The Northside Planning Council (NPC), a national award‑winning coalition of community and neighborhood organizations, and publisher of the Northside News, seeks a full-time Project Developer/Executive Director to help its leadership identify, develop, implement, and manage community-based economic development projects in Madison’s Northside community.  This work will involve researching and evaluating approaches to community-based economic development as well as facilitating the implementation of selected projects within the context of NPC’s guiding principles, resources, and the needs of the community. 

One definition of community-based economic development is: "Community-based economic development builds successful businesses and other economic projects that increase employment opportunities and support community revitalization. Community-based economic development supports a community’s vision for its future health and quality of life, and becomes a way to make local life more inclusive and sustainable."

The successful candidate will have the skills to involve and to mobilize people and resources around projects developed within the organization as well as those originating from the larger Northside community.  The Project Developer/Executive Director works in collaboration with the board leadership to set goals and priorities, establish policies, and develop resources for the organization; and with board oversight, manages the overall work and resources of the organization.

The person in this position reports directly to the NPC leadership. See www.northsideplanningcouncil.org for more information about us.

Who We Want

1. Someone who believes in the power of local community to solve its own problems.

2. Someone with skills in many areas, able to successfully manage multiple projects, and who genuinely enjoys working with diverse groups of people.

3. Someone with the capacity to, and interest in learning new skills.

4. Someone who can analyze and assess community needs as a part of a team.

5. Someone who can work in a coordinated fashion with teams of volunteer leaders

6. Someone who is motivated to put their beliefs and passion to work here in our community.

1. People of color, women, and those fluent in Spanish or Hmong are encouraged to apply.

What You’ll Do
Project Developer Functions:

1. Identify community needs and opportunities for neighborhood-, and community- based economic development; help research, select, and prioritize potential solutions; identify and obtain needed resources; develop and implement project plans.

2. Build and facilitate relationships among individuals/organizations around issues and projects.

3. Raise awareness of project initiatives and opportunities for citizen and community input/involvement

4. Mobilize people and resources (including fundraising and grant writing) to achieve project goals

 Executive Director Functions:

1. Manage the financial resources of the organization, includes budgeting and reporting.

2. Supervise the work of other employees, interns or volunteers that the organization may hire and/or work with.  Administer personnel functions (benefits, evaluation, etc).

3. Ensure that the organization meets all legal and reporting requirements as a non-profit organization.

4. Facilitate the development and functioning of NPC’s board, including member recruitment and orientation, training and leadership development, and coordinating and supporting work teams

5. Facilitate strategic planning, goal-setting/prioritization, and ongoing organizational evaluation.

6. Fundraise to further diversify and expand funding streams (includes grant writing and oversight).

7. Serve as publisher of the Northside News, our bimonthly community newspaper, and work with the Editor in meeting financial, content, and production goals.  This may require direct participation in the editorial, advertising, and layout process.

8. The inevitable “other duties as they arise” of a small nonprofit organization.

Experience and Skills You’ll Need
Professional Experience Requirements:
Professional experience, demonstrated skills, and strong interest in community and economic development (or a very closely related field), along with demonstrated skills and experience in nonprofit administration, are required. A minimum of three (3) years relevant professional experience is required.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Requirements:
Demonstrated knowledge, experience, and demonstrated skills and abilities to perform the job functions outlined above are required.  The following will also help equip you to succeed in this position: group facilitation; volunteer coordination; grant writing; knowledge of, or interest in, local government and how it impacts community growth and development; ability to provide oversight of functions and projects; nonprofit administration, including financial and personnel management; a basic understanding of community, business, and workforce development and the resources and tools that are available at the city, county, state and federal levels to assist in such work.

Education/Training Requirements:
Formal education and/or advanced training in a number of the above areas is desirable, but not a substitute for significant experience and demonstrated skills/ability.

Required/Desired Skills and Personal Qualities:
In addition to the above: excellent communication skills, excellent ability to work with teams of volunteers, and strong computer skills are required. Necessary computer skills include proficiency with word processing (Word), spreadsheets (Excel), and email/Internet applications.  Proficiency with financial management/bookkeeping software (QuickBooks or similar) and desktop publishing software (In Design), or ability to quickly learn, are highly desirable.  Ability to manage and troubleshoot a Windows-based computer system and small office network, or ability to quickly learn, is also desirable. 

Desired Personal Qualities:
Strong self-motivation, ability to take initiative within a broad direction, and comfort working without close day-to-day supervision, a sense of curiosity, commitment to community, and a strong desire to learn.  A sense of humor is a must!

Residency Requirements:
Residency in or within a reasonable driving distance from Madison is required. Residency on, or near, Madison’s Northside, or willingness to relocate, considered a plus.

Teamwork and Supervision
The Project Developer/Executive Director works collaboratively with NPC’s citizen-leaders within the general goals set by the NPC leadership.

Flexibility and Transportation
The position requires the ability to work a flexible schedule that often includes evening hours (1-3 evenings a week is typical) and some weekend hours. Beyond scheduled meetings we offer as much flexibility as possible in work hours, including the ability to do some work from home or other locations. This position will require frequent travel within Madison; access to a reliable vehicle is essential, although use of public transportation, ride-sharing, or bicycle will be possible in some situations.

What You’ll Get

1. A full‑time position (averaging 40 hours per week).

2. An annual salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

3. A salary structure that includes benefit compensation that can be used to purchase healthcare or other insurance, pay for medical expenses or to contribute to individual retirement accounts.  Compensation and benefits are set annually by NPC leadership based on performance and the resources and funding available.

4. Opportunities for ongoing training and professional development.

5. An excellent opportunity to work with one of Madison’s most successful neighborhood and community organizations.

Funding and Job Longevity
As with most nonprofit organizations, NPC depends on many sources to fund its work. NPC has a diverse stream of funding including: advertising revenues from our community newspaper, government contracts for service, grants, contributions and dues. Funding levels and funder priorities often vary from year to year, as do priorities within the organization. Anyone who chooses a career in the nonprofit sector does so with this reality in mind.

NPC has a very strong track record over its sixteen-year history of mobilizing necessary funding for its own operations and for community projects, and has a solid reserve fund. NPC also has an excellent reputation among key local funders, including local government, which improves our prospects for continued funding.

Employment of any individual is, of course, dependent both on satisfactory performance and on the availability of funding for the position.

To Apply
Application deadline: 6 November 2009.  Resumes are not accepted in place of application. For an application packet, contact 608-661-0060 ext 1 or job@northsideplanningcouncil.org, or download from northsideplanningcouncil.org.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

To apply, please download, review and complete the following:
Application Packet

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