Development specialist

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Position Description

Position Title : Rural Development Specialist

Department : OFFICE OF RURAL PROSPERITY

Reports To : DIRECTOR, Office of Rural Prosperity

Position(s) Supervised : N / A

FLSA Status : EXEMPT

Position Summary

The Rural Development Specialist is responsible for delivering the outcomes related to the Thrive Rural WI grant. This will be accomplished through working alongside rural communities to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate community economic development programs that advance the capacity of rural communities to apply for state and federal funding.

The Rural Development Specialist will develop standardized assessment tools and provide ongoing technical assistance to selected communities through trainings, toolkits, and coaching.

The Rural Development Specialist will create work plans, and monitor progress toward achieving goals and objectives identified in the plan.

Rural Development Specialists will identify opportunities to connect rural communities to WEDC funding opportunities and provide guidance on the application process.

This project-based role is not to exceed twenty-four (24) months.

Responsibilities

The Rural Development Specialist will spend a majority of their time in these activities :

• Lead and provide technical assistance, support, and skills training to impacted rural and Tribal communities (but not limited to).
• Develop community assessment tools for rural housing, community facilities, and community economic development initiatives.
• Facilitate strategic planning to identify innovative and diverse opportunities in rural areas.
• Identify resources and assist communities in obtaining funding to carry out the identified initiatives and recovery efforts.
• Create trainings and toolkits for rural communities that assist them in strategic planning, real estate development, program development / evaluation, and readiness for state and federal grant funding.
• Oversee and provide periodic assessment reports of technical assistance efforts with a final report at the end of the grant period.
• Implement and ensure compliance with the federal grant regulations.
• Support WEDC's mission through the fulfillment of other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience :

• Bachelor's degree or commensurate experience and training.
• Minimum of 4 years of project management experience.
• General understanding of governmental records management preferred.

Skills and Talents :

• Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, including public speaking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects; strong project management skills, planning, prioritizing, and organizing.
• Strong customer relationship management skills.
• Ability and sincere interest in assisting rural areas in the State through relationship building via individual cold calls to attending public events.
• Self-motivated with the ability to operate successfully independently to accomplish tasks and find solutions with little direction.
• Creative problem solving through innovation, collaboration, and commitment to service.
• Understanding of federal grants and resources for Tribal communities a plus.

Other Requirements :

• State-wide travel will occur on a frequent basis, around 30% of the time. Travel is anticipated to include day and overnight travel.
• Possession of a valid driver's license and proof of auto insurance that meets minimum state requirements are required.
• This position is eligible for reimbursement according to the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program. This position requires the employee to provide a mobile device that allows for phone, text, and email access.
• Based on the responsibilities of this position, this position may need to lift and / or move up to 10 pounds.

WEDC DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING STATEMENT

WEDC must be a diverse and inclusive organization reflective of the businesses, communities, and people in Wisconsin and beyond.

We believe that diversity drives innovation and commit to create an inclusive, equitable and diverse workplace where our differences are celebrated as drivers of our organization's performance.

TO SUPPORT A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE AT WEDC, WE WILL WORK TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING GOALS :

• Increase WEDC's racial diversity, specifically with Black / African American, Native American and Latinx populations;
• Increase LGBTQ representation across WEDC; and
• Increase the diversity of WEDC's leadership.

TO MEET OUR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION GOALS, WEDC WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS :

• Create an intentional approach to recruit minority candidates by using targeted media channels to promote open positions;
• Ensure formal offers are made only after a diverse pool of candidates have been considered at each hiring stage;
• Identify and develop a variety of employee resource groups, including groups for African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, LGBTQ and more;
• Post signage to highlight WEDC's commitment to diversity and inclusion; and
• Revisit EEO disclosures in our application process to highlight statements regarding WEDC's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution and EEO / Affirmative Action Employer committed to excellence through diversity.

Employment offers are made on the basis of qualifications, and without regard to race, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

Veteran Declaration

Applicants for employment are invited to participate in affirmative action program by reporting their status as a protected veteran or other minority.

In extending this invitation, we advise you that : (a) workers (applicants) are under no obligation to respond but may do so in the future if they choose;

b) responses will remain confidential within the human resource department; and (c) responses will be used only for the necessary information.

Refusal to provide this information will have no bearing on your application and will not subject you to any adverse treatment.

PROTECTED VETERAN DEFINITION

Protected veteran means a veteran who may be classified as an active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran, disabled veteran, Armed Forces service medal veteran or recently separated veteran.

Active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

Armed Forces service medal veteran means any veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985 (61 FR 1209, 3 CFR, 1996 Comp., p. 159).

Disabled veteran means (1) a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or (2) a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

Recently separated veteran means a veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.

S. military, ground, naval or air service.

EEOC RACE / ETHNIC IDENTIFICATION CATEGORIES

Hispanic or Latino - A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.

White (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East or North Africa.

Black or African American (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa or other Pacific Islands.

American Indian or Alaska Native (not Hispanic or Latino) - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment.

Two or more races (not Hispanic or Latino) - All persons who identify with more than one of the above races.

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Last updated : 2024-11-21