Community Development Director 24-00269 - Alura Workforce Solutions

The Community Development Director is responsible for the overall development of community relations that support sites nationally and locally. Working with leadership, this position will advocate for veteran services and support to include promoting awareness of veteran needs, building strong relationships with the community, strategizing for expansion, and preparation and implementation of new projects and initiatives. This position will report to the Chief Operating Officer and will also receive guidance and direction from the Chief Executive Officer.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic initiatives to advocate for veterans within the community
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, coalitions, community organizations, and veteran support groups and lead advocacy efforts
• Organize and participate in community meetings, events, workgroups, and conferences to raise awareness about veterans' issues and resources available
• Acts as a spokesperson for the organization, delivering compelling presentations and representing the organization in public forums
• Establish partnerships with state, county, and local agencies and develop a database of services within each homeless continuum of care
• Remain up-to-date with current trends and policies related to veteran services and funding needs, ensuring the organization remains at the forefront of advocacy efforts and provision of services
• Participate in committees and coalitions to provide data and input for policymaking
• Work directly with each Executive Director to maintain ongoing community partnerships and stay abreast of current needs or gaps in veterans' services
• Develop a database of media & legislative contacts interested in issues of homelessness and veterans
• Collaborate with the Development Department team to develop and distribute relevant educational materials, press releases, and social media content
• Garners support for the development of all new sites or projects through community relations
• Leads in preparing operational budgets for new and expansion projects in collaboration with Operations, Finance, and Housing Departments
• Identifies funding as it relates to community partnerships and new projects/programs
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of advocacy efforts, tracking progress and making recommendations for improvement
• Regularly assess all community collaborations for benefit to the organization and to veterans and progress towards objectives with effective outcomes
• Provide necessary management and technical assistance to staff
• Participate in corporate strategic planning and implementation
• Participate in board meetings, executive meetings, & site meetings as directed
• Manage regular communication with key advocacy partners
• Evaluate community need and collaborate with Clinical, Operation develop programs to meet those needs
• Conducts direct outreach to veterans and other stakeholders including participating in outreach and service events, community town halls, veteran service organization meetings, etc.
• Ensure organizational policy compliance and maintains corporate core values in all collaborations
• Performs other duties as assigned

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of proven experience in community relations, advocacy, or a related field, preferably with a strong focus on veterans' issues
• Experience in nonprofit organization management, government policy and funding, veteran and/or homeless issues strongly preferred
• Experience in the military and an understanding of the veteran culture preferred
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Public speaking, presentation, training, and facilitation skills with the ability to effectively convey complex information to various audiences
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
• Ability to manage relationships effectively
• Ability to create and facilitate coalitions
• Proficiency in using technology and social media platforms for advocacy and communication purposes
• Leadership skills
• Flexible and creative
• Ability to listen and make sound decisions
• Ability to organize and implement projects
• Ability to travel