Community Investment Manager (Grant Management & Economic Development)

Town of Smithfield•Smithfield, RI

11d•$75,000 - $90,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Community Investment Manager is a professional manager in the Town of Smithfield’s Department of Planning & Economic Development, working under the general supervision of the Director of Planning & Economic Development. The role advances the Town’s economic and community development priorities through economic development initiatives, grant development and administration, strategic partnerships, and project and program implementation. It serves as the primary staff liaison to the Economic Development Commission and translates Town plans, policies, and community priorities into actionable initiatives. The manager leads the Town’s grant-development function, including identifying funding opportunities, preparing and coordinating applications, administering awarded funds, ensuring compliance and reporting, and maintaining a coordinated Town-wide grant program. The position works with businesses, property owners, community organizations, institutions, Town departments, state and federal agencies, and other partners to strengthen the local economic base, support locally rooted economic activity, advance redevelopment and community investment, and improve the Town’s long-term economic resilience. The role also oversees or coordinates assigned community programs and projects, including the Rural Community Health Network, and supports Town grant, scholarship, and loan programs. Work includes stakeholder engagement, partnership development, project and budget coordination, financial reporting, compliance, performance monitoring, and professional communication. The position is primarily based in a municipal office environment, with public contact, frequent computer use, occasional evening meetings and additional hours, and possible local and regional travel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, economic development, community development, urban or regional planning, public policy, business administration, finance, economics, or a closely related field.
Three to five years of progressively responsible professional experience in economic development, community development, grants management, municipal government, public administration, nonprofit management, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience identifying funding opportunities and preparing successful grant applications.
Ability to manage multiple projects, funding sources, deadlines, stakeholders, and reporting requirements simultaneously.
Ability to prepare clear, persuasive, accurate, and well-organized grant applications, reports, memoranda, presentations, and other professional written materials.
Ability to build productive working relationships with businesses, residents, community organizations, public officials, Town departments, government agencies, consultants, and external partners.
Ability to research and analyze economic, demographic, financial, property, programmatic, and other information relevant to economic and community development.
Knowledge of economic development, community development, public-sector grant management, project implementation, and public-private partnerships.
Ability to exercise independent professional judgment within Town policies, financial controls, grant requirements, and direction from the Director.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and ability to learn and use the Town’s grant-management, financial, project-management, permitting, data, and other software.
Valid driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a related discipline.
Experience with federal and state grant programs.
Experience administering grants after award, including budgeting, reporting, reimbursement, compliance, procurement, monitoring, or closeout.
Municipal government experience.
Experience working with public boards, commissions, elected officials, businesses, community organizations, or governmental agencies.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Economic Development Commission; prepare meeting materials, conduct research, coordinate initiatives, and implement Commission priorities.
Develop and maintain an annual economic and community development work program with the Director and Commission, including priorities, responsibilities, schedules, and measurable outcomes.
Develop and implement strategies to strengthen the Town’s commercial and employment base, fiscal sustainability, locally rooted economic activity, village centers, and economic resilience.
Conduct outreach to businesses, employers, property owners, entrepreneurs, and community organizations to identify needs, address barriers, support retention and expansion, and develop partnerships.
Connect businesses and community organizations with municipal, state, federal, nonprofit, and financial resources and assist them in navigating relevant programs.
Identify underutilized properties, redevelopment opportunities, and opportunities for coordinated public and private investment.
Research and analyze economic, demographic, fiscal, business, employment, and property-use trends and prepare recommendations for Town policies, investments, and initiatives.
Maintain a Town-wide grant program, including tracking grant-ready projects, funding opportunities, deadlines, local-match requirements, awards, and outstanding obligations.
Lead or coordinate municipal grant applications, including scopes of work, narratives, budgets, schedules, supporting documents, and interdepartmental approvals.
Administer or coordinate awarded grants through closeout, including agreements, budgets, reimbursements, reporting, procurement coordination, compliance documentation, audits, amendments, and performance measurement.
Help Town departments develop grant-ready projects and assess alignment with Town priorities, financial and staffing capacity, and long-term obligations.
Work with the Director to oversee Town grant, scholarship, and loan programs, including applications, eligibility review, award processing, disbursements, recipient compliance, and loan repayment tracking, coordinating with the Finance Department and following program requirements, policies, and approvals.
Manage and coordinate the Rural Community Health Network and other assigned community development, public health, and resilience initiatives, including stakeholder engagement, partnerships, program planning, budgets, financial reporting and invoicing, compliance, performance monitoring, and agency coordination.
Manage or coordinate assigned economic and community development projects, including budgets, schedules, consultants, contractors, participating departments, funding agencies, and community partners.
Develop partnerships with governmental agencies, educational institutions, businesses, nonprofit and financial institutions, utilities, and regional organizations.
Research and recommend programs, incentives, financing mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and other tools to support economic and community development objectives.
Prepare reports, recommendations, presentations, and other professional materials; participate in public and business meetings; and monitor relevant legislation and programs.
Provide general guidance to developers and property owners undertaking larger-scale development or redevelopment regarding potential public-private partnerships, funding resources, and opportunities to advance public infrastructure, community amenities, and Town priorities; coordinate discussions with the Director and relevant departments.
Attend evening meetings as necessary and undertake local or regional travel as required for meetings, site visits, conferences, business outreach, and project activities.
Maintain awareness of changing grant programs and economic and community development opportunities and proactively identify opportunities that advance established Town priorities.
Perform other related duties as assigned.