West Virginia University Research Corporation is currently accepting applications for a Hybrid Community Development Associate with the WV Water Research Institute.

About the Opportunity

As a Hybrid Community Development Associate, you will be responsible for providing critical support in the management of projects and programs associated with the Northern West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center (NBAC), WVU Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Program, and WVU BAD Buildings. The position will collaborate other staff to provide communities within WV and throughout EPA Region 3 with comprehensive technical assistance (TA) and provide coordination support for the Abandoned Properties Coalition (APC). Technical assistance may consist of redevelopment support, beginning with brownfield identification through brownfield cleanup or site reuse, and downtown revitalization by establishing sustainable economic development initiatives and engaging with public and private sectors to coordinate data-driven development in rural downtown communities. Support for the APC may include facilitating Steering Committee communications and meetings and supporting policy teams with research and implementation of Coalition priorities.

The ideal candidate will utilize various methods to conduct policy and fiscal analyses as well as understand and interpret written policy and fiscal note impacts. The Community Development Associate will assist with the coordination of state and federal policy priorities affecting Brownfields-impacted communities and provide facilitation assistance with redevelopment reuse plans and financing leveraging. The incumbent will assist with proposal development, facilitating meetings with project stakeholders and day-to-day tasks of the NBAC, and will work with communities on Brownfield-related issues and downtown redevelopment.

This candidate will apply education and experience to guide and assure adherence to policy, regulations, and principles, and will independently use professional techniques, as well as organizational policies, to solve a wide range of moderate to complex problems in imaginative and practical ways. Depth skills, knowledge, and interpretive abilities, as well as creativity, are required to successfully perform duties. Work effort often addresses non-routine matters within established protocol, guidelines, and/or policies. Work effort has significant impact on client services and operations, producing minor to moderate organizational, legal, and financial results and/or liabilities. Position duties require oversight of projects.

At WVU Research Corporation, we strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU Research Corporation offers a comprehensive benefits package with a variety of options to suit your needs:

• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• PTO
• 403(b) retirement savings with a fully vested 3% employee contribution match, (Employees have the option of contributing an additional 1-3% of their earnings to the plan, which is also matched by the WVURC)
• A range of health insurance and other benefits
• Dependent Education Scholarship
• WVU Perks
• And More!!

What you’ll do:

Responsibilities are functional in nature and performed under direct supervision. Specific tasks include but are not limited to:

• Assist with program development and implementation of technical assistance programs, including state and regional initiatives, for WVU TAB, NBAC, and WVU BAD Buildings.
• Assist with the facilitation of redevelopment activities including creating and presenting materials in public meetings and synthesizing stakeholder input on projects and programs.
• Assist with management of projects associated with economic development and financial technical assistance by ensuring collaborating team members conform to statements of work, schedules, and budget.
• Serve as liaison with APC Steering Committee, Team Leads, and key stakeholders, including local entrepreneurs, community leaders, agency staff, and other volunteers.
• Coordinate and facilitate, in partnership with the APC Chair and WVU BAD Buildings Director, APC Steering Committee meetings, tracking of priority policies and programs, and other priorities identified by the Committee.
• Provide analysis and support for relevant state and federal policy priorities as they arise.
• Provide research support in the identification of brownfield property/site characteristics including ownership, parcel/tax info, topography, and barriers to redevelopment. Such research can serve to identify candidate brownfield sites within the Center’s autonomous area.
• Assist in the development of proposal and grant applications for funding community Brownfields projects in response to solicited and unsolicited Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) issued by federal, state, and private agencies.
• Collaborate with Southern Brownfields Assistance Center, EPA Brownfield Regional Offices, as well as National TAB providers on project tasks.
• Assist with development of resources for distribution to communities and placement on the NBAC webpage.
• Travel within West Virginia and EPA Region 3 as needed for single day or multi-day periods. Meets via face-to-face, virtually, and by telephone, with representatives from various federal, state, community, and private organizations regarding progress of funded projects and for promoting NBAC and WVU TAB services.
• Provide additional program assistance support to NBAC and WVU TAB staff as needed. Represents the organizations at meetings and events as needed.
• Report to the Brownfields Redevelopment Specialist of the Northern WV Brownfields Assistance Center.
• Normally receive no instructions on routine and general instructions on new assignments. Determine methods and procedures on new assignments.
• Coordination of work efforts with the NBAC director, program managers, and WVWRI staff is required.
• General sharing of knowledge and team participation is expected.
• Local and statewide travel to various locations for meetings and to accomplish position objectives is required.

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, Environmental Studies, Urban Planning, or related disciplines, OR an equivalent combination of education and directly related experience.
• Six (6) months - two (2) years of project management, public speaking, and/or community outreach experience.
• Project management skills, including the ability to keep multiple projects on schedule.
• Organizational skills, with a demonstrated ability to plan work activities and independently maintain progress for maintaining schedules, recordkeeping of project documents and files, and reporting deadlines.
• Skilled at timeline development.
• Proactive outreach skills for contacting communities and resource organizations.
• Excellent communication skills, including a high proficiency in English grammar, composition, and verbal communication.
• Proficiency with computer software including but not limited to: MS Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, and project management software.
• Ability to be flexible in working with diverse personalities.
• Ability to write progress/final reports, case histories, newsletters, and information briefs.
• Ability to interface with state, federal, regional, university, and community representatives on project tasks, budgets, and schedules.
• Ability to lead meetings, give presentations to sponsoring agencies, county commission meetings, workshops, and conferences.
• Ability to travel independently via car, air, or public transportation to communities and project sites.
• Ability to work independently with minimal managerial oversight.
• Ability to critique project deliverables and ascertain whether or not they meet work plan objectives.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret maps, technical procedure documents, and governmental regulations.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical solutions.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Preferred Qualifications & Credentials

• Experience in downtown redevelopment, community development, and/or issues related to brownfields abandoned and dilapidated structures.
• Community outreach experience interacting with a wide variety of individuals such as the public, researchers, business personnel, state and federal agency personnel, and community organizations.
• Knowledge concerning various methods to conduct policy and fiscal analyses for subjects related to brownfield redevelopment or downtown and community development.
• Ability to understand and interpret written policy and fiscal note impacts to various stakeholders or community members.

• Valid U.S. Driver's License.
• Must be responsible to know and comply with all safety procedures.

The WVURC was created as a not-for-profit corporation in 1985 to support research (R1) at West Virginia University. We provide evaluation, development, patenting, management, and marketing services for inventions of the faculty, staff and students of the University.

The WVURC receives and administers funds awarded by external agencies for research and other activities and is responsible for helping protect intellectual property through patents, copyrights and licensing agreements for start-up companies based on University research.

Creating an inclusive, engaged, and dynamic environment is core to WVURC’s mission. We welcome candidates who can contribute a range of ideas, approaches and experiences.

West Virginia University Research Corporation is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We value diversity among its employees and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.