DanburyWorks, an initiative of the Boston Fed Working Cities Challenge, seeks a Project Director. The primary purpose of the position is to lead the Danbury Working Cities initiative to develop and implement a community plan based on a collective impact model, ensuring collection and incorporation of the community voice. The DanburyWORKS initiative goal is to reduce the number of immigrants and people of color who are in poverty by 30% within 10 years. Using a collective impact framework, the effort will evolve through two phases. Phase One (TLC: Trust, Language, Childcare) will focus on building Trust among the diverse cultures in Danbury, building capacity by creating a seamless system of Language acquisition programs, and increasing access to affordable quality Childcare. Reducing these barriers will pave the way for Phase Two (JET: Jobs, Education, Training), which will move residents who have acquired appropriate childcare and language proficiency into Job and Educational Training programs to improve their economic self-sufficiency.
The Project Director will be responsible to an Executive Team of community leaders and residents and be an employee of United Way of Western Connecticut.
Major responsibilities include leading the creation of a community plan with long range goals, objectives, strategies and measures, ensuring outcomes are identified and met, and leading efforts to collect input from the community. The director will also develop and cultivate relationships with community stakeholders, including leaders in education, business, faith, nonprofit, philanthropic and civic sectors to support the work of the committee.
A proven history of large scale project management skills including the ability to create and adhere to work plans and meet deadlines must be evident. Excellent facilitation skills with proven successful completion of projects, program evaluation skills and experience leading a diverse, cross-functional group is required. Bilingual skills are strongly preferred, and an advanced degree in areas of Community Organizing, Urban Planning, Education, Business, Nonprofit Management, Social Work or related field is required.
The primary purpose of the position is to lead the Danbury Working Cities initiative to develop and implement a community plan based on a collective impact model, ensuring collection and incorporation of the community voice. The DanburyWORKS initiative goal is to reduce the number of immigrants and people of color who are in poverty by 30% within 10 years. Using a collective impact framework, the effort will evolve through two phases. Phase One (TLC: Trust, Language, Childcare) will focus on building Trust among the diverse cultures in Danbury, building capacity by creating a seamless system of Language acquisition programs, and increasing access to affordable quality Childcare. Reducing these barriers will pave the way for Phase Two (JET: Jobs, Education, Training), which will move residents who have acquired appropriate childcare and language proficiency into Job and Educational Training programs to improve their economic self-sufficiency.
The Project Director will be responsible to an Executive Team of community leaders and residents, and be an employee of United Way of Western Connecticut.
Major Responsibilities:
- Promote the vision, goals and core values and principles of the Danbury Working Cities initiative.
- Work with community and education leaders to develop and manage appropriate steering and sub committees.
- Lead and manage efforts of the committees and community to create a community plan with long range goals, objectives, strategies and measures.
- Develop and implement strategy and action plans related to the overall community plan, ensuring outcomes are identified and met.
- Lead and manage efforts to collect input from the community. Identify, collect and analyze data to measure outcomes and drive decision making.
- Develop and cultivate relationships with community stakeholders, including leaders in education, business, faith, nonprofit, philanthropic and civic sectors to support the work of the committee.
- Fundraise and secure grants for programmatic needs of the initiative.
- Job duties will include evening and weekend community outreach at times.
- Proven history of large scale project management skills including the ability to create and adhere to work plans and meet deadlines.
- Excellent facilitation skills with proven successful completion of projects.
- Knowledge of data collection and analysis, including outcome measurement and program evaluation, required.
- Demonstrated skills and experience leading a diverse, cross-functional group to identify and work toward common goals.
- Bilingual skills strongly preferred, in particular Spanish and/or Portuguese
- Can demonstrate 5-7 years of strong community organizing, or project management experience.
- Candidates should also possess:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills; attention to detail.
- High degree of organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently as necessary.
- Excellent computer skills, particularly with Microsoft Software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Familiarity with Danbury strongly preferred.