NeighborWorks America: Working Together For Strong Communities Purpose of Division The National Initiatives Division of NeighborWorks America is responsible for developing, testing, and managing innovative national programs and services designed in support of the approximately 250 NeighborWorks network organizations located in communities across the United States. The overall objective of the work is to sustain a network of excellence that creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities so that every community in North America is a community of opportunity. Within the National Initiatives Division, the Community Initiatives Department supports efforts to build vibrant local communities that provide equitable opportunities for people to thrive. Community Initiatives is comprised of NeighborWorks America’s Stable Communities, Community Building and Engagement (CBE), Rural and Healthy Homes and Communities Initiatives. The Department supports (1) place-based community stabilization strategies aimed at creating a strong and balanced real estate market, safe and attractive conditions, and a positive neighborhood image; (2) community building and engagement strategies aimed at building resident leadership, collective capacity and social connections; and (3) systems-level strategies that bring together community stakeholders to address complex challenges. Community Initiatives accomplishes this vision through grant making, technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning, demonstration projects, trainings and workshops, research, sharing best practices, and convenin Beginning in 2016, NeighborWorks America led by Community Initiatives, undertook a yearlong exploratory process to better understand where and at what scope creative community development is happening in the network, its impact and how we could broaden and deepen our support for the work. The planning process included input from a broad range of stakeholders, including NeighborWorks staff, network organizations, and other partners in community development and the arts. Over the next two years NeighborWorks will work to implement the resulting work plan drawing on our deep experience in training, evaluation, and peer learning. Advancing comprehensive approaches and promoting equitable, resident-led efforts is central to our proposed activities: - Provide the network and broader field with training on core competencies related to creative community development.
- Identify, adapt and develop data collection tools to integrate arts and culture components.
- Leverage network and field expertise by fostering knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer learning in creative community development.
Close Date: Posting closes at 12:01am (EST) on the date listed below (the night before at 11:59pm EST). Position Summary The Manager, Creative Community Development, provides project management to advance the next phase of NeighborWorks America’s creative community development efforts. This work will support residents, community development organizations, artists, culture-bearers and other partners to harness the power of culture, art and creativity to collectively catalyze social, physical and economic transformation. This position advances creative community development in the NeighborWorks America network of 250+ organizations and the broader field by implementing capacity building programs. The Manager employs strong project management skills in coordination and communication, and demonstrates a strong interest in arts, culture, creativity and placemaking as well as in resident engagement. This position will be responsible for internal collaboration of creative community development efforts as well as for supporting external partnerships. Essential Duties/Responsibilities: - Provide project management for NeighborWorks America’s creative community development efforts. Refine and maintain the overall project work plan, monitor progress throughout the year and evaluate all programmatic efforts across teams.
- Establish a cross-divisional work group to advance creative community development efforts. This includes developing a group charter, building out needs and objectives identified in the planning stage, developing and maintaining a shared work plan, facilitating the coordination and alignment of shared priorities across teams, and fostering consistent and open communication within the group.
- Implement a peer-exchange learning group for housing and community development practitioners on creative community development to address gentrification. These knowledge-and-field-building efforts will include creation of learning communities and integration into existing NeighborWorks convening’s such as the Community Leadership Institute and National Training Institute.
- Support coordination of the effort led by NeighborWorks Training Division to develop and refine training courses that promote core competencies related to creative community development. Use curriculum scan and participant course assessments to identify which courses to adapt.
- Support coordination of the effort led by NeighborWorks Success Measures to create new and refined evaluation tools that assist organizations in understanding and communicating the impact of their creative community development work. Identify organizations for field testing tools.
- Develop publications, case studies and tools to improve practice and promote the leadership of NeighborWorks America and the NeighborWorks network in advancing creative community development.
- Develop new partnerships and sustain relationships with key partners, constituents and audiences to support an array of creative community development strategies.
- Provide regular program updates and solicit input on programmatic activities from NeighborWorks leadership, network Advisory committees and other key stakeholders.
- Represent NeighborWorks America and Community Initiatives at internal and external events and on working groups or task forces.
- Keep up to date on new trends in creative placemaking and community development.
- Other job-related duties as required to advance the goals and objectives of Community Initiatives, NeighborWorks America, and the NeighborWorks network.
Nature of Work Contacts
The Manager, Creative Community Development will interact with a diverse group of internal staff, representatives from the NeighborWorks Network, consultants, external partners, funders, and other stakeholders from within and outside NeighborWorks America.
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Required Minimum Qualifications:
(a) Education: Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, public policy, real estate development, nonprofit management, business administration, or other related fields. A graduate degree is preferred. (b) Experience: At least five years of professional experience or equivalent combination of educations, training and experience which provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities (see below). (c) Licenses, Certifications: None specified.
(d) Competencies, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Experience with project management, including coordinating implementation of multifaceted work plans, tracking deliverables and timelines, and communicating within and across teams.
- Experience developing training, tools and or technical assistance approaches to build the capacity of individuals and/or organizations in order to create positive community change.
- Experience with group facilitation. Virtual facilitation through online platforms is desirable.
- Experience with designing convenings and creating agendas for diverse audiences.
- Strong writing skills, including experience developing and contributing to publications and online content.
- Passion for and knowledge of arts, culture, creative placemaking, community development, neighborhood revitalization strategies, and resident engagement. Direct work experience in these areas is desirable.
- Commitment to equity and inclusion.
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
- Ability to prioritize, plan, organize and carry out multiple assignments in a fast-paced work environment
- Ability to maintain regular and timely attendance
(e) Technology:
Capability with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Working Conditions:
(a) Travel: Up to 25% including frequent overnight absences from employee’s place of residences.
(b) Physical/Sensory Demands: Work is performed in an office and field setting; extensive computer usage.
Special Provisions: None specified
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