Economic Development Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Lawndale Christian Development Corporation

Job Description

Economic Development Coordinator (EDC)

LCDC is seeking a mission-oriented and experienced business management professional who will assist LCDC move into its next phase of growth and stability.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Deputy Director, the Economic Development Coordinator will direct both program management and business operations.

Program Management

The EDC will serve as Program Manager for three main initiatives, supporting each with recruitment, coordinating the programs, and managing the facilitators.

COOP Incubator - The LCDC Co-op organizes residents to collectively form worker cooperatives with the aim of generating multiple small businesses owned and run by the community cooperative. Using a multiple stakeholder worker cooperative model, LCDC provides governance support and back-office services including accounting/bookkeeping, IT support, human resources management, tax assistance, marketing, compliance, and governance training.

Business Services - Because our mission is greater economic success for low-income communities, we provide these services to a limited number of traditional small businesses located in communities we operate, and co-ops not affiliated with LCDC located within Chicago. LCDC provides intensive business implementation courses which educate emerging and established business owners.

Internship Program – This program is designed to provide experience in community economic development, collaborating with LCDC’s Cooperative Incubator and worker cooperatives. The intern will provide support to staff and gain experience in canvassing, data maintenance, new business outreach and attraction, and event management.

Business Operations

As a business operations specialist, the EDC will support, advise, and manage small business clients in LCDC’s COOP incubator and business support programs. This includes one-on-one and group business consulting, community outreach, communications, and event planning. On behalf of LCDC and our clients, the EDC works with community partners to advance LCDC’s organizing, cooperative development, and community relations goals.

In addition, the EDC will support LCDC’s capital management efforts as we deploy seed and capital funding to clients.

Responsibilities

The EDC is primarily responsible for the items listed below including, but not limited to:

· Shepherd projects from conception through iteration, testing, development, and execution

· Conduct recurring relational meetings with residents, program participants, and stakeholders.

· Network with appropriate local organizations to gain momentum for organizing initiatives.

· Serve as an end-to-end engagement manager for such projects, leading and facilitating cross-departmental working groups and, on occasion, external individuals/partners/vendors

· Create and manage associated tools, frameworks, and documents in order to move each initiative forward as efficiently as possible

· Report to the Executive Team to continuously evaluate new initiatives, determine optimal resource allocation (budget, people, and time, tools), and manage project lifecycles

· Lead the creation, maintenance, and organization of critical business documents (PowerPoint, Excel, Word) to enable decision-making, impact reporting, metrics and tracking, and executive reporting (including Board-related) associated with initiatives

Skills

EDC candidates would benefit from having:

· Bachelor’s Degree and/or relevant experience

· 3 years of nonprofit experience with a focus on community engagement

· 5 years of small business consulting experience

· Specific subject matter knowledge of working cooperative businesses

· Comfort in and knowledge of the Lawndale neighborhood

· Advanced experience using a variety of Microsoft products (Office, Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams)

· Solid working knowledge of communications applications (Canva, email marketing, and social media)

· Schedule flexibility is highly desirable as position at times requires working evenings and weekends

· Above average public speaking skills

· Exceptional organizational, written, and verbal communication skills

· Ability to lift up to 50 lbs

· Able to perform essential functions of job; reasonable accommodation are available

· Able to perform in an office setting and outdoors (heat, humidity, rain, and cold)

Benefits Offered:

• Physical wellness : Health, dental, vision, voluntary life and disability programs, and discounted access to gym memberships

Mental wellness : Paid time off, Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Financial wellness : Retirement accounts, retail discounts, and access to financial planning tools

Professional wellness : Learning and career development solutions

PTO Full-time employees in this position are eligible to accrue vacation days at a rate of 1 day per month based on tenure with the organization.

• Sick Days -Employees are eligible to receive up to 6 sick days per year.

Compensation:

• $75,000 annually

To Apply:

Qualified candidates should submit a detailed cover letter and resume demonstrating how they meet or exceed each qualification/ requirement. Submit your materials via e-mail or mail to: [email protected]. If you prefer, you can mail your application materials to us at: Human Resources Lawndale Christian Development Corporation 3843 W. Ogden Avenue Chicago, IL 60623.

Lawndale Christian Development Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ and assign the best qualified personnel for all our positions in a manner that does not unlawfully discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, gender, marital status, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, veteran/reserve national guard status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Company Description

Lawndale Christian Development Corporation (LCDC) works within the community to eliminate health and wealth disparities in North Lawndale. We develop and manage affordable mixed-use housing, create homeownership for working families, and build cooperative businesses.

LCDC’s vision is to develop and manage community-enhancing residential and commercial properties, partner for educational excellence, and catalyze for community revitalization in the North Lawndale community. Since our inception, LCDC has completed $125 million in residential and commercial development which accounts for over 500 units all in the North Lawndale community. We currently manage 170 units of affordable housing.

Company Description

Lawndale Christian Development Corporation (LCDC) works within the community to eliminate health and wealth disparities in North Lawndale. We develop and manage affordable mixed-use housing, create homeownership for working families, and build cooperative businesses.\r\n\r\nLCDC’s vision is to develop and manage community-enhancing residential and commercial properties, partner for educational excellence, and catalyze for community revitalization in the North Lawndale community. Since our inception, LCDC has completed $125 million in residential and commercial development which accounts for over 500 units all in the North Lawndale community. We currently manage 170 units of affordable housing.