Land Use Policy Project Manager

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionSalary: $44,805

Overview

Grounded Strategies is a nonprofit organization working with communities to revitalize vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties in the Pittsburgh region. We are seeking a Project Manager to support projects related to our grassroots land stewardship network and our efforts to increase community-ownership of vacant land as green space, including:

• Land recycling benchmarking/best practices research;
• Advocacy efforts to improve the city and county land acquisition processes for and individuals;
• Qualitative research on vacant land experiences in neighborhoods through youth-facilitated focus groups;
• Community-scale advocacy workshops;
• Grassroots land acquisition fund management;
• Strategic partner engagement; and
• Report writing, advocacy, and public education activities.

The Project Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities of particular projects while understanding how they fit into overall organization objectives. They lead projects through conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation of outcomes. This position reports to the Executive Director.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and manage assigned programs and projects through the stages of conceptualization, planning, budgeting, execution, and reporting.
• Monitor program budgets and oversee grant and contract compliances.
• Participate in development activities as assigned including writing proposals, and building program budgets.
• Create and execute a policy agenda for Groundeds advocacy work.
• Design, facilitate, and organize logistics for neighborhood-scale advocacy workshops.
• Provide technical assistance for navigating public land acquisition processes.
• Write copy for newsletter articles about recent land policy events.
• Create educational materials about land recycling, advocacy, and land use policy.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships between project/program partners, including local government officials and their staff, community groups, and other issue-based organizations.
• Manage and work with a range of Grounded staff members across leadership levels as part of any of your assigned project teams.
• Train, onboard and manage staff in your specific program area as funding allows. This includes:
  • Assigning project tasks and monitoring for on-time completion and a high standard of quality.
  • Helping Junior staff to set professional development goals and to create strategies for success.
  • Checking in regularly on workload, interoffice concerns, and/or personal and HR concerns.

General Responsibilities

• Discover ways to enhance efficiency and productivity of procedures and people
• Read and edit reports prepared by fellow staff
• Ensure program/project operations and activities adhere to legal guidelines and internal policies
• Prepare slides for assigned programs/projects to present to the organization on a quarterly basis.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge on topics relevant to your program area
• Participate in or lead no more than three and no fewer than two Grounded internal staff committees. Committees include: development, workplace culture, equity action plan, evaluation, workday, and marketing & communications.
• Represent Grounded at by presenting updates at working groups, partner committees, and community groups

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (BA, BS, etc.) and/or at least 3 years of working experience in a similar role . An equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted, as long as it directly relates to the essential duties and responsibilities.
• Knowledge of environmental policy and public health issues.
• Understanding of project/program management techniques and methods
• Experience with project reporting and budgeting
• Experience in meeting facilitation, and/or community relations
• Excellent organizational and leadership skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work independently, be flexible, and manage multiple priorities.
• Proficient computer skills. Programs and applications typically used include Google Suite. ArcGIS experience is also but not required.
• Some experience leading public presentations, training and speaking engagements

The ideal candidate will be familiar with Pittsburghs open space and land recycling initiatives, including the Adopt-A-Lot program, PGH Land Bank, City Real Estate department and their disposition questions, and Allegheny Countys Vacant Property Recovery program.

Personal Qualifications

• Work well with people in various communities, institutional, and governmental organizations - Experience working in low-income and communities of color .
• Personal values align with the vision and values of Grounded Strategies, including Grounded's stance on anti-racism, as well as Groundeds policies related to workplace discrimination and harassment.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment:

• Must be able to drive a motor vehicle.
• Must be able to lift 30 pounds.
• Must be flexible working in a fast-paced, non-profit environment

Salary & Schedule

Base salary is $44,805 annually, commensurate with experience and based on the organizations financial health. Additional benefits include:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: 85% Coverage for employees (this is subject to change as health plans change in the future)
• 10 Holidays, plus your birthday, in addition to the week between Christmas and New Years when the Grounded office is closed
• 19 days of personal time off (includes all vacation, sick leave, and other personal days off)
• Eligibility for Life Insurance, Short - and Long - term , and our SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with up to 3% match from Grounded.

Exempt position. The position is expected to work at least 40 hours weekly. Candidates must be open to working a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends.