Summary:
The Program Manager for Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) will be responsible for administering the City of Allentown’s Recompete Plan and AEDC’s Urban Sites program and will report directly to the AEDC Executive Director. The Recompete Plan brings together partners from Allentown and across the greater Lehigh Valley to advance opportunities for residents living within Allentown’s Recompete Area to access better paying jobs, reliable transportation, and quality and affordable childcare. The Program Manager will oversee execution of the Recompete Plan by providing effective project management to the eight component projects as outlined in the Plan. AEDC has been specializing in brownfield site redevelopment since 1979, completing 27 projects that have returned more than 90 acres of vacant or underutilized properties to productive use in the City of Allentown. Through redevelopment of properties, the Urban Site’s program creates urban manufacturing sites that support good paying walkable jobs for residents of Allentown. The Urban Sites program pairs perfectly with the Recompete Plan that is working to lower the Prime Age Employment Gap (PAEG) in the City of Allentown.
Location: ONSITE, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Please send resume + cover letter to info@allentownedc.com
Primary Duties:
Serve as Recompete Plan Coordinator:
A. Strategy Implementation for the EDA Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program Grant, Phase 2
- Coordinates and evaluates all aspects of the City of Allentown Recompete Plan.
- Proactively monitors, investigates, and assesses developments that affect the scope of work.
- Connect with partners representing the Recompete Strategies to create strong working relationships for collaboration and planning.
- Manages the implementation of the Recompete Plan as outlined in the City of Allentown Phase 2 proposal: working closely with chief partners representing the Recompete Plan strategies to:
i. Track activities to ensure targets and outcomes are reached
ii. Identify barriers and develop mitigation plans
iii. Track metrics and make appropriate recommendations for improvements
iv. Ensure connectivity across the eight component projects
v. Act as primary point of contact in conflict resolution for partners involved in eight component projects
- Lead coordination of annual summit to report publicly on project activities and progress.
- Through partnership with Allentown city staff, maintain knowledge of federal funding opportunities and other related funding.
- Supports the City of Allentown by acting as a secondary liaison to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).
- Monitors EDA grant and technical assistance opportunities along with providing recommendations to the Plan’s leadership.
B. Project & Partner Coordination
- Engages the current coalition of Recompete Plan partners and identifies opportunities for new local and regional partnerships to support further strategy development and implementation.
- Builds and maintains strong relationships with new and existing stakeholders from across the region and the public-private spectrum.
- Cultivates an effective coalition to champion broad interests of the Recompete Plan strategies, especially promoting priority industries as identified in the proposal.
- Coordinates interaction among all stakeholders, including the facilitation of regular partner meetings and other engagement across the eight component projects.
- Cultivates strong positive relationships with existing and prospective public and private funders.
Secondary Duties:
Manage AEDC’s Urban Sites program:
- Oversee and coordinate the development, design, and permitting of multiple brownfield redevelopment and economic development projects simultaneously.
- Prepare requests for and review proposals for Environmental Site Assessments, remedial design, remedial implementation, and other environmental services.
- Review proposals and budgets for current and future projects.
- Assess and mitigate project risks.
- Prepare reports and documents to update the AEDC Planning Committee on project(s) status of projects.
- Gather data annually and as needed to demonstrate the impact of the Urban Sites program.
- Maintain a list of future projects including industrial properties that are at risk of conversion to non-manufacturing uses.
- Prepare and submit grant applications and assemble other financing, as needed, to advance the programming/projects.
- Maintain working relationships with area developers and brokers to promote real estate sales and leasing efforts in Allentown.
- Review and apply data from City of Allentown, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC), and Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) to analyses as needed.
- Attend staff, board, and committee meetings and participate in special projects, duties, or committee staffing as assigned by the Executive Director.
Supervisory Duties:
This position has no direct reports although the person may provide supervisory duties in the absence of the Executive Director and/or other staff members.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in economic development, strategic planning, project management, manufacturing, brownfield site redevelopment, environmental engineering, environmental science, property management, and/or other equivalent experience required.
Other Information, Skills, and Requirements:
- Work hours are generally 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. although occasions may arise where it is necessary to work outside those hours to attend or host events and other activities.
- Local and regional travel is required. Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation is necessary. Occasional national travel may arise from time to time.
- Intermediate computer skills required including the proficient use of Microsoft Office suite, and database software (both native and web based)
- Networking and public speaking skills required. Applicant must be comfortable interacting with individuals across many organizations and levels, including local, state, and Federal officials (or their staff), corporate C-level staff, etc.
- Fluency in Spanish encouraged but not required.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Excellent time management and organizational skills with attention to detail.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Understanding of workforce development, and public policy processes. Familiarity with the community, economic development landscape, and network of partners within the Lehigh Valley.
- Experience leading committee meetings.
- Experience developing strategic plans and leading complex multi-partner initiatives.
- Familiarity with U.S. EDA programs and place-based investing models is preferred.
Note:
This position description does not list all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with the position. It reflects principal job elements. Allentown Economic Development Corp. reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.
Benefits Include:
Competitive Salary
Health care plan (medical, dental, prescription, life and disability insurance)
Vacation, Personal, and Sick Leave, plus Holidays
Retirement Plan
