(Hybrid) Community Development Associate - West Virginia Water Research Institute

West Virginia University • West Virginia, WV

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position will provide critical support in the management of projects and programs associated with brownfield redevelopment and technical assistance initiatives for a range of projects in West Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic. The position will collaborate with other staff and partners to provide communities within WV and throughout EPA Region 3 with comprehensive technical assistance (TA). Technical assistance may consist of redevelopment support, beginning with brownfield identification through brownfield cleanup or site reuse, and local revitalization by supporting sustainable economic development initiatives and engaging with public and private sectors to coordinate data-driven development in rural communities.
The ideal candidate will actively communicate with stakeholders on brownfield redevelopment processes and programs. They will also provide facilitation assistance with redevelopment reuse plans and finance leveraging. The incumbent will lead and facilitate meetings with project stakeholders, assist with program reporting, proposal development, day-to-day tasks of the Brownfields Assistance Center (BAC), and work with communities on brownfield-related issues and downtown redevelopment.
This candidate will apply education and experience to guide and assure adherence to policy, regulations, and principles. They will independently use professional techniques, as well as BAC organizational policies to solve a range of moderate to complex problems in imaginative and practical ways. Depth of skills, knowledge and interpretive abilities, and creativity are required to successfully perform duties. Position duties require oversight of projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, Environmental Studies, urban planning, or related disciplines.
• A minimum of six (6) months of experience in the following: Project management, public speaking, community outreach, and/or other related experience
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.
• Valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in community development, and/or issues related to brownfields abandoned and dilapidated structures.
• Community engagement 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.

Responsibilities

• Assist with program development and implementation of technical assistance programs, including state and regional initiatives, for BAC, WVU BAD Buildings, and Mid-Atlantic TAB.
• Assist with 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 proposal and grant applications for funding community brownfields projects in response to solicited and unsolicited Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) issued by federal, state, and private agencies.
• Collaborate with the Brownfields Assistance Center at Marshall University, EPA Brownfield Regional Offices, and National TAB providers on project tasks.
• Assist with the development of resources for distribution to communities and sharing them on program webpages, social media accounts, newsletters, webinars, and other media.
• Assist with planning and implementation of local and state events, including educational workshops and conferences.
• Travel within West Virginia and EPA Region 3 as needed for single day or multi-day periods. Meet face-to-face, virtually, and by telephone with federal, state, community, and private organizations regarding progress of funded projects and to promote BAC and Mid-Atlantic TAB services.
• Provide additional program assistance support to BAC and TAB staff as needed.
• Represent the organizations at meetings and events as needed.

Benefits

• 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%25 employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks.
• Wellness programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level