(Hybrid) Community Development Project Manager - Research Office

The West Virginia Water Research Institute at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Community Development Project Manager.

About the Opportunity

This position is responsible for providing critical support in the development and management of community development projects, programs, and staff associated with Brownfields Assistance Center at WVU (BAC), Mid-Atlantic Technical Assistance Brownfields (TAB), and the WVU BAD Buildings program. The Community Development Project Manager works with the Assistant Director and Director to identify funding strategies at the program and project level and manages tasks and deliverables associated with existing programs and projects. This requires collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

The purpose of this position is to support communities in the implementation of community development projects and initiatives that will enhance the well-being and quality of life for community stakeholders, attract investment to communities, and maximize resources in the region. This position facilitates the implementation of community development strategies on environmentally contaminated, abandoned, and dilapidated properties, including coordinating stakeholder groups, project identification, project prioritization, site redevelopment plans, and pursuit of public and private sector funding opportunities.

This management position will coordinate the collaboration with other BAC staff and partners to provide communities within WV and throughout EPA Region 3 with comprehensive technical assistance (TA) and provide project support. Brownfield technical assistance will consist of a variety of support, beginning with brownfield site identification through subsequent cleanup and/or site reuse. Redevelopment assistance will include support for economic revitalization and engaging with public and private sectors for rural communities as well as urban neighborhoods throughout WV and EPA Region 3.

The ideal candidate must demonstrate strong communication skills and utilize various methods to communicate with stakeholders on brownfield redevelopment processes and programs and provide facilitation assistance with redevelopment reuse planning and finance leveraging. The incumbent will manage program reporting, proposal development, facilitating meetings with project stakeholders supporting the day-to-day tasks of the BAC at WVU, and will work with communities on brownfield-related issues.

This candidate will apply education and experience to guide and assure adherence to policies, regulations, and principles. They will independently use professional techniques, as well as BAC at WVU organizational policies, to solve a wide range of moderate to complex problems in imaginative and practical ways. Depth of skills, knowledge and interpretive abilities, as well as creativity, are required to successfully perform duties. Work effort often addresses non-routine matters within established protocols, guidelines, and/or policies. Work effort has significant impact on client services and operations, producing minor to moderate organizational, legal and financial results and/or liabilities. Position duties require management and oversight of projects.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Manage projects and programs associated with economic development and technical assistance by ensuring collaborating team members conform to statements of work, schedules, and budget.
• Lead and support the program development and implementation of community development programs, including state and regional initiatives, for WVU TAB, BAC at WVU, and WVU BAD Buildings.
• Serve as the project contact for communities and local projects as assigned, including the management of communications with community stakeholders and facilitation of community development activities, such as creating and presenting materials in public meetings and synthesizing stakeholder input on projects.
• Collaborate and facilitate with BAC at Marshall University, EPA Brownfield Regional Offices, as well as National TAB providers on project tasks, as needed.
• Manage the facilitation of redevelopment activities including creating and presenting materials in public meetings and synthesizing stakeholder input on projects and programs.
• Provide research support in the identification of brownfield property/site characteristics including ownership, parcel/tax info, and barriers to redevelopment.
• Assist in the development of project proposal and grant applications for funding community brownfields projects in response to solicited and unsolicited Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued by federal, state, and private agencies.
• Develop resources for distribution to communities and placement on program webpages, social media accounts, newsletters, webinars, and other media.
• Assist with planning and implementation of local and state events, including workshops and conferences.
• Travel within West Virginia and EPA Region 3, as needed, for single day or multi-day periods. Meet virtually, by telephone, and in-person with representatives from various federal, state, community, and private organizations regarding progress of funded projects and for promoting BAC at WVU and Mid-Atlantic TAB services.
• Represent the Center at meetings, conferences, and other events as needed consistent with the objectives of the organization.
• Reports to Assistant Director of the Brownfields Assistance Center at WVU. Normally receive no instructions on routine and general instructions on new assignments. Determines methods and procedures on new assignments. Coordinating work efforts with the BAC at WVU assistant director, director, program managers, and WVWRI staff is required. General sharing of knowledge and team participation is expected in the role. Program, project, or activity assistance and support responsibilities will occur in this position.

• Bachelor's degree in public policy, public administration, political science, environmental studies, urban planning, or related disciplines.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in the following:
  • Project management and/or community outreach experience and public speaking
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Exceptional project management skills including the ability to keep multiple projects on schedule
• Excellent communication skills including a high proficiency in English grammar, composition, and verbal communication.
• Strong organizational skills with a demonstrated ability to plan work activities and independently maintain progress for maintaining schedules, recordkeeping of project documents and files, and reporting deadlines.
• Skilled at timeline development.
• Proactive outreach skills for contacting communities and resource organizations.
• Proficiency with computer software including, but not limited to: MS Office suite, Adobe Creative Suite, project management software.
• Ability to be flexible in working with diverse personalities.
• Ability to write progress/final reports, case histories, newsletters, and information briefs.
• Ability to interface with state, federal, regional, university, and community representatives on project tasks, budgets, and schedules.
• Ability to lead meetings, give presentations to sponsoring agencies, county commission meetings, workshops, and conferences.
• Ability to travel independently via car, air, or public transportation to communities and project sites.
• Ability to work independently with minimal managerial oversight.
• Ability to critique project deliverables and ascertain whether or not they meet work plan objectives.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret maps, technical procedure documents and governmental regulations.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical solutions.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

Behavioral Competencies

• Technical skills - Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; pursues training and development opportunities; assess strengths, and weaknesses; shares expertise with others.
• Problem solving - Gathers and analyzes information, identifies problems, develops alternatives, uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics and works well in groups and resolves matters timely.
• Internal & External Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional matters with objectivity and openness; responds promptly to needs and requests for service and assistance; meets commitments and dates, notifies others if change occurs; provides, solicits and applies feedback; and builds goodwill through balanced contributions, positive approach, respect and support of others.
• Communications - Demonstrates group presentation skills, participates in meetings, listens and gets clarification, is responsive and speaks clearly and persuasively in positive and negative situations. Writes and edits clearly and informatively, varies style to meet needs, presents numerical data effectively, and able to read and interpret written information.
• Organizational Support - Aligns work and develops strategies to meet organizational goals; seeks to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; and upholds organizational expectations and values.
• Self-Management - Responds to management direction; resourcefully adapts to changes in work environment and circumstances; responds well under pressure and manages competing demands; takes calculated risks, asks for and offers help when needed; is tactful and responsible for own actions. Adheres to work schedule and complies with leave management responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in redevelopment, community development, and/or issues related to brownfields, abandoned, and dilapidated structures.
• Community outreach experience interacting with a wide variety of individuals such as the public, researchers, business personnel, state and federal agency personnel, and community organizations.
• Knowledge concerning various methods to conduct policy and fiscal analyses for subjects related to brownfield redevelopment or downtown and community development.
• Experience in project management.

• Valid driver's license

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.