Program Officer, Economic Development

LISC Virginia is seeking a full-time Program Officer to support their economic development work. The Program Officer will work under the guidance of the Executive Director to strengthen neighborhood economic opportunity and vitality through advocacy and partnerships. The ideal candidate should have knowledge of community development, workforce development, financial stability, and data system management, as well as skills in building key relationships. They will be responsible for managing staff and consultants, facilitating the implementation of initiatives, and fostering effective relationships with funders, partners, and community members. The Program Officer will play a leading role in ensuring LISC VA's measurable impact in investing and strengthening low-income communities.

• Catalyze and support the stability and growth of local minority- and women-owned businesses
• Assess available services and programs, identify gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and propose and advance policy and program solutions
• Formulate place-based economic development strategies and implement in partnership with BDO and other partners
• Support and cultivate non-profit BDO and small business support partners by providing technical assistance
• Build and maintain mutually trusting relationships with partners including community organizations, businesses, government officials, anchor institutions, consultants, and contractors
• Develop and disseminate resources by drawing on content expertise and national best practices
• Support and build the capacity of the local small business eco-system by providing resources, direct technical support, shared learning opportunities, and organizing meetings, trainings, workshops, and information sessions
• Track state and local government policy, programs, and funding related to economic development and formulate strategies to leverage and advocate for such policies, programs, and funding
• Lead and administer small business capital access and technical assistance programs
• Actively participate with select, strategic inter-organizational coalitions to connect and embed economic development activity within market systems and dynamics
• Help craft local economic development agenda in harmony with LISC’s national priorities
• Assist with LISC Broadband Strategy development and implementation of Innovation grant HBCU Digital Access program
• Develop and manage relationships with local economic development partners
• Serve as a member of external partner working committees across economic development areas
• Support fund development by recommending program funding priorities and needs and assisting in drafting grant application narratives
• Assume responsibility for s

• Knowledge of community development, workforce development, financial stability, and data system management
• Skills in building key relationships and facilitating the implementation of initiatives
• Experience working with diverse populations
• Ability to manage staff and consultants
• Strong ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with funders, partners, community members, and stakeholders
• Proficiency in providing technical assistance and training, organizing and community engagement, and working with other stakeholders to achieve objectives
• Familiarity with the Richmond region economic development, entrepreneurship, lending/investment, philanthropic, and/or community development fields
• Ability to catalyze and support the stability and growth of local minority- and women-owned businesses
• Knowledge of place-based economic development strategies and implementation
• Ability to support and cultivate non-profit business development organizations and small business support partners
• Strong relationship-building skills with community organizations, businesses, government officials, anchor institutions, consultants, and contractors
• Proficiency in developing and disseminating resources and drawing on content expertise
• Experience in tracking state and local government policy, programs, and funding related to economic development
• Ability to lead and administer small business capital access and technical assistance programs
• Active participation in inter-organizational coalitions and external partner working committees
• Familiarity with LISC's national priorities and ability to align local economic development agenda with them
• Knowledge of broadband strategy development and implementation
• Ability to develop and manage relationships with local economic development partners
• Proficiency in supporting fund development and grant application narratives
• Strong organizational and project management skills

• Competitive salary
• Excellent fringe benefits
• Equal opportunity employer
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice