Program Officer, Sustainable Communities Initiative: LISC - Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky

Program Officer, Sustainable Communities Initiative: LISC - Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky

Background
Greater Cincinnati LISC seeks qualified candidate for the position of Program Officer to oversee its Sustainable Communities Initiative. LISC is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving neighborhoods by supporting community-based organizations and other nonprofits with funding, technical assistance and advocacy to improve social and economic conditions in low-income, urban communities. Founded in 1979 by the Ford Foundation, LISC has grown to become the nation’s premier national non-profit intermediary providing holistic support, or comprehensive neighborhood development to underserved communities.

Greater Cincinnati LISC’s Sustainable Communities Initiative called place matters is an intensive investment strategy in that is currently being implemented in targeted neighborhoods. In these neighborhoods, community-based agencies collaborate to implement a comprehensive approach that seeks to improve the quality of life of residents. Place matters seeks to catalyze transformative change, by improving neighborhood circumstances and producing fundamental changes in the neighborhood and the lives of its residents. LISC provides financial and technical services to ensure that physical development, along with improved opportunities for education, employment, health care, child care and recreation, are afforded to neighborhood residents. The pilot initiative was launched in 2007 in three communities: Avondale, Price Hill and Covington. In place matters phase II (beginning in January 2010) LISC will be continuing work in the three neighborhoods and is considering moving forward with a similar targeted investment strategy in at least one more neighborhood, with others to follow.

Job Description:
The individual hired to fill this newly created position will be expected to provide the leadership, creativity and management discipline needed to guide a broad range of implementation activities associated with the Sustainable Communities strategy. These include: providing financial and technical assistance to neighborhood partner organizations; assisting organizations undertaking affordable housing and economic development projects, developing and managing new programs and projects in each target area; strengthening and implementing partnerships among neighborhood-based organizations, anchor institutions, and other corporate, civic and public sector organizations; building and maintaining consensus among different constituencies; and advocating for policy and system innovations that support the Sustainable Communities approach.
The ideal candidate will have experience in:
§ Developing and managing neighborhood based programs
§ Providing leadership and collaboration to build consensus among different constituencies
§ Real Estate development finance, preferably non-profit work
§ Strong organizational development and community skills
§ Experience in providing training and technical assistance to non-profit organizations is also strongly desired.
§ Real estate loan closings and disbursements for loans and/or grant administration

Under supervision of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky LISC Executive Director, the Program Officer will:

Specific Job Responsibilities:

§ Develop a solid and respectful working relationship with the neighborhood partner organizations in each participating neighborhood and maintain an in-depth knowledge of their organizational conditions, programs and projects.
§ Build a similar understanding of the interests, priorities and concerns of other current or prospective partner organizations in each target area – including anchor institutions, program providers, resident groups, business groups, advocacy organizations, and other nonprofits and business stakeholders.
§ Assist in the development and implementation of Quality of Life plans and other ongoing planning activities.
§ Develop coherent and focused workplans for each Sustainable Communities target area that are consistent with the overall strategy and supported by all key stakeholders, and ensure that the workplans are updated regularly.
§ Provide appropriate technical assistance to neighborhood partner organizations and other program participants to ensure effective implementation of the target area strategies; this will involve a combination of direct technical assistance and coordination of consultants and other technical assistance providers involved with the initiative.
§ Identify prospective funding opportunities and prepare proposals reports, presentations, and tours as required by funders, investors, national LISC and others.
§ Keep abreast of relevant state and federal policy initiatives affecting the Sustainable Communities agenda and work with others in the field to implement a policy advocacy strategy that supports the Sustainable Communities program in Greater Cincinnati.
§ Maintain current practical knowledge of the community development field nationally and seek opportunities to introduce relevant best practices into the Sustainable Communities program in Greater Cincinnati
§ Assume responsibility for special projects, as assigned.

Qualifications

§ Highly motivated individual with a demonstrated commitment to the field of community development who has held increasingly responsible positions in the field.
§ Self-directed, independent worker who takes initiative and is able to coordinate and balance the different responsibilities of this position.
§ Flexibility and poise in dealing with a very diverse range of individuals and organizations, including but not limited to community development organizations, public agencies, private developers, funders and lenders.
§ Possesses sophisticated skills with respect to intervention methodologies in community redevelopment and can evidence successful collaboration with the public sector.
§ Ability to work with neighborhood partners and others to develop new programs and/or projects, and to leverage resources for them.
§ Intimate experience with the operations of non-profit organizations, including budgeting, board and staff development, administrative and management systems.
§ Good technical capacity and experience in a diverse set of fields including real estate finance and development, public finance, human capital development and community programming.
§ Capacity to work simultaneously on multiple tasks and projects, while still meeting program priorities.
§ Experience with real estate loan closings and disbursements for loans and/or grant administration
§ Ability to work well in a team setting with a high degree of initiative.
§ Detailed and timely attention to reporting requirements and deadlines.
§ Strong organizational development and community skills
§ Excellent communication skills.
§ Bachelors Degree in related field. Graduate degree in urban planning, real estate, public administration, or business preferred.


To Apply:

Qualified candidates should send a resume (including salary history) and cover letter by December 15th to:

Kathy Schwab
LISC of Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky
100 East Central Parkway Suite 206
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Tel: 513-723-1026
Fax: 513-723-0976
Email: kschwab@lisc.org


LISC offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

LISC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER