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

The WV Water Research Institute with the West Virginia University Research Corporation is currently accepting applications for a Community Development Associate.

About the Opportunity

This position will be responsible for providing critical support in the management of projects and programs associated with the Northern West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center (NBAC), WVU Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Program, and WVU BAD Buildings. The position will collaborate with other staff and partners to provide communities within WV and throughout EPA Region 3 with comprehensive technical assistance (TA) and provide coordination support for the Downtown Appalachia Working Group. Technical assistance may consist of redevelopment support, beginning with brownfield site identification through subsequent cleanup and/or site reuse, as well as downtown revitalization through  sustainable economic development initiatives and engaging with public and private sectors to coordinate data-driven development in rural downtown communities. 

The ideal candidate will utilize various methods to communicate with stakeholders on brownfield redevelopment processes and programs; provide facilitation assistance with redevelopment reuse planning and finance leveraging. The incumbent will assist with program reporting, proposal development, facilitating meetings with project stakeholders supporting the day-to-day tasks of the NBAC, and will 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. Independently uses professional techniques, as well as organizational policies to solve a wide range of moderate to complex problems in imaginative and practical ways. Depth of skills, knowledge and interpretive abilities, as well as creativity, are required to successfully perform duties. Work effort often addresses non-routine matters within established protocol, guidelines, and/or policies. Work effort has significant impact on client services and operations, producing minor to moderate organizational, legal and financial results and/or liabilities. Position duties require oversight of projects.

At WVU Research Corporation, we strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU Research Corporation offers a comprehensive benefits package with a variety of options to suit your needs:

• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• Paid Time off (PTO)
• 403(b) retirement savings with a fully vested 3% employee contribution match, (Employees have the option of contributing an additional 1-3% of their earnings to the plan, which is also matched by the WVURC)
• A range of health insurance and other benefits
• Dependent Education Scholarship
• WVU Perks

What You'll Do

• Assist with program development and implementation of technical assistance programs, including state and regional initiatives, for WVU TAB, NBAC, and WVU BAD Buildings.
  
• Assist with the facilitation of redevelopment activities including creating and presenting materials in public meetings and synthesizing stakeholder input on projects and programs.
  
• Assist with management of projects associated with economic development and financial technical assistance by ensuring collaborating team members conform to statements of work, schedules, and budget.
  
• Coordinate and facilitate, in partnership with other NBAC staff, Downtown Appalachia Working Group meetings.
  
• 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 Southern Brownfields Assistance Center, EPA Brownfield Regional Offices, as well as National TAB providers on project tasks.
  
• Assist with development and distribution of resources for distribution to communities and placement on program webpages, social media accounts, newsletters, webinars, and other media.
  
• Assist with planning and implementation of local and state events, including workshops and conferences. 
  
• Travel within West Virginia and EPA Region 3 as needed for single day or multi-day periods.  Meets via face-to-face, virtually, and by telephone with representatives from various federal, state, community, and private organizations regarding progress of funded projects and for promoting NBAC and WVU TAB services. 
  
• Provides additional program assistance support to NBAC and WVU TAB staff as needed. Represents the organizations at meetings and events as needed.
  

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, Environmental Studies, urban planning, or related disciplines or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A minimum of one (1) year of project management, public speaking, and/or community outreach experience
• Project management skills including the ability to keep multiple projects on schedules
• Organizational skills with a demonstrated ability to plan work activities and independently maintain progress for maintaining schedules, recordkeeping of project documents and files, and reporting deadlines. 
• Skilled at timeline development. 
• Proactive outreach skills for contacting communities and resource organizations. 
• Excellent communication skills including a high proficiency in English grammar, composition, and verbal communication. 
• Proficiency with computer software including, but not limited to: MS Office suite, Adobe Creative Suite, project management software.
• Ability to be flexible in working with diverse personalities. 
• Ability to write progress/final reports, case histories, newsletters, and information briefs. 
• Ability to interface with state, federal, regional, university, and community representatives on project tasks, budgets, and schedules. 
• Ability to lead meetings, give presentations to sponsoring agencies, county commission meetings, workshops, and conferences. 
• Ability to travel independently via car, air, or public transportation to communities and project sites. 
• Ability to work independently with minimal managerial oversight. 
• Ability to critique project deliverables and ascertain whether or not they meet work plan objectives. 
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret maps, technical procedure documents and governmental regulations. 
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical solutions. 
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. 
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form. 
• Technical skills – Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; pursues training and development opportunities; assess strengths, weaknesses, and shares expertise with others.
• Problem solving – Gathers and analyzes information, identifies problems, develops alternatives, uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics and works well in groups and resolves matters timely.
• Internal & External Customer Service – Manages difficult or emotional matters with objectivity and openness; responds promptly to needs and requests for service and assistance; meets commitments and dates, notifies others if change occurs; provides, solicits and applies feedback; and builds goodwill through balanced contributions, positive approach, respect and support of others.
• Communications – Demonstrates group presentation skills, participates in meetings, listens and gets clarification, is responsive and speaks clearly and persuasively in positive and negative situations.  Writes and edits clearly and informatively, varies style to meet needs, presents numerical data effectively, and able to read and interpret written information.
• Organizational Support – Aligns work and develops strategies to meet organizational goals; seeks to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; and upholds organizational expectations and values.
• Self-Management – Responds to management direction; resourcefully adapts to changes in work environment and circumstances; responds well under pressure and manages competing demands; takes calculated risks, asks for and offers help when needed; is tactful and responsible for own actions. Adheres to work schedule and complies with leave management responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

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

• Valid Driver's license

The WVURC was created as a not-for-profit corporation in 1985 to support research (R1) at West Virginia University.  We provide evaluation, development, patenting, management, and marketing services for inventions of the faculty, staff and students of the University.

The WVURC receives and administers funds awarded by external agencies for research and other activities and is responsible for helping protect intellectual property through patents, copyrights and licensing agreements for start-up companies based on University research.

West Virginia University Research Corporation is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We value diversity among its employees and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.

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