What are the responsibilities and job description for the Faith in Rural Communities Program Manager position at Rural Economic Development?
Background
Since 1987, the NC Rural Center has worked to improve the quality of life for the state’s rural people and places. We operate with the core belief that our rural communities have inherent cultural value and are vital to the overall economic health of our state. We recognize that the changing landscape of rural North Carolina brings with it significant challenges, but we also believe in the resiliency of our state’s rural people and their dedicated stewardship of the communities they call home.
The Mission
The mission of the NC Rural Center is to develop, promote, and implement sound economic strategies to improve the quality of life of rural North Carolinians. They serve the state’s 78 rural counties, with a special focus on individuals with low-to-moderate incomes and communities with limited resources.
Description Overview
The Faith in Rural Communities (FIRC) Program Manager will be an integral part of the Faith in Rural Communities team and will report directly to the Director of FIRC. The FIRC team seeks to build socially dynamic and economically vibrant rural faith communities across every town and crossroads in North Carolina and beyond. We believe that rural churches and communities already have what they need to thrive and prosper. The FIRC programs help cultivate the powerful intersection between church assets and community opportunities.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Build new and on-going relationships with congregations and communities
- Oversee a process of reviewing and updating curriculum with FIRC Team Members
- Provide community development training, coaching, and facilitation to faith communities and community teams. Community teams may include diverse faith, non-profit, community, and government leaders
- Oversee the review, distribution, and follow-up on implementation grants including creating benchmarks and a framework for evaluating successful grant applications
- Implement a system for measuring and evaluating programmatic impact in partnership with FIRC team
- Identify and assist in developing new training opportunities and webinars related to faith-based community development
- Ensure compliance with all funding requirements
- Participate in team and full staff meetings and other relevant internal meetings
- Participate in external partner and stakeholder meetings as needed
- Maintain knowledge on current best practices and models in faith-based community development
- Prepare presentations and publicly share on the program as requested
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Required Skills/Abilities:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate when appropriate.
- Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment.
- Approaches work with an equity framework.
- Proficient with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Demonstrated mastery of using Salesforce for streamlining project management.
- Ability to manage multiple demands with excellence.
- Experience with or an understanding of community economic development.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with project partners and stakeholders.
- Commitment to constant learning and continuous growth
- Ability to travel extensively within North Carolina.
Education and Experience
Experience and education equivalent to 5 years working with faith communities and/or rural economic development; Bachelors required and Master’s Degree preferred in a related field (i.e. theology, ministry, public administration, social work, or education)
Experience and comfort working with churches and rural communities