Assistant Program Officer - Economic Development

Our team is seeking a full-time Assistant Program Officer to guide, execute and support our business development and small business ecosystem work and the integration into overall LISC Flint’s strategy. This is a very publicly facing role that requires a presence in the community. Through this work, we convene stakeholders, businesses, and community leaders to identify market opportunities, understand market gaps in the small business development ecosystem, and develop strategic priorities and support implementation with the team to best position LISC resources to be impactful in Flint.

This is a hybrid position. Candidate must reside in Flint, Michigan area.

The Assistant Program Officer will work under the guidance of the Executive Director, and in collaboration with the National Economic Development team to support the integration of inclusive economic development strategies that further LISC’s comprehensive community development work in Flint. The ideal candidate has prior experience in (or transferrable skills in) one or more of the following areas: place-based economic development, commercial and/or industrial district revitalization, small business lending, federal resources and programs, ecosystem building, data analysis, comprehensive community development.

LISC in Flint

Since 1988, LISC has provided the Flint area with over $40 million in financial support to non-profit and community organizations for capacity building, projects and programs. This equates to generating $16.2 million in grants and loan commitments and an additional $9 million in equity in Flint, leveraging $192 million in additional investment.  These investments created 398,967 square feet of commercial space and 770 units of housing.

With support from CS Mott and local partners, the LISC Flint satellite office was established in 2003, as part of the LISC Michigan Statewide umbrella, to formalize LISC’s support for CDCs and neighborhood revitalization activities through technical assistance, capacity building, grants and loans. In late 2021, the LISC Flint office obtained stand-alone designation and in collaboration with local community development groups, LISC LAC and staff help identify priorities and challenges, delivering the most appropriate support to meet local needs. Lisc.org/Michigan

Our team is seeking a full-time Assistant Program Officer to guide, execute and support our business development and small business ecosystem work and the integration into overall LISC Flint’s strategy. This is a public facing role that requires a presence in the community. Through this work, we convene stakeholders, businesses, and community leaders to identify market opportunities, understand market gaps in the small business development ecosystem, and develop strategic priorities and support implementation with the team to best position LISC resources to be impactful in Flint.

This is a hybrid position. Candidate must reside in Flint, Michigan area.

The Assistant Program Officer will work under the guidance of the Executive Director, and in collaboration with the National Economic Development team to support the integration of inclusive economic development strategies that further LISC’s comprehensive community development work in Flint. The ideal candidate has prior experience in (or transferrable skills in) one or more of the following areas: place-based economic development, commercial and/or industrial district revitalization, small business lending, federal resources and programs, ecosystem building, data analysis, comprehensive community development.

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Support Economic Development programs: coordinate, align, and/or partner on program activities with the City of Flint, the Flint and Genesee Economic Alliance and other entities working with Business Development Organizations (BDO) and small business networks. 
• Support Growth of the Flint BDO network: assess the BDO network and gaps in the program offerings, provide technical assistance and guidance, and utilize best practices, training opportunities, and peer learning to strengthen the small business ecosystem.
• Collaborate with the BDO network by addressing gaps through the development and implementation of how- to guides, toolkits, curricula, case studies, briefs, articles, and other training materials by drawing on the content expertise of the Economic Development team, field offices, partners, and national best practices.
• Increase access to capital and support to small business locally with LISC lending and small business team to deploy capital and build a pipeline of borrowers that advance Flint’s strategic priorities and work with other CDFI Collaborative members to increase the pool of resources available to support economic development initiatives.
• Maintain relationships with small business service providers, financial institutions, funders, local government officials, consultants, and other stakeholders to implement projects and programs.
• Manage contracts and grants, including creating grant agreements and consultant contracts, monitoring contract and grant approvals, processing invoices, and problem-solving with the team as needed. Update LISC Flint office tracking sheet for RPAs including budgets, disbursements, and impacts.
• Utilize problem solving skills to develop correction action plans to strengthen the capacity of partners, impacts, and investments, including meeting LISC and funder expectations.

Advance LISC Flint

• Work with Executive Director to raise the profile of LISC Flint’s economic development work and advocate for systems change.   
• Provide subject matter expertise to lead content-specific trainings, participate in affinity/working groups; advance place-based economic development in the community, share knowledge of community economic development trends locally, statewide, and nationally.
• Collaborate with the team to integrate work streams across economic development portfolio, identify opportunities to amplify impact, identify gaps, and streamline processes to be efficient.
• Actively participate with local, state, and national strategic coalitions to share information and develop partner responses to community needs.
• Performs additional duties, as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university OR minimum of 2 years comparable work-related experience can be considered.
• Working knowledge of the economic, political, and social environments of the economic development field and the public and private resources available to support it.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, writing, research, analysis, and relationship/team building skills.
• Solution-oriented individual who is a strategic thinker, self-directed, and able to successfully balance multiple priorities and programs.
• Flexibility in working with a diverse range of individuals and organizations, including but not limited to community development organizations, public agencies, national partners, private developers, funders, and lenders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite required.
• Periodically (less than 5% annually) travel outside of the Greater Flint area for peer learning, training and national LISC activities

LISC offers an excellent compensation package.