Community Development Manager jobs in Kansas City, MO

NW Independence Community Development Manager

Job Description

Overview

Community Services League operates BlendWell Community Cafe in Northwest Independence as the extension of our mission to make a positive impact in the communities we serve. In 2018, CSL opened BlendWell Community Cafe as a social enterprise that uses a coffee shop combined with community space to serve as a catalyst for collaboration, conversation and further community economic development. BlendWell Community Cafe (BW) is the premier community gathering space for NW Independence and Sugar Creek. As an extension of Community Services League, BW serves an excellent product, invites people in for community, and connects others to the larger CSL opportunity. As a result, our neighborhood and neighbors will thrive and being economically sustainable. CSL works to ensure that every person who comes into BlendWell knows they are safe, welcome and cared for while with us.

One definition of community development is a process that gives individuals and groups the opportunity to address community issues. Trauma informed community development can be viewed as an effort or “a framework that establishes and promotes resilient healing and healthy communities so that people can be healthy enough to sustain opportunity and realize their potential”. Poverty is not a one-issue challenge facing families and communities. Rather, it is part of a larger understanding of systems, cultures, access, and traumas. Community Services League understands that to address poverty, a holistic community approach must be taken to create a community in which all persons can thrive, achieve agency, and have equitable access to financial security.

The NW Independence Community Development Manager will partner with the coffee shop team, other CSL team members, and the community at-large to develop a trauma informed approach on which to collaborate and foster community stability and individual wellbeing. We envision communities where all people have equitable voice and choice to meet their basic needs and the resources to pursue their brightest future.

Position Summary:

NW Independence Community Development Manager will collaborate in the northwest Independence and Sugar Creek, Mo. communities to strategize around, develop and bring trauma informed community development strategies and partnerships to the neighborhood.

Reports to: Senior Vice President of Community Development

Responsibilities

The NW Independence Community Development Manager will provide the following services and oversight (plus any other duties as assigned):

• Know the breadth of CSL’s programming. Ensure that BlendWell is partnering with existing programs while creating new opportunities for CSL to support families and community. This includes partnering well with the other CSL team members working in the building.
• Using a strengths-based community organizing model, listen to neighbors’ personal interests and goals, find themes and commonalities among the persons, create connections and referral systems, and create plans for building community assets.
• Develop relationships through conversations, listening, outreach, and going into the community as CSL develops and builds trust with those living in and around NW Independence.
• Build and maintain partnerships with community assets to include neighbors, other organizations, local businesses, city and local government officials and staff.
• Work with community partners to create and implement holistic, trauma informed community strategies for NW Independence and Sugar Creek. One important strategy will be to create a network of persons with lived experience to serve as experts and decision makers in the work.
• Maintain organized files and timely data input in compliance with grants and required guidelines.
• Coordinate continuity of services with partner agencies and coordinate services within the community.
• Work in alignment with CSL’s Mission, Vision, Core Values and current Strategic Plan.
• Actively engage in CSL’s Cultural Connections events, networking and partnerships.
• Serve as team lead for implementing a civic engagement strategy in NW Independence.
• Collaborate with the Community Development and coffee shop teams on strategies and plans to drive profitability by growing sales and controlling costs of goods.

Qualifications/Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field and/or a minimum of six years’ experience in similar field.

• Familiarity with Independence, Sugar Creek and their resources.
• An understanding of poverty.
• Must have experience and the capacity to work with neighbors in a wide variety of life circumstances, from a variety of backgrounds, and with a resiliency-minded lens.
• Working knowledge and understanding of trauma informed, mental wellness principles and practices.

Benefit Status: This position is eligible for excellent benefits, including paid time office (PTO), medical and dental insurance, 401K retirement with company contributions, life, and disability insurance.

Full Time/Part Time Status: Full-time

Overtime (FLSA) Status: Exempt

Hours/Schedule & General Working Conditions:

Standard hours for this position are 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Friday. This schedule may occasionally vary depending on the needs of the position, including special events and/or programs on nights and weekends. This job primarily operates in a professional office environment. The employee will routinely operate standard office equipment including but not limited to computers, keyboards, mouse, phones, photocopiers, printers, scanners, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Typical physical competencies include but are not limited to frequently remaining stationary, moving, reaching, positioning self and occasionally ascending/descending, lifting/moving objects weighing between 5-15 pounds. This job also entails frequently communicating, discerning and exchanging information, detecting and perceiving objects up close, at a distance, and the ability to adjust focus. Cognitive abilities include but are not limited to frequently using discretion, judgment, reasoning, memory, learning, maintaining confidentiality, comprehension, problem solving, and decision-making.

Salary/Benefits:

Salary will be commensurate with experience and begins at a base compensation of $44,290.

Diversity Statement:

All employees must demonstrate a commitment to Community Services League’s Equity and Inclusion efforts.