GENERAL SUMMARY:

This is an administrative position primarily responsible for assisting the City's Director of Administrative Services and Economic Development in projects relating to economic development and equity. This position will create and coordinate economic development and equity activities and be assigned projects as necessary. This position will also act as the chief equity officer for the City of Ypsilanti. Under the supervision of the director of economic development and administrative services, the employee has considerable initiative and independence to meet the objectives of the position.

COMPENSATION: $60,000 - $66,000 annually

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Comfortable with interacting with the public
• Thrive in a fast pace quick changing environment
• Research done for grant applications and compiling data and making recommendations for these applications. Monitoring the grants that are awarded to the City and providing status updates on the progress of utilizing those funds.
• Knowledge of the City of Ypsilanti.
• Assists in the redevelopment of the Water Street property.
• Collaborate with all consultants, committees, stakeholders, community boards, coalitions, businesses, local elected officials, and trade associations that impact the goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the project. Directs and participates in the search and development of new community revenue sources; applies for grants and loans for special projects; manages the budget and compliance requirements of grants and loans
• Researches and develops long term objectives, strategies, and approaches to urban redevelopment and revitalization, business incentives, and economic impacts
• Work with the Community Development Manager to assist in the community benefits ordinance process.
• Develops, implements, and reports on the organizational equity plan in partnership with organizational stakeholders.
• Assist the Planning Department in daily functions as requested by the Community Development Manager/DDA Director
• Serves as the administrative advisor to various City boards and commissions
• Advise city departments in matters related to equity
• Assist with the city marihuana team
• Prepares memos and letters for City Council
• Assist with the management of the Ypsilanti Freight House
• In-depth understanding of local, state, and federal incentives.
• Supervision of student interns.
• Other duties as assigned by the City Manager and Director of Administrative Services.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• The successful candidate will possess a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in public administration, planning, business, or related field
• Three to Five years of related experience or any combination of experience and training
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local grant sources and funding opportunities
• Knowledge of community development programs and resources
• Ability to understand grant applications, write quality applications and provide status reports in a concise and timely manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, coworkers, subordinates, and the public
• Knowledge of financial analysis, negotiations, project management, and proposal or grant writing
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing
• Ability to establish and maintain confidential working relationships
• Knowledge of the methods and principles of economic development; brownfield redevelopment funding methods and tax issues
• Knowledge of the body of Federal and State laws on community and economic development and related internal compliance data
• Knowledge of the principles of equity as it pertains to local government
• Knowledge of private funding sources and restrictions
• Ability to communicate with a diverse population
• Proficient in computer word-processing and spreadsheet applications
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, subordinates, co-workers, and the public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands characterized here epitomize those that must be met by an employee to properly perform the integral functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To properly perform the integral functions of this job, the employee is occasionally required to: stand or walk and stoop or kneel. Frequently, the employee is required to sit. It is crucial to the outcome of job tasks that the employee can: talk or hear; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms extensively.

The employee in this classification will be required to frequently lift objects of up to 10 pounds in weight. Occasionally the employee will have to lift/move objects of up to 25 pounds in weight. Vision requirements for this position include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Works in a climate-controlled office environment, with a moderate noise level. May be exposed to outside weather conditions when conducting site reviews. This position will be required to attend meetings out of the normal 8am-5pm work day.