sites, including facilitating and maintaining an up-to-date client story bank.
• Cultivation and engagement of community partners, financial services partners, and other host partners in the communities where the tax sites are located.
• Overseeing Ariva’s tax time savings and asset building initiatives. The assigned manager has lead responsibility in identifying, implementing, and monitoring tax time savings efforts at our sites.
• Coordinating program integration activities with Ariva’s financial counseling program.
• Ensuring a highly professional and client-centered environment at all Ariva’s tax sites.
• Ensuring the tax sites have at all times adequate equipment, technology and supplies, and safeguards in place to preserve the privacy and safety of client data. Duties include securely maintaining an equipment inventory of laptops and peripherals, and ensuring the software is up to date, including security and antiviral software.
• Participating in weekly Ariva management team meetings.

Additional Responsibilities

The Program Director will also have lead responsibility for the following initiatives:

• Direct Ariva’s ITIN program. Ensure that Ariva’s ITIN program is fully compliant with all IRS requirements.
• Oversee Ariva’s Senior Citizen Tax Initiative, a program focused exclusively on the tax needs of seniors in our communities.

Supportive Responsibilities

In addition to the above lead responsibilities, the Program Director will work closely with and provide support to the Senior Program Director in the following areas:

• Contract management
• Reviewing and approving communications content, including website information and social media content related to the tax programs
• Grant writing and reporting

Core Competencies:

• Minimum five years’ experience in income tax preparation, preferably at least at some in VITA sites. Multiyear seasonal site experience is acceptable.
• Minimum three years’ experience in project management, which must include staff supervision.
• A demonstrated commitment to and experience working with low-income people and in low-income communities.
• Extraordinary customer service skills and high standards of professionalism.
• Skilled in managing, motivating, and supporting staff and volunteers.
• Strong project management skills; ability to simultaneously manage several busy tax sites.
• Cultural competence to provide services to the diverse members of our community.
• Ability to identify and build new relationships and manage existing ones with community partners.
• Computer literate; comfortable with data management, data entry, and reporting.
• Very strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with CRMs, especially Salesforce and tax software (currently TaxSlayer)
• Contract or grant management experience and skills.
• Ability to work in person and engage in frequent local travel to visit multiple tax sites, primarily in the Bronx.
• Willing and able to have a flexible work schedule; able to accommodate evening and weekend hours to support the tax sites during tax season

Salary: $80,000 to $90,000/year, depending on experience. Ariva offers full-time employees subsidized health and dental insurance, generous paid time off and other benefits.

To apply: Interested applicants should email their resume and cover letter to Maribel Montilla at mmontilla@ariva.org.  This posting will remain open until the position is filled.

Ariva is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Ariva operates a free income tax assistance program (VITA program) as part of NYC Free Tax Coalition. Ariva’s core mission is to strengthen the financial stability of low-income individuals and families in the Bronx.

Ariva is seeking Tax Prep Interns for our VITA program for the 2026 tax season (end of January until mid-April). We enthusiastically welcome applications from anyone interested in exploring a career in nonprofits generally and in financial capabilities specifically. Most of our seasonal staff and volunteers initially have no prior experience in income tax preparation.

Ariva will provide VITA Tax Preparer training and support.

This program is concentrated in the South Bronx, with one location in Manhattan.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Possible responsibilities may include:

• Tax Intake Interviews
• Completing Federal and New York tax returns
• Developing and implementing marketing campaigns
• Working with staff on volunteer outreach, recruitment, and training
• Data entry and scheduling on Salesforce
• Providing support and assistance to our volunteers
• Assistance in site set-up
• General office duties

EXPECTATIONS:

Usually, interns complete 4-20 hours weekly based on your school’s requirement*

Ariva requires a minimum of 48 hours in total from February through April 2026

• Select 4 or 6 hours weekly for 12 weeks

*If your school requires more hours for credit, we will work with you to accommodate your needs.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Any major
• Basic computer skills
• Customer service
• Salesforce is a plus
• IRS Tax Certification*
• Patience, good sense of humor
• Professional demeanor and good work ethic
• *Fluency in Spanish is highly desirable as is any prior experience with the VITA program*

*Ariva will provide training and support.

BENEFITS:

• Develop financial skills
• Learn to prepare basic personal income tax returns
• Gain customer service skills
• Develop professional office skills
• Community service and involvement
• Resume development
• Professional network expansion
• Official certification through the IRS
• Continuing Education credit
• College credit (with approval from your school)

SCHEDULE:

Ariva has several openings for this position, from mid-January to mid-April at several locations. We have shifts available days, evenings, and weekends.

APPLY:

To apply, fill out our internship form HERE!