Commercial Corridor and Small Business Support Manager

NEW KENSINGTON CDC • Philadelphia, PA

3h • $74,948 • Onsite

About The Position

New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) is a community development corporation committed to sustainable development in housing opportunities, economic development, vacant land strategies, community engagement, and real estate development. NKCDC advances social equity and economic empowerment by nurturing and creating opportunities for residents to live and actively shaping their neighborhoods of choice. To that end, NKCDC provides free resources to residents and businesses in the Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond neighborhoods.

NKCDC has a strong reputation, both locally and nationally, with longstanding credibility of serving as a trusted and valuable partner and collaborator. The organization is currently one of only two community development organizations in the City of Philadelphia that are chartered members of the NeighborWorks America network. Our current work using a trauma-informed community engagement model, applying a racial equity lens across the organization, and leading programs at the intersection of health and housing are keeping NKCDC at the cutting edge of community development. NKCDC draws on the strengths of the communities in Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond — a population of over 62,800, 23% of whom live below the federal poverty level — to make sure neighborhood development benefits all residents. More information can be found at nkcdc.org.

This role supports NKCDC’s efforts to enhance economic development and neighborhood revitalization in Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond. Working with the VP of Real Estate & Economic Development and Deputy Executive Director, the position focuses on managing commercial corridors, fostering small business growth, and coordinating economic development programs. Responsibilities include business outreach, service provider network management, community engagement, public safety advocacy, event planning, and management oversight for the corridor steward team. The role also involves tracking available commercial spaces and ensuring the successful implementation of development initiatives to improve the community’s economic conditions. Our goals include supporting existing small businesses; reducing vacancy rates and increasing employment on our commercial corridors; and helping commercial corridors meet the needs of community residents.

This position is funded by City of Philadelphia Targeted Corridor Management Program (TCMP) and Taking Care of Business (TCB) grants.

Requirements

• 3–4 years of relevant experience supporting businesses, communities, or economic development efforts, or a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as community or economic development, city planning, public administration, or business development.
• 1–3 years of experience in community-facing or public-facing roles, particularly those involving direct engagement with small businesses, residents, or culturally diverse communities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust-based relationships across differences and work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Self-directed and proactive, with comfort conducting outreach activities including cold calls, in-person visits, and relationship-building in corridor environments.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating teams, projects, or collaborative initiatives, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Solid administrative, organizational, and computer skills to support program coordination, tracking, and reporting.
• Commitment to equity and demonstrated experience working with culturally diverse and multilingual communities.
• Driver's License Required

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of trauma-informed approaches and sensitivity to the lived experiences of small business owners, community members, and staff prefered.
• Knowledge of city programs, agencies, and business development resources, or the ability to quickly learn and navigate them; familiarity with GIS tools or mapping software is a plus.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team; meeting facilitation or event planning experience is desirable.
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Bilingual Spanish/English proficiency is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Grant Execution & Compliance
• Commercial Corridor Management
• Business Support & Outreach
• Small Business Services Coordination
• Workshops & Training
• Service Provider Network Management
• Business Survey & Data Tracking
• Business Selection, Contracting, & Payment
• Community Engagement & Public Safety
• Zoning Committees & Advocacy
• Event Planning & Promotion
• Team Leadership
• Cold Calls & Business Visits
• Tracking Available Commercial & Industrial Spaces
• Communication & Reporting
• Other tasks as assigned.

Benefits

• Excellent benefits include an HMO/PPO health plan, long- and short-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid vacation, and a 403(b)-retirement plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees