Grants Manager, One Million Degrees

Who: One Million Degrees

What: One Million Degrees (OMD) is seeking an organized and analytical problem solver who loves Excel to lead our grant management practices. A new position reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Grants Manager will work collaboratively across fundraising and finance departments, playing a key role in helping to secure, manage, track, and report on our use of public and private funding to support OMD’s powerful mission.  

One Million Degrees is a friendly, diverse organization with ambitious goals and a relentless drive to achieve them. Join our dynamic team of talented, hard-working individuals who believe that a single degree can change the world. 

Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:  

Grants Management – Approximately 60% of the time 

Work across Development and Finance teams to: 

• Lead OMD’s restricted grant tracking, a matrix of public and private funding including multiple states, levels of government, individual, corporate and foundation donors 
• Strategically identify expenses suitable for future grant proposals and help develop budgets for potential donors 
• Prepare financial reporting for donors, OMD leadership, and compliance/audit purposes 

• Support OMD’s Program team in the completion of key programmatic milestones 
• Organize and maintain documentation needed for audit and compliance purposes 
• Create effective forecasting tools and decision aides to predict future funding needs 

Budget Management (Approximately 20% of the time) 

• Support COO with the annual development of OMD’s $5M+ budget  
• Partner with department heads and program leads on their individual budget requests and expense tracking 
• Assist COO and Finance Manager with budget reporting for OMD leadership and board including variance analyses 

Finance (Approximately 20% of the time) 

• Assist Finance Manager with revenue and expense reconciliation 
• Partner with COO and Finance Manager on creating allocations for staff salaries and other expenses 
• Liaise across Finance and Development teams to make sure that grants are correctly booked in both QuickBooks and Salesforce 

Qualifications and Requirements: 

Education: 

Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, finance, business, or relevant field preferred. Equivalent experience will be considered.  

Experience:

• In addition to a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, a minimum of 1-year accounting, budgeting, or grant/contracts management experience  
• Experience with restricted grants is a plus 
• Experience in the social sector, non-profit, government, or education is a plus 

Skills 

• Commitment to the mission of One Million Degrees 
• Advanced Excel skills are a must 
• Proficient technology skills, including Microsoft Office Suite 365, Google Suite, Zoom, and other online/virtual training and meeting platforms 

• Experience with QuickBooks or another accounting system is a plus 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills  
• Proven ability to effectively communicate with diverse audiences and the ability to give and receive direct and kind feedback 
• Proficient practice with issues of diversity, specifically around race, class, gender, ability, and equity in the workplace 

Compensation and Benefits for Full-time Employees: 

• Salary – $50-$60K 
• Health Benefits – Full health benefits provided for full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision.  
• Retirement Benefits – For full-time employees, OMD offers a Simple IRA plan and matches retirement contributions up to 3% of the total salary.  

• Professional Learning Opportunities – OMD supports employees’ continued learning in areas relevant to their professional growth and organizational goals and will pay for training such as workshops and conferences as agreed to by employees and supervisors.  
• Paid Time Off –15 days PTO in the first year plus 11 paid holidays.  

Apply here.

Manager, Transportation Planning, Metra

Who: Metra

What: The Strategic Capital Planning group includes three departments: Capital Program Development, Long-Range Planning and System Performance and Data. The Capital Program Development Department develops Metra’s capital program and amendments and prepares all discretionary funding grant applications. The Long-Range Planning Department identifies new opportunities for expanding and enhancing the rail system. Long- Range Planning also participates in studies led by other entities that will impact Metra. The System Performance and Data Department prepares monthly reports on system ridership, on-time performance and capacity utilization of trains. The department also manages periodic surveys, counts and analyses of Metra riders and monitors the agency’s adherence to Title VI and other equity standards for the provision of transportation service.

Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Department Head, System Performance Data, the Manager, Transportation Planning oversees staff and consultant teams involved in collecting and analyzing transportation data, researching policy issues and ridership trends, and preparing statistical and narrative reports. Establish processes and procedures for data collection and analysis, consult with senior management regarding policies, and make recommendations for changes to to improve work quality and productivity. Assign, review, and evaluate staff work; complete performance evaluations; and provide training and development. Manage complex transportation planning studies involving a wide range of service and policy issues including: overseeing the design of survey instruments; supervising the collection, reconciliation, and analysis of data; and drafting the final report. Supervise the development and maintenance of ridership databases; reconciliation of data; and preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual on-time and operational reports. Oversee the evaluation of performance metrics and methodologies and ensure the implementation of changes to increase efficiencies, improve accuracy, enhance work flow, and plan for future data needs. Approve time off, coordinate staff schedules, fill vacancies as necessary, and ensure compliance with departmental and company policies and objectives. Decide/implement staffing decisions, performance evaluations, and performance improvement, disciplinary, and/or termination procedures. Make recommendations regarding hiring, performance evaluations, disciplinary and/or termination procedures. Occasional field work required within publicly accessible areas at or near Metra stations. Perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree in Urban planning, geography, statistics, or a related field. 
2. In addition to #1 above, must have seven (7) years of transportation or related planning experience that includes quantitative analysis, data management, or survey research.
3. Considerable knowledge of data collection, analysis, and presentation.
4. Considerable knowledge of transportation planning principles.
5. Considerable knowledge of research methodologies.
6. Good analytical and organizational skills.
7. Good verbal and written communications skills.
8. Good math skills, specifically statistical analysis.
9. Skill in designing surveys, and collecting and analyzing survey data.
10. Proficient in using Microsoft Office suite, specifically Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Some skill using statistical software.
11. Ability to supervise staff.
12. Ability to possess a high degree of attention to detail.
13. Ability to represent Metra to external agencies.
14. Ability to establish work processes and procedures.
15. Valid driver's license.
16. Must be able to operate a vehicle.
17. Must be willing to travel within and outside of Metra’s 6-county region.
18. Must be available to work flexible hours in the early morning, late afternoon, evenings, or weekends.

Apply here. 

Project Coordinator, City of Chicago

Who: City of Chicago

Under the direction of the Department of Housing (DOH) Deputy Commissioner for Housing Preservation, manages the implementation of housing preservation programs promoting community wealth building, home ownership, and opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) developers, contractors, and potential homeowners. This includes oversight of vendor contracts for fiscal monitoring of housing preservation use of grant funds, developing grant budgets, and quarterly reports, as well as strategic planning of grant implementation pilot projects.  This role will be responsible for the coordination of services with City departments such as Department of Buildings (DOB), Department of Law (DOL), Cook County Land Bank Authority (CCLBA), and managing and coordinating team partner activities for greater collaborative impact on low to moderate income communities addressed through all housing preservation programs

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Works across all housing preservation programs to identify synergistic opportunities to work with courts, municipal departments, and delegate agencies to identify acquisition opportunities for all housing preservation program participants
• Builds participation from BIPOC developers and contractors, and creates programs to encourage their growth and support
• Identifies pathways for acquisition of vacant, abandoned, and troubled buildings and works with DOL
• Creates acquisition processes and flow charts based on the problems associated with encumbered assets in collaboration with debt forgiveness initiatives
• Coordinates the opportunities for building acquisition across programs, departments, and delegates
• Engages with Troubled Building Initiative (TBI) partner Chicago Investment Corp (CIC) to understand opportunities for acquisition. Conducts regular weekly meetings outside of the monthly TBI meetings to discuss parcels and likelihood of acquisition
• Engages with Micro Market Recovery Program (MMRP), Rebuild, and Community Receiver program partners to understand targets and priority areas for development. Understands the boundaries, target areas, and goals for each program
• Researches properties identified as vacant and abandoned and works with CCLBA, CIC, MMRP Partners, the private market, and others to signal available inventory coming into the market
• Identifies opportunities for multi-family and mixed-use properties
• Serves as the liaison with DPD corridor managers, MMRP Community Partners, CIC, and other community stakeholders to best understand where opportunities for the Tax Increment Financing Purchase Rehabilitation Program (TIF PR) might exist

Additional duties may be required for this position

Address:          121 N LaSalle St., 10^th Floor

Days:                Monday – Friday (occasional weekend hours may be required)

Hours:              9:00am – 5:00pm (occasional evening hours may be required)

 

Qualifications

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Public or Business Administration, Social Sciences, Planning, or a directly related field, supplemented by three years of progressively responsible experience in program administration, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Apply here.

Associate, Public & Community Affairs, Teach For America

Who: Teach For America

What: The Associate, Public & Community Affairs (APCA) will play a crucial role in supporting the Senior Managing Director, Public & Community Affairs (SMDPCA) in telling our region’s story and mission externally by building a strong, efficient, and reliable administrative support experience to achieve our funding and legislative goals. They are keenly aware of the importance of strong operations, especially related to data, calendar, and institutional knowledge management. This person has a knack for anticipating the needs of others and understands the significant impact of reliable operations management and execution. In addition to supporting our SMDPCA and other members of our region’s Public & Community Affairs team, they will also work with our Director of Marketing and Communications to ensure our external audience understands our regional narrative and brand. As a whole, this person is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness and has experience successfully working across lines of difference, constantly bringing to the forefront the goal of educational equity.

Responsibilities:

Administrative Support (50%)

• Manage the calendar of the SMDPCA, including scheduling meetings with staff and external constituents and stakeholders

• Ensure relevant information related to meetings held by SMDPCA is captured and readily available for SMDPCA to reference

• Complete background research for meeting prep

Marketing & Communications (30%)

• Support the SMDPCA with drafting the monthly Transforming Education Together external newsletter that goes out to community leaders/organizations and public officials in the region.

• Support the SMDPCA with managing the operations and logistics for the Transforming Education Together Podcast

• Design informational one pagers and decks for external audiences.

Data Collection/Management (10%)

• Work with our Data Team to pull data for our legislative 1-pagers, external decks, meetings preps, etc.

• Manage our PCA Salesforce dashboard

• Upload our meeting notes to Salesforce

• Update and manage our relationship trackers and bill trackers

• Manage our newsletter subscription list

Collective Responsibilities (10%)

• Contribute to our organization-wide and regional success by supporting member, supporter, and partner programming as needed

  Engage in team responsibilities to strengthen our collective work, including check ins, team meetings, professional development, data management, etc.

Qualifications:

Prior Experience:

• 1-2 years relevant work experience in non-profit administrative support highly preferred

• Previous communications experience

• Experience using design/communications programs (Canva, MarketingCloud, etc.)

Skills and Values:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with an ability to convey complex ideas concisely and compellingly to a range of external audiences; credible external communicator

• Organized and has strong follow-through skills

• Nimble, eager to learn and experiment

• Impeccable ethical standards and an uncommon level of personal responsibility in driving towards ambitious goals

• Passion for TFA’s mission, believes deeply in the importance of inspiring/investing external people in TFA’s work, and has high expectations for how TFA is viewed by external constituents

• Comfortable with ambiguity, adaptability, risk taking, and learning from failure in a constantly evolving context

• Open to taking on projects outside of your immediate job description to respond to the needs of our network

• Ability to learn new applications and platforms quickly

Work Demands

• Ability to work some weekends and evenings; ability to travel to in-person meetings

  
  
  Apply here.

Financial Policy Analyst, Better Government Association

Who: Better Government Association

What: The Better Government Association seeks a full-time Financial Policy Analyst to support the advocacy mission of the BGA. This position plays a key role in the development, coordination and implementation of the BGA’s policy agenda.

Responsibilities:

• Conducts original research and analysis of policy issues to advance short- and long-term goals of the BGA’s policy team.
• Helps determine BGA positions on complex policy issues by efficiently synthesizing and summarizing complex legislation and policies.
• Prepares articles, policy briefings, research reports, memos, presentations, fact sheets, testimony and other documents that clearly and comprehensively articulate analyses and positions for the BGA’s policy team, public officials and general readership.
• Reviews and monitors legislation.
• Advises Director of Policy and staff on recommendations for policy positions and advocacy strategies.
• Serves as a subject matter expert and advocate for BGA policy issues. Supports the BGA’s policy positions in writing, media interviews, on panels, in testimony, and in conversations with policy makers.

Qualifications:

• at least two years' experience with a strong emphasis on legislative advocacy or relevant expertise and experience in government, journalism or a related field.
• a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
• understanding of the Illinois, Chicago and Cook County legislative processes, including how to access, read and analyze legislative documents such as bills, amendments and committee reports; committee testimony, records, debates and actions; floor debates and actions; and the messages and actions of elected officials.
• excellent analytical and writing skills; be able to analyze budgets, basic datasets and policy practices from across the country.
• understanding how to protect the BGA’s non-partisan standing while advocating for policy reforms and interacting with partisans from all sides of public policy issues.
• the ability to serve as a spokesperson and prep talking points/speeches for senior staff; the ability to provide oral and written testimony and serve as subject matter expert.
• a history of working with a broad range of stakeholders (internal and external).

Apply here.

Principal Project Coordinator, New Jersey Transit

Who: New Jersey Transit

What: Principal Project Coordinator

Principal Accountabilities:

•  Principal responsible party for the continuous generation of and updating of the NJ TRANSIT rolling five-year capital plan. 
• Responsible for the intake of capital improvement concepts from the Rail, Law Enforcement, and Surface Transportation service lines and evaluating their merit to promote them to capital project candidates. 
•  Responsible for shepherding candidate projects through the Capital Plan process to develop a right sized scope of work, budget, and project delivery schedule. 
•  Responsible for employing external consultants as extension of staff to evaluate potential projects for their life cycle cost value, benefit to the NJTRANSIT system operation, and to the state of New Jersey as a whole. 
• Evaluates progress of the Capital Program year over year and revisits Key Performance Indicator (KPI) metric benchmarks to evaluate success and performance improvement opportunities of the overall Capital Program. 
• Develops, reviews, assists and/or manages infrastructure, station, and operational facility master planning activities at different phases of project development
• Supports other efforts including the adoption of zero emissions systems, the incorporation of innovative technologies into major projects, assessing resiliency and climate change adaptation needs, and supporting sustainability efforts.
• Advises capital project teams in the fields of urban planning, transportation planning, facility planning, and fleet planning as necessary.

Knowledge& Skills Required:

Bachelor’s Degree in Transportation Planning, Systems Engineering, Railroad Systems Engineering, Civil/Structural Engineering or related field, and five (5) experience in initiating, developing, evaluating public improvement projects, to include 2 or more.

At NJ Transit you will enjoy a competitive salary and excellent benefit package: 

• Comprehensive Family Health Insurance – Prescription, Dental, Vision  
• Flexible Spending Account  
• Life Insurance  
• Paid Leave  
• 401(a), 401(k) Retirement Plans - up to 9% employer contribution  
• Tuition Assistance  
• Qualified Transportation Expense Plan (QTE)  

 

Construction and Project Supervisor, Park District of Highland Park

Summary: Directly responsible to and working in close contact with the Planning and Projects Manager, the Construction and Projects Supervisor is responsible for independent implementation of assigned projects from start to finish The Construction and Project Supervisor is an innovative self-starter and team player that supports Planning and Projects as assigned and actively contributes ideas for increased efficiency District-wide.

Responsibilities: Supervises the implementation of assigned projects, this includes but is not limited to: Acquiring quotes, developing, and soliciting proposals and bids, including coordination with contracted professional, landscape architect, and/or facility staff to develop project specifications. Managing project budget. Keeping the project on schedule. Acquire permitting, as necessary. Conducting quality control to ensure projects are completed satisfactorily. Holding contractors accountable. Organizing project records. Manages change in project scope, including initiating change orders, within budget. Interprets and explains plans and contract terms to management staff and laborers. Adapts project as needed if scope, funding, and/or timeline is altered. Serves as the “expert” for assigned projects and provides counsel on project-related issues as needed. Organizes and conducts appropriate neighborhood communications leading to the development and renovation of parks and facilities, such as neighbor mailings, digital communications, and/or Neighborhood Meetings. Develops cost estimates for projects and leads value engineering efforts for projects. Communicates project status and progress regularly and clearly to applicable staff including Planning and Projects Staff, Facility Staff, and Parks Staff. Proactively identifies opportunities for efficiencies in project implementation. Assists the Planning and Projects Manager in scope development to ensure efficiency and consistency with District-wide goals and objectives. Assists Planning and Projects Manager to identify and apply for and administers federal, state, local, and private grants for funding District-wide projects in coordination with other staff. Prepares written, graphic, and oral project updates and other presentations/reports to staff, elected officials or community as required. Develops and maintains strong partnerships with the City of Highland Park, county, state, federal, and other agencies, as required, to provide an effective and efficient Planning and Projects Department.

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Project Management Park and Recreation Administration, Architecture, Engineering, Landscape Architecture, or closely related discipline from a four-year college or university; minimum of two years’ experience; or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training. Experience in a municipal or Park District environment preferred. Related professional certification preferred.

Hiring Range: $56,100 - $64,500, DOQ
Classification: Full-time, exempt
Benefits: Excellent benefit package, including paid time off, health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), and IMRF pension.
Close Date: Open until filled
Apply: To apply, visit www.pdhp.org to submit an online application and resume.

Development Analyst I, Will County, Illinois

Who: Will County, Illinois

Job Summary	The Development Analyst I position: assists the Development Analyst II with implementation planning and associated challenging matters of interpretation, implementation, and enforcement of related ordinances and regulations. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: assisting in the zoning application process; review of building permit applications and site plans for ordinance compliance, review application documents to ensure compliance with ordinances, regulations, adopted plans/policies to provide direction as needed; reviews, interprets and applies federal, state and local regulations as they relate to County ordinances; organizes and conducts meetings with applicants and the public for zoning applications and development proposals; creates maps, reports, visual presentations, site plans and renderings; communicates and collaborates with a variety of agencies, governmental departments, consultants and community organizations on zoning matters; monitors development and zoning activity; researches and reports on land use, zoning issue and trends; assists in planning projects within County jurisdiction including comprehensive and neighborhood plans, trail plans, etc. ; updates/maintains records, files and related zoning information including data layers for the County’s Geographic Information System.
Minimum Qualifications	Accredited Bachelor’s degree in Planning or related field required, prior experience or internships and Master’s Degree preferred. Must have: a valid driver’s license; strong oral and written communication skills; ability to present clearly, tactfully and professionally before a variety of public bodies and interest groups; research skills; ability to traverse sites of varying topography and physical conditions; comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of urban planning; experience and background in long-range and implementation planning; familiarity with zoning, subdivision, and site development processes and general principles of land use; and aptitude with MS Office software, Windows Operating System, and ESRI geographic information system software.
Salary Range	D.O.Q
Apply by	October 1, 2021 by 4:30 p.m.
	Apply for this job

Senior Planner (Land Use), NYC Economic Development Corporation’s Land Use Planning Department

Who: NYC Economic Development Corporation’s Land Use Planning Department 

What: Reporting to a Vice-president in the Land Use team you will manage project approval processes and provide technical expertise to our Neighborhood Strategies, Transportation, Real Estate and Capital Projects departments in everything that shapes the future of our city from zoning regulations, City Environmental Quality Review and Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. Your project portfolio could include projects from anywhere in the 5 boroughs with diverse project goals that could include providing quality job opportunities, climate change resiliency, affordable housing, public open space or transportation improvements.

Responsibilities:

• Manage a portfolio of multiple project approvals involving a range of local, state and federal actions including land use approvals, environmental reviews and other required permits
• Build consensus-based solutions with regulatory and partner agencies and maintain working trust-based relationships with external agency regulators
• Ability to prepare and review technical applications in zoning, environmental review and other land use regulations, and provide technical expertise related to those regulations to project teams
• Create and deliver presentations, memos and other materials that effectively communicate project recommendations, decision points and/or findings to various audiences (e.g., senior NYCEDC staff, partner agencies, external stakeholders)
• Contribute problem solving and critical thinking to all stages of a project from formulation, through public approvals to implementation
• Manage consultants to ensure quality products are delivered on-schedule, including managing budgets and Minority/Women Owned Business Enterprise goals
• Proactively manage critical milestones of long-term timelines to ensure complex projects are delivered on-time, and anticipate and flag to senior staff if projects are not on schedule
• Interface with development partners, regulatory agencies, elected officials and community groups
• Work with interdisciplinary teams in the preparation of Requests For Proposals, and the development and implementation of site specific and area-wide planning initiatives
• Attend public meetings and hearings on NYCEDC projects, present projects and report back to team on status

• Qualifications:

• 3 or more years of professional experience in planning the regulation of land development in fields involving regulatory approvals of zoning plans, land sub-division, environmental review, public entitlement approvals, transportation and economic development plans
• Master’s degree in Planning or a related field, or 2 additional years of experience
• Extensive knowledge of New York City zoning, planning issues, environmental regulations and environmental review procedures is required  
• Ability to use spreadsheet and presentation applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, GIS
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects involving multiple public and private parties
• Teamwork and problem-solving skills, a willingness to accept responsibility, ask tough questions, and have a solutions-oriented approach
• Ability to organize and prioritize among competing needs and opportunities
• Anticipate and resolves problems as they arise
• Ability and experience to effectively collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal, written, verbal and analytical skills required
• New York City residency is required within 180 days of hire
• As of August 2, 2021, all new hires must be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus as defined by the CDC, unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for religion or disability

Apply here.

Community Developer, Build Bronzeville (The Forum)

Who: Build Bronzeville (The Forum)

What: The Community Developer will play a key role in advancing three unique built structures as well as address other opportunities as they arise:

• The Forum. Built in 1897 at 43rd Street and the CTA Green Line, The Forum contains the iconic Forum Hall, as well as several over-sized retail spaces. Urban Juncture saved The Forum from city-mandated demolition in 2011 and has spent the past decade removing debris from the building, stabilizing the structure, replacing damaged building elements, researching and documenting the building’s rich history, and identifying a first set of financial supporters. As a result, The Forum has been stabilized, entered on the National Register of Historic Places, and received support from several financial partners. Our team is now working intensively to combine the federal and state tax credits and other sources of funding required to complete rehabilitation, while finalizing concepts, enterprises and partnerships for the spaces.

• Bronzeville Cookin’. Positioned to catalyze development of a Black culinary district in Chicago while serving neighborhood needs for quality food, Bronzeville Cookin’ is centered around a recently renovated retail building at 51st Street and the Green Line. With one restaurant in place, another nearing completion, and additional culinary concepts blooming nearby, our team is focused on filling the remaining spaces with compelling concepts and enterprises.

• Boxville®. Chicago’s first market comprised of refurbished shipping containers, Boxville has grown dramatically: from one 20 foot shipping container in 2014 to 22 in 2021, all located at 51st Street and the Green Line. Our team is working to strengthen the Boxville leadership and ecosystem while preparing plans to grow to 100+ containers.

The Community Developer will work with colleagues at Build Bronzeville and external partners to:

• Develop a capital strategy and financial pro forma for redevelopment and operation of these structures;

• Quantify the public benefits of investments in reestablishing a community hub of cultural performance and retail;

• Develop pitch decks and financial applications for use with a broad range of neighborhood, public, philanthropic, and private stakeholders;

• Finalize use and design of all elements of the spaces;

• Manage bidding, construction, and financial reporting of the

  redevelopment process;

• Engage community stakeholders in the revitalization process through

  efforts such as Open House Chicago and Forum Fridays; and,

• Identify and engage potential partners and patrons.

  The full-time role will commence in Fall 2021. The Community Developer will report to the Build Bronzeville project leader, and work from the Bronzeville Incubator

  Applicants with strong financial modeling, visualization, project management, economic and real estate analysis skills, and a commitment to neighborhood revitalization will be given priority.

  No phone calls or drop-ins, please.

  Urban Juncture Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.

• Apply: Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter highlighting relevant experience and skills to info@urbanjuncture.com with “Community Developer” in the subject line. They should have completed a graduate degree in a related discipline (or secured equivalent professional experience), with at least three years of work experience.

Housing & Economic Development Analyst, City of Evanston

Who: City of Evanston

What: This position is responsible for implementing Housing and Economic Development programs and projects funded by federal CARES Act funding (CDBG-CV and ESG-CV), as well as Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds. This includes monitoring internal and external programs that receive federal funds from the City to ensure compliance with Federal and local requirements, and evaluating how effectively the funded activities achieve City Council and HUD Consolidated Plan goals. This position conducts research and develops recommendations relating to housing and economic development programs and policies to provide equitable services to residents with the greatest needs to address CARES Act and City of Evanston equity goals; prepares feasibility studies, cost-effectiveness analyses and special reports; and determines regulatory conformance of housing proposals and programs. The position has primary responsibility for developing and maintaining the compliance and monitoring plan for the portfolio of City-assisted housing developments and programs in compliance with Federal and local government requirements. Also works on related planning and community development issues as needed. 

Responsibilities:

• Analyzes needs for housing and utility assistance, access to food, and other essential services for residents, as well as grants/loans for businesses impacted by COVID-19. Develops recommendations to address those needs using CDBG-CV and ESG-CV funding.
• Implements and monitors housing and economic development activities funded with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) CARES Act and entitlement funding, and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds.
• Works with external agencies receiving CARES Act funding to identify additional resources available to Evanston residents, and ensures adherence to Stafford Act requirements to avoid duplication of benefits (DOB).
• Prepares housing and economic development components of the City’s Consolidated Plan, Action Plans and Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Reports as required for CDBG, HOME, and ESG CARES Act and entitlement funding.
• Prepares reports about the use of CDBG, HOME and ESG funds, and City Affordable Housing Fund as needed; monitors programs and projects to ensure compliance with CDBG, HOME and ESG regulations, and Affordable Housing Fund policies; maintains records in IDIS and CDM databases.
• Evaluates applications for economic development and housing programs, including reviewing and evaluating proposals, budgets and staffing estimates, financial pro formas, etc.; requests additional data as needed to determine feasibility.
• Develops and updates policies and procedures relating to the City’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance to address housing needs of residents with incomes that do not exceed the area median, including periodic reviews and updates to address changes in the housing market and housing needs of different demographic groups.
• Conducts field investigations, economic or public opinion surveys, demographic studies, or other research as appropriate to gather required information; maintains collections of socioeconomic, environmental, and regulatory data related to housing and related services for use by planning and administrative personnel in government and private sectors.
• Reviews plans and proposals submitted by other governmental planning entities and private organizations to assist in formulation of local and regional housing plans.
• Staffs the Housing and Homelessness Commission; schedules and manages virtual and in-person meetings; develops agendas and meeting packets, and records minutes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Must possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with a preference for Public Policy, Public Administration, Urban Planning, or substantially similar area.
• Must possess four (4) or more years of work experience in housing policy, development or management, economic development, business development, management, or related area. Experience with programs and services for the homeless, affordable housing, and grant management and compliance is preferred.
• Knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas:
• Knowledge of a wide range of housing issues, including affordability and fair housing, and the tools and best practices to address them.
• Ability to develop policy and strategy recommendations for a variety of community, economic and housing development programs and projects.
• Ability to analyze business plans, marketing plans, real estate pro formas, and other financial planning documents for feasibility and return on investment.
• Knowledge of internet/digital marketing and ability to leverage online tools to adapt various business functions to online/remote interactions to address changes due to COVID-19.
• Ability to use personal computers and associated software, including G-Suite and Microsoft Office, iCompass or similar agenda management software, and relational databases.
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; interpret a variety of federal statutes and regulations, and technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and deal with multiple abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide all units of measure; to perform the four operations with like or common decimal fractions; to compute ratio, rate, and percent; draw and interpret graphs; perform arithmetic operations involving all American monetary units.
• Ability to read business letters, memoranda, technical journals, abstracts, financial reports, and legal documents; write business letters, memoranda, abstracts, and financial reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar; and use principles and methods of effective and persuasive speaking to present to diverse audiences with poise and confidence.
• Considerable knowledge of and ability to use internet search engines, Microsoft Office, G-Suite, and Windows operating systems.
• Ability to attend evening meetings when necessary.
• Ability to work with and relate to a diverse group of people from varying socioeconomic and racial/ethnic backgrounds and to deal with individuals and groups at all levels.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Self-motivated, disciplined, organized, and reliable. Innovative, creative, resourceful and independent thinker.

Apply here.

Finance Manager, Westside Justice Center

Finance Manager Job Description

The Westside Justice Center is a community-centered organization that promotes a holistic approach to justice by: 1) Facilitating legal literacy to reduce recidivism; 2) Providing legal and quasi- legal assistance to individuals; and 3) Establishing and nurturing community trust through participatory deliberations and restorative justice practices, to collaboratively mitigate the consequences of incarceration on criminalized communities.

The organization seeks a strategic Finance Manager with a track record of organizing a growing organization to meet future expansion. The Finance Manager is responsible for aligning financial reserves with the setting the mission and vision of the organization and for identifying concrete ways to engage in increasing financial reserves and cost-savings, such that WJC develops into a stable, sustainable organization with longevity. Responsibilities include the day to day financial management of the organization, conducting periodic analysis and developing a financial strategy.

Duties for the Finance Manager include supervising accounting staff, overseeing internal controls, setting financial targets, implementing fundraising strategies, developing a financial strategy, conducting feasibility studies, monitoring expenditure, overseeing annual insurance, monitoring cash flow, evaluating investments, and managing tax compliance.

Reports to: Deputy Director (DD)

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

● Finance:

• ○  Oversee and lead annual budgeting and planning process in conjunction with the

  Deputy Director; monitor progress and keep the leadership team abreast of the

  organization’s financial status.

• ○  Manage organizational cash flow and forecasting.

• ○  Drive best financial practices within WJC by publicizing standard operating

  procedures, keeping the senior leadership team, Board and staff up-to-date on WJC's financial status and by generally serving as a point of reference for all growth plans and projects within WJC;

• ○  Recommends and administers policies, procedures and processes in support of WJC goals and operations, in accordance with relevant legal parameters, and implements and monitors compliance with approved policies, procedures and processes.

• ○  Provide overall financial oversight and monitoring, including implementation of sound fiscal management practices and internal controls.

• ○  Manage and oversee monthly accounting processes, including bookkeeping, payroll

  management, invoicing, and financial tracking of restricted grants. In this capacity, manage relationships with key external vendors, including outsourced accounting firm. Collaborate with the Operations Manager on HR policies and management.

• ○  Implement a robust contracts management and financial management/ reporting system; ensure that the contract billing and collection schedule is adhered to and that financial data and cash flow are steady and support operational requirements.

• ○  Analyze and present financial reports in an accurate and timely manner; develop financial reporting materials for all donor segments and oversee all financial, project/program and grants accounting.

• ○  Coordinate the preparation of financial information in the corporate annual report.

• ○  Coordinate and lead the annual audit process and all tax returns; liaise with external

  auditors and the finance committee of the board of directors.

• ○  Provide staff support to the finance committee on the Board of Directors

  Strategy and Business Development:

• ○  Work in partnership with DD/ED and leadership team to implement new strategic

  initiatives in response to an increasing demand for WJC’s services.

• ○  Work in partnership with DD/ED and leadership team to develop strategic plan for WJC, including developing a business plan for national replication/dissemination.

  Provide financial and operational input for all strategic planning processes.

• ○  Partner with DD/ED and leadership team to represent WJC with key stakeholders, including funders, the media, government, academic institutions, community

  organizations, and volunteers. Other Duties:

Skills:

• ●  Commitment to WJC’s mission.

• ●  BS/BA degree with at least 5-7 years of experience managing finance and operations in a

  high growth organization. Advanced degree (e.g. business or public policy) preferred.

• ●  Proven track record in organizational budgeting and financial management. Experience with and understanding of general accounting, grant tracking, payroll management,

  human resources, and general business systems and functions.

• ●  Demonstrated success in developing and monitoring financial systems.

• ●  Proven track record in developing and managing operational systems in a high growth

  organization; strong project management skills.

• ●  Attention to detail and ability to complete work with accuracy and efficiency.

• ●  Strong work ethic, flexible, and able to multitask. Ability to synthesize data, make

  decisions, and communicate priorities to staff. Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting

  priorities, executing multiple tasks, and achieving objectives.

• ●  Ability to think strategically and connect strong execution to broader strategic priorities.

• ●  Exceptional capacity for managing and leading people from diverse backgrounds.

  Committed to investing in and developing staff and positioning them to succeed.

• ●  Ability to convey a vision of Westside Justice Center strategic future to staff, board,

  volunteers and donors; Experience in training and community outreach preferred.

• ●  Strong written and oral communication skills;

• ●  Ability to interface and engage diverse volunteer and donor groups;

• ●  Demonstrated ability to oversee and collaborate with staff;

• ●  Strong public speaking ability;

• ●  Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion within the organization;

  and

• ●  Ability to address and resolve conflict effectively.

  Application Process:
  Please send your resume, a detailed cover letter explaining your interest in the position and contact information of 3 references to admin@westsidejustice.org. Please note what position you are applying for in the subject line. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.
  Start Date: July 1, 2021

  The Westside Justice Center is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. People of color, women, LGBTQI-GNC people, and formerly incarcerated people are strongly encouraged to apply.

  Commensurate with experience and other qualifications.