WASHINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
DEPARTMENT: Economic Development/ ANNUAL SALARY RANGE: $42,931 to $56,097
Washington Neighborhood Association
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: Performs work involving the support of the Washington Neighborhood Development Corporation Board of Directors and their activities; the development and implementation of programs and services designed to meet the Washington Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative and the Washington Neighborhood Marketing Plan, focusing on the economic development elements; assists with duties in the City’s Economic Development Department; performs related duties as required.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: The work in this class involves responsibilities for the overall mission of the Washington Neighborhood Development Corporation. The work requires the exercise of independent judgment and is performed with relative independence. The work is performed under the general supervision of the Economic Development Director, with direction and guidance provided by the Washington Neighborhood Board of Directors. Work is reviewed by the Economic Development Director and Washington Neighborhood Board of Directors through reports, conferences and results achieved.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: The work in this class involves responsibilities for the overall mission of the Washington Neighborhood Development Corporation. The work requires the exercise of independent judgment and is performed with relative independence. The work is performed under the general supervision of the Economic Development Director, with direction and guidance provided by the Washington Neighborhood Board of Directors. Work is reviewed by the Economic Development Director and Washington Neighborhood Board of Directors through reports, conferences and results achieved.
EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY):
ESSENTIAL: Implements the Washington Neighborhood: Revitalize Initiative, focusing on the Economic Development elements, coordinating with and monitoring the housing and youth and families elements, and the Washington Neighborhood Marketing Plan; organizes and facilitates functions for the Washington Neighborhood Board of Directors; informs the Board of Directors of the Washington Neighborhood Development Corporation organizational activities, challenges and opportunities; recommends policies and plans to the Board of Directors; works with Board committees; represents the Washington Neighborhood within the community, with allied agencies and organizations and to the media; maintains good public relations; works with residents and businesses to engage their participation in community and government; builds partnerships with community agencies; works to achieve consensus in working toward common goals; builds community capacity to implement goals and objectives; monitors changing community needs; generates and monitors fiscal records; evaluates neighborhood needs; understands and reacts to trends in the profession, gaining a familiarity of best practices conducted by other neighborhoods or development corporations in the state or region; communicates frequently with residents and businesses to gain insights into the opportunities and challenges that face the neighborhood; administers and oversees incentive programs; assists in administering programs and activities related to economic development, downtown redevelopment and riverfront development; works with others to attract new business; assists local businesses to expand; structures economic development projects and financing packages including grants, tax increment financing and revolving loan funds; performs cost benefit analysis of proposed projects and programs; performs financial feasibility studies of real estate development projects; works with local investors who might be interested in investing in real estate rehabilitation projects; performs technical and professional research; prepares and administers state and federal grant applications; prepares reports for the Economic Development Department and the Board of Directors; presents to civic groups, neighborhood groups, boards and commissions and the City Council; attends conferences and other educational meetings and reviews professional literature to keep current on economic development, downtown redevelopment and neighborhood development; assists in preparing long range plans and budgets; coordinates activities within the Economic Development Department; maintains good public relations.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
ESSENTIAL: Knowledge of the principles, objectives and techniques of downtown redevelopment and economic development programs; knowledge of economic development finance, business credit analysis and real estate development finance; knowledge of state and federal grant programs and grant application and administration processes; knowledge of programs related to housing development and rehabilitation, economic development and small business assistance; knowledge of research methodology, cost-benefit analysis and standard statistical procedures; strong communication, problem solving and organizational skills, ability to prioritize and direct a multitude of tasks; ability to work in partnership with a 501 3C board and the city; ability to effectively market the Washington Neighborhood and its programs through various mediums including social media; ability to exercise initiative and independent judgment; ability to foster and maintain successful relationships with various stakeholders; ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, both verbally and in written form; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of partners, including government, service agencies, banking institutions, citizen advocacy groups, media and neighborhood residents; ability to organize and facilitate meetings; ability to use applicable office software systems, including word processing and spreadsheet; ability to analyze problems and recommend solutions; ability to plan, organize and carry out research projects effectively; ability to present the results of research effectively in oral written and graphic form; ability to make public presentations; ability to use resourcefulness and tact in solving problems and to create unity around common goals; ability to plan and organize work for the accomplishment of a strategic plan, goals and objectives; demonstrated ability to work effectively as a member of the team; demonstrated ability to follow a management philosophy that is input oriented and values problem solving and the development of partnerships; desire to be part of an organization that values service, people, integrity, responsibility, innovation and teamwork.
ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Some community and neighborhood development experience and a degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public or business administration, nonprofit management or related field; or any equivalent combination of experience and training, which provides the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain a valid Iowa Driver’s License or, alternatively, the ability to travel independently throughout the community.
APPLICATION: Please submit an application and resume to Randy Peck, Personnel Manager, City Hall, 50 West 13th Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864 by April 2, 2013. The Personnel Office may be contacted at 563-589-4125 or citypers@cityofdubuque.org. The employment application, benefit summary and job description are available at www.cityofdubuque.org. Women, minorities and qualified persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
About the Washington Neighborhood
The Washington Neighborhood is a 55-square block area in Dubuque’s urban core located between 11thand 22nd Streets from Elm to Central Street. The neighborhood is racially, ethnically, and economically diverse with a collection of owner occupied homes, single and multi-family rentals, and commercial and retail offerings. It is one of the oldest settled areas in Iowa, with a rich history of community engagement and collaboration.
However, the neighborhood is not without its challenges. The 2009 Washington Neighborhood Plan built off of previous community planning and visioning exercises aimed at strengthening youth and families in the area, increasing home ownership and growing the local economy. In order to make inroads on these three core issues, the Washington Neighborhood Plan recommended the establishment of the Washington Neighborhood Development Corporation (WNDC). By the end of 2009, the organization was incorporated as a non-profit 501(C)(3) with a full-time executive director providing staff support to a volunteer board of directors.
Since incorporation, the WNDC has achieved mixed results. The organization has helped unite the community though various volunteer opportunities and community gatherings, yet struggled to make progress in areas like economic revitalization along the Central Avenue corridor and increasing home ownership rates.
Meanwhile, the City of Dubuque has supported the neighborhood through multiple projects. Nearly $60 million will be invested in the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project that, upon project completion, will create a 4,500 foot long waterway that will significantly reduce the risk of storm water flood damage for 1,155 properties in and around the Washington Neighborhood. The City is partnering with the State of Iowa on a nearly $10 million project that will convert dozens of alleys and two parking lots to pervious pavement. Approximately $2 million from the City was needed for the rehabilitation of both the former Dubuque Casket Company into a community health center, a non-profit office and low income apartments, and the Engine House No. 1 building, transforming that facility to the new location of the community health center annex as well as home to a Head Start program. The City has also provided millions in incentive programs related to acquisition, rehab, lead abatement, weatherization and the creation of energy efficient homes throughout the neighborhood. Additionally, a total of $225,000 has been made available this year in grant funds for storefront restorations, aimed specifically for commercial property on Central Avenue. Finally, the City has been the primary source of operating funds for the Washington Neighborhood Development Corporation over the past three years.
With a vacancy in the executive director position as of early 2013, the City of Dubuque used the opportunity to retain the operating funds to be dedicated to the WNDC in Fiscal Year 2014 and begin recruiting an internal Economic Washington Neighborhood and Economic Development Coordinator. The new position will receive daily oversight by the City’s Economic Development Director while administering the same policy direction set forth by the volunteer board of directors.