Key job responsibilities include

• Leading the development and implementation of all parts of the Working Communities Challenge in Vermont; working closely with the director of the Working Communities Challenge in northern New England and other Fed staff as well as external consultants;

• Helping the Working Places team design and conduct new community economic development efforts, like the department’s Inclusive Economies effort which seeks to connect inclusive economic growth projects with public and private capital and resources; and

• Support other WCC efforts across New England, including working with the Director of the Maine WCC effort to share learning and efforts in Maine and working with other communities past and present in the WCC;

Activities of the job include:

• Building and maintaining relationships with key partners for the WCC in Vermont, funding partners, research partners and others, and staffing a cross sector Steering Committee of leaders in the state;

• Directly supporting the success of the community leadership teams in Vermont which includes providing coaching and technical assistance, resource connection, and opportunities to advance learning and networks across teams,

• Identify and pursue opportunities to align leadership, funding, policy and technical assistance support to strengthen sustainability of the initiative.

• Develop and maintain relationships with key community development leaders through organizing key regional events and meetings.

• Sharing learning and stories of local progress of teams, in writing and through presentations; Serve as ambassador for the effort, including substantial public speaking on model, goals and progress; assist in professional evaluation efforts;

• Management and programmatic oversight, including fiscal monitoring and compliance.

Depending on candidate interests, experience, and professional and learning goals, there may be opportunities to adapt these responsibilities to support the overall work and priorities of the Working Places team and Regional and Community Outreach (RCO) department.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Experience making change/having impact at a community level, particularly in rural areas, smaller cities and/or with leaders from different sectors (business, government, nonprofit, community).

• Excellent relationship and coalition-building skills, including the ability to relate to diverse audiences.

• Strong communication skills, including group facilitation and written communication.

• Ability to build relationships with public, philanthropic, community development and municipal leaders in New England and/or the field.

• Experience living in or professional work with New England’s smaller cities, rural places, and/or a diverse range of places by size and type a plus. Ties to or experience in Vermont is a plus.

• Experience with capacity building, training and/or coaching around collaborative leadership, community engagement, evidence that informs practice, and/or systems change in the context of community change.

• Evidence of commitment to promoting equitable access to economic opportunities for people and/or experience promoting and integrating diversity and racial equity in community economic development efforts.

• Ability to manage multiple projects, both in a team environment and independently, with minimal supervision.