Director of Community Development
Position Overview
The Director of Community Development is responsible for coaching Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs located along the Broad Street corridor on growth, sustainability, and equitable business practices and for activities related to community engagement, advocacy, and just neighborhood development. This role will ensure measures are in place so that Propeller’s programming and coworking facility located at the intersection of the Broadmoor - Hoffman Triangle - Zion City - Gert Town neighborhoods serve the needs of Propeller’s entrepreneurs, coworking members, and neighborhood community residents. Lastly, this role will be a representative, internally and externally, for community accountability efforts.
We are looking for someone who loves building camaraderie and inspiring others, particularly small business owners, neighborhood residents, and non-profit organization leaders. This role is for someone who enjoys learning and teaching business development that is aligned with principles of racial equity and inclusion and who is excited to collaborate with Propeller’s team members and partners to better serve our entrepreneurs, coworking members, and neighborhood community members.
Major Responsibilities & Outcomes
The percentages below are the approximate percentage of time you would spend performing each responsibility. These estimates may be adjusted based on organizational priorities.
Direct Assistance to Entrepreneurs (50%)
- Determines Impact Accelerator eligibility and leads recruitment for Propeller’s Community Economic Development focus area entrepreneurs, which supports Black and Brown entrepreneurs along the Broad Street Corridor, as well as BIPOC-led affordable housing developers, and BIPOC-led organizations advocating for a more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem
- Manages Impact Accelerator experience of Community Economic Development entrepreneurs and works closely with the entrepreneurs' Lead Mentors to ensure entrepreneurs meet or exceed their social impact, financial, and racial equity goals
- Assists with Impact Accelerator curriculum development and facilitates sessions on equitable business practices, community development, and advocacy
Community Development + Advocacy (40%)
- Leads the development and implementation of community advocacy, community engagement, and policy initiatives to support equitable development along the Broad Street Corridor, with an emphasis on South Broad Avenue such as but not limited to: attending local neighborhood association meetings, facilitating connections amongst neighborhood stakeholders, and/or amplifying the concerns of local small businesses and residents
- Ensures community engagement and accountability activities are incorporated into Propeller’s coworking facility operations as determined by the upcoming strategic planning period
- Develops and maintains genuine stakeholder relationships that advance equitable neighborhood outcomes such as, but not limited to, communicating with local government representatives and elected officials and forming mutual partnerships with values-aligned organizations
Organization Liaison + Leadership (10%)
- Represents Propeller at external meetings and speaking engagements, when appropriate, to promote the impact of our organization, provide support to our partners, advocate on issues related to the Community Economic Development focus area and assist in collaboration efforts
- Leads organizational strategy discussions for the role’s direct responsibilities and organization priorities
Critical Competencies
- Personal qualities of emotional intelligence and maturity, humility, and unwavering commitment to Propeller’s mission
- Written and verbal familiarity in the history and impacts of structural racism in the US and its current manifestations in New Orleans and nationally, particularly in the areas of small business development and neighborhood development. Fluency in this area is highly desired
- Strong writing and meeting facilitation skills
- Authentic relationship building skills, with a track record of building trust and credibility by demonstrating consistency between words and actions
- Self-motivated, innovative, and works with considerable independence within the context of an overall strategy and collaborative team
- Leads by example and motivates team members to meet a common goal
- Approaches tasks with systematic analysis to support decision making
- Supports the development of direct reports through performance management systems and encourages behaviors that contribute to teamwork
Required Experience
- 3-5 years experience in managing community advocacy activities
- 3-5 years experience in urban planning, community or neighborhood engagement and development, or real estate finance and development
Preferred Experience
- Bachelor’s or equivalent knowledge + 6 or more years’ experience, or Master’s or equivalent knowledge + 4 or more years’ experience, and 3-5 years’ supervisory experience
- Experience working in an organization with a values-driven culture that prioritizes racial equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Experience working alongside prominent New Orleans communities of color (Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Vietnamese-American, and others)