The New York City office of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) seeks a professional to fill the position of Community Development Officer, with a particular focus on economic development and capacity building of LISC NYC’s community development corporation (CDC) partners. This position reports to the LISC NYC Deputy Director.

Background

LISC is a national organization that equips struggling communities with the capital, strategy and knowhow to become places where people with low and moderate incomes can thrive. The local New York City program, LISC NYC, works with nonprofit, community-based organizations to develop affordable housing, commercial enterprises and community facilities. Over the past three decades, LISC NYC has invested over $2.5 billion, leveraging an additional $5.7 billion in low-income communities. This has resulted in 37,000 affordable homes built and preserved as well as 1.7 million square feet of retail and community space created. We also invest in health, economic development, financial well-being and environmental sustainability so that the communities our partners serve are good places to live, work, do business and raise children. For more information visit http://programs.lisc.org/nyc/.

Responsibilities

The Community Development Officer will be responsible for managing the launch of LISC NYC’s Commercial Corridor Challenge Program. A partnership between LISC NYC, the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and Citi Community Development, the program will strengthen and revitalize commercial corridors and the small businesses that anchor New York City neighborhoods. The Community Development Officer will also be responsible for the day-to-day management of other capacity building programs.

Specifically, the Community Development Officer will:

 Provide grants to nonprofit participants in the LISC NYC Commercial Corridor Challenge Program and SBS’s Neighborhood 360° program to support catalytic projects that will advance their commercial revitalization efforts and build their economic development capacity.

 Manage project consultants and the delivery of technical assistance to grantees as they implement business retention and attraction activities and physical improvements to storefronts and streetscapes in commercial corridors in underinvested neighborhoods.

 Facilitate opportunities for Commercial Corridor Challenge Program participants to share best practices and discuss common challenges in a peer cohort setting.

 Create and maintain a reporting system that collects data and outcomes to monitor progress against goals. Track performance, results and outcomes of grantees.

 Assist grantees (through direct technical assistance and in collaboration with professional consultants) with utilizing communications, marketing and public relations in order to highlight and celebrate progress on their commercial corridor work; help organize public events that raise the visibility of the work supported by the Commercial Corridor Challenge Program; and write stories and post content about the program on LISC NYC’s website and on social media.

 Provide technical assistance to partner organizations and connect them with expertise and resources from LISC National programs such as Economic Development, Lending, the Community Safety Initiative, and Creative Placemaking.

 Provide capacity building grants to NYC CDCs through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 4 Program; process disbursements; monitor grant progress and collect outcomes data for reporting to HUD; and manage federal compliance reviews of all grantees.

 Coordinate the LISC NYC Cashin Community Development Fellowship summer program that provides the opportunity for Prep for Prep graduates and college students to gain firsthand experience in community development.

 Assume responsibility for other capacity building and economic development related initiatives and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

 Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in urban planning, business administration, or related field is preferred.

 At least 5 years of experience in community development, economic development, commercial corridor revitalization and/or other related field work in diverse urban environments.

 Experience in program development/management with a proven track record of implementation success.

 Commitment to the community development sector and the critical role of nonprofit organizations in bringing about economic revitalization of low-income neighborhoods.

 Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to work independently on multiple tasks and projects, set priorities for a challenging workload, and be a positive, solution-oriented professional.

 Ability to work collaboratively with others. Flexibility, poise and good judgment in dealing with a diverse range of individuals and organizations.

 Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.

 Technical skills: Microsoft Word and Excel and social media platforms.

LISC offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits.

Please send cover letter and resume via e-mail to:

Eva Alligood
Deputy Director
LISC NYC
501 Seventh Avenue, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10018
liscnycresumes@lisc.org

LISC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION