Program Officer, Local Initiatives Support Corporation

Posted by Local Initiatives Support Corporation on September 15, 2014

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), widely recognized as the nation’s premier community development intermediary, has a 32-year history of investing in community-based organizations focused on revitalizing urban neighborhoods and rural communities. LISC mobilizes corporate, government, and philanthropic support to provide local community development organizations with (1) loans, grants, and equity investments; (2) local, statewide, and national policy support; and (3) technical and management assistance. LISC works throughout the nation to assist its various partners to build sustainable communities. LISC’s approach to building sustainable communities includes the following core activities: developing, preserving and investing in housing and other real estate; increasing family income and wealth; stimulating local and regional economic activity; improving access to quality education; fostering livable, safe and healthy environments; nurtures creativity through arts and culture; and strengthens community engagement and local leadership. For more information about LISC, visit http://www.lisc.org or the Philadelphia local office at http://www.lisc.org/philly.

Description

Philadelphia LISC seeks a Program Officer to oversee its Commercial Corridor and Community Safety programs, which involves providing grant-making, training and technical assistance to community partners across the City of Philadelphia. The Program Officer will also support the implementation of strategic priorities and facilitate community partnerships as part of LISC’s comprehensive community development approach.

The Program Officer will be expected to provide technical assistance and grant-making to community-based organizations; identify and strengthen partnerships among community-based organizations, anchor institutions, and other corporate, civic and public sector organizations; build and maintain consensus among different constituencies; support community partners in program development and implementation; and advocate for policy and system innovations. This person should enjoy working in a collaborative, team-based environment to accomplish LISC goals. The position reports to the Deputy Director and may have supervisory duties over interns.

Specific Job Responsibilities:

• Manage and expand LISC’s support of commercial corridor revitalization efforts in key neighborhoods across the City. Work with community organizations to connect small businesses to technical assistance and financing, share best practices and facilitate business participation in revitalizing commercial corridors.
• Coordinate and oversee technical assistance and training program to commercial corridor programs. Build capacity of organizations to improve systems and processes to improve upon the success of the commercial corridor program.
• Coordinate and oversee the implementation of LISC’s community safety programs, which includes facilitating SafeGrowth and Crime
• Prevention through Environmental Design trainings to address neighborhood crime hot spots with community partners.
• Share best practices and provide technical assistance to community partners and foster partnerships with the police, businesses and neighborhood residents in the implementation of community safety projects.
• Co-coordinate the Public Safety Committee of the Promise Zone. Represent LISC city-wide as an expert on neighborhood-based community safety issues.
• Support the implementation of comprehensive community plans and activities in Eastern North Philadelphia, including SCI Quality of Life and Choice Neighborhood plans.
• Develop respectful working relationships with community partner organizations, grantees and neighborhood residents. Maintain an in-depth knowledge of their organizational conditions, programs and projects.
• Identify and sustain good working relationships with local governmental agencies and institutions that are positioned to assist and support LISC’s work, such as OHCD, Commerce Dept., PHA, the Police Department, Drexel University and Temple University.
• Prepare and oversee grants and contracts and manage program budgets, in consultation with the Deputy Director.
• Prepare, monitor, and track performance and outcomes of grant recipients and borrowers.
• Create and maintain a reporting system that provides measurement data to track program success and challenges.
• Assume responsibility for special projects as assigned.

http://www.idealist.org/view/job/86ntHMDgBB3p