Community Design - Senior Project Manager

Community Design – Senior Project Manager

WHO WE ARE

CivicWell supports sustainable policies and the community leaders who implement them. As a nonprofit organization, we inspire, equip, connect, and cultivate leaders working toward a more sustainable and resilient future. We know that innovation happens when communities name their own challenges and define their own visions. Through policy guidance, collaborative partnerships, and direct planning and technical assistance, we support and equip communities to bring those visions to life.

CivicWell’s Community Design program includes a broad portfolio of community-based planning projects, technical assistance services, and outreach, education and training to advance policies, strategies and initiatives across California. We work with local elected leaders, public agencies, and community-based organizations to plan for and implement changes in the built environment. We help create vital places through healthy and sustainable transportation, land use, compact development, infill, and more. Strategies and solutions are community derived and community driven. We incorporate equity and resilience in all of our projects. We work in marginalized areas, partner with local groups, conduct events in multiple languages, and engage directly with a diversity of community members and partners.

About Us: https://civicwell.org/about-us/

DEI STATEMENT

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are central to our mission and work at CivicWell. As we endeavor to support sustainable solutions and the communities that implement them, we approach each project with a DEI lens and infuse our values into our work.

Supporting local leaders in building healthy, thriving, and climate-resilient communities includes working toward equitable access to transportation options, housing, clean air and water, reliable and renewable energy, and safe public spaces. Local vision always leads our work, and we are committed to ensuring that processes are inclusive and marginalized voices are centered.

Our vision is to foster and nurture a community that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive for our staff, partners, and the communities with whom we engage; and CivicWell is committed to embracing this path as an organization.

POSITION OVERVIEW

We are looking for an experienced, dynamic and outgoing individual to manage and execute a variety of community-based planning and technical assistance projects that advance sustainable, equitable and climate-smart policies and outcomes in the built environment. This role reports to the Project Director and plays a leadership role in management, project implementation, reporting, and development of all aspects of the Community Design Program, which currently consists of six team members. The ideal candidate will be a motivated, detail-oriented individual with strong administrative and organizational skills, and the ability to learn and apply new skills. This is an excellent opportunity for continued growth and experience in leading-edge sustainable land use, transportation and climate resiliency solutions. It includes working with elected officials, thought leaders and experts from the nonprofit and private sector, and developing both innovative and implementable plans and strategies for local governments, as well as practitioners and advocates across sectors and other levels of government.

This is a hybrid work position with the option to work primarily from home, however, ideal candidates will need to be able to meet periodically (initially 2 to 4 times monthly) at CivicWell’s office in Sacramento. The position will also require occasional travel to other regions throughout California.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Project Manager will lead multiple projects in CivicWell’s growing Community Design Program portfolio, including but not limited to:

• Clean Mobility Options program that funds shared mobility projects serving under-resourced and marginalized communities. CivicWell supports the program design, provides outreach and engagement, and provides technical assistance to help communities develop and launch zero-emission mobility projects, such as on-demand shuttles and microtransit, electric vehicle carsharing, bikesharing, and scooter-sharing, carpooling and vanpooling, and ride-on-demand services.
• Transportation and land use planning projects that include outreach, community engagement and production of plans for equitable and sustainable transportation, housing, downtown, main street, corridor and neighborhood revitalization, parks, greening and placemaking.
• Support to help localities, especially under-resourced and marginalized communities, develop projects and proposals, and pursue funding for revitalization and resilience through CivicWell’s funding navigation program and as a technical assistance provider on behalf of the California Strategic Growth Council’s Transformative Climate Communities Program, California Air Resources Board Climate Mobility Options Program, and Federal Department of Transportation Thriving Communities Program, and others.

General Project Management Responsibilities:

• Lead management and implementation of grants and contracts with funders, partners and clients, including preparation and oversight of budgets, timelines, consultants and partners, allocation of resources, tracking, reporting and evaluation.
• Directly supervise one or more managers, effectively delegate tasks to support staff, and effectively coordinate tasks and activities with Team colleagues and staff from other CivicWell programs.
• Work closely with the Program Director and Team to identify emerging trends, potential challenges and new opportunities.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with existing and prospective funders, partners and stakeholders.
• Lead and/or support partnership and proposal development and grant writing.
• Represent CivicWell in presentations, meetings, workshops, events and conferences.

Project-specific Responsibilities:

• Oversee and coordinate the execution of specific Community Design-focused project and initiative services and deliverables.
• Assist jurisdictions with management and implementation of planning projects. Prepare requests for proposals, select and oversee technical consultants to prepare local plans. Establish and facilitate advisory groups, prepare outreach and engagement plans, organize and lead walk audits and interactive community engagement events, arrange development and production of outreach materials, document public input and assist with development and review of plan documents.
• Respond to requests for technical assistance to local jurisdictions and community partners, with consultations, research and recommendations for successful project development and pursuit of funding for implementation, grant preparation support, and connection with leading subject-matter experts and resources.
• Plan and implement webinars and virtual or in-person statewide and regional events that include 20-100 participants focused on topics, trainings, information sharing and networking associated with Community Design-focused topics and issues. Develop agendas and programs, solicit and direct speakers, and manage all aspects of event planning and logistics.
• Research and prepare presentations, fact sheets, case studies, guidebooks and articles highlighting best practices and achievements that support local government sustainability initiatives and inspire local decision-makers, agencies, practitioners and advocates with ideas, examples and tools for action.

QUALIFICATIONS

We are searching for candidates with the following key attributes and qualifications:

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree with major course work in Urban Planning, Environmental Studies, Sustainability, Political Science and Government, or relevant field. American Planning Association AICP certification is a plus.
• At least 4 years of project management experience, including budgets, contracts, reporting, task oversight and delivery, with increasing leadership responsibility.
• At least 4 years of experience managing land use and transportation-related projects, and/or related stakeholder and community outreach and engagement projects.
• Demonstrated knowledge of innovative policies, practices and strategies related to healthy, equitable and sustainable communities such as, Smart Growth, New Urbanism, Complete Streets, Active Transportation, Shared Mobility and Transit-oriented Development.
• Experience and skill managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
• Experience working in a nonprofit or government agency.
• Familiarity with California state and local government land use, transportation and housing planning, policy and administration.
• Working understanding of equity and environmental justice principles, frameworks, and practices as applied in the fields of land use and transportation planning, community design and sustainability.
• Excellent written communication skills, with demonstrated experience preparing concise and readable reports, plans, informational and outreach materials for professional and lay audiences.
• Excellent verbal communication skills with comfort and demonstrated experience and skills in facilitating meetings, engaging diverse stakeholder groups and community members, and preparing and delivering presentations.
• Experience with event planning, including developing agendas, coordinating with speakers, organizing logistics, and moderating panels.
• Experience with grant writing and proposal development.
• Familiarity with, or ability to learn, key software programs such as Canva, Formsite, Google Suite, iOS/Apple, Microsoft Office Suite, Monday.com, Survey Monkey, WordPress, and others as necessary.

 Other desirable attributes and qualifications include:

• Experience working with regional, state and/or federal agencies and elected officials.
• Experience with community outreach and organizing, especially in underserved and marginalized communities including tribal and rural communities.
• Training, experience, degree or certification in meeting and Charrette facilitation, marketing and communications, urban design, housing development and finance, GIS mapping, and/or California Environmental Quality Act regulatory requirements.
• Fluency in oral and written Spanish and / or other non-English languages common in California.

COMPENSATION

CivicWell supports staff by providing opportunities for professional development and training in a collaborative work environment. A strong work-life balance is encouraged and supported through flexible work schedules, a focus on staff engagement, and employee appreciation. Staff have the opportunity to engage and participate in both internal and external organizational initiatives and play an important role in an organization that is positively impacting communities across California. This position is full-time and exempt (salaried). The position’s annual full-time starting salary range is $74,000 – $84,000, depending on qualifications.

CivicWell’s benefits package includes:

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, long-term disability coverage.
• Vacation: 10 days of vacation per year (years 1-2), 15 days of vacation per year (years 3, 4 & 5), 20 days of vacation per year (years 6 and on).
• Twelve paid holidays per year.
• Access to the CivicWell’s Employee Assistance Program.
• CivicWell covers up to 25k in Voluntary Term Life Insurance.
• 401K retirement plan with an employer contribution of up to 4% of salary. Full-time employees are eligible to participate in the plan after 90 days of employment and will become eligible for the 4% employer match after 1 year of employment.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested applicants should email their resume and cover letter describing their qualifications and interest in the position along with three professional references to HR@civicwell.org.

Candidates must use the following headings and labels when submitting their applications. References should be included directly in the email body.

• Email subject line: Senior Project Manager Application [Full Name]
• Cover Letter attachment: Cover Letter [Full Name]
• Resume attachment: Resume [Full Name]

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT

CivicWell is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity and/or expression, religion, sexual orientation, status as a veteran, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions, disability, marital status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Our agency embraces a diverse and culturally rich workforce, and is committed to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment.