Date posted: May 22, 2024

Organization and Program Overview

The mission of ROI is to advance economic and community prosperity in the 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands (Brown, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen, and Washington counties). ROI is growing potential and possibility through a focus on advanced sectors, regionalism, transformative school and workforce redesign and placemaking strategies.

ROI’s Quality of Place programs and initiatives elevate the assets of the Indiana Uplands, making it an attractive region to live, work, play, and invest.

Job Summary

The VP of Economic and Community Development guides ROI’s Quality of Place programs and initiatives to drive positive outcomes and create a lasting impact on the region. In this role, the successful candidate will support rural and urban communities across the breadth of the region’s community and economic development priorities, which include housing, transportation, infrastructure, job creation and workforce attraction, community assets, and more. You will regularly interact with local government, local economic development organizations (LEDOs), community foundations, housing developers, nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and other regional stakeholders.

This role is ideal for an individual with strong problem-solving skills, a service-oriented mindset, well-developed communication skills, and a passion for community development. Most importantly, this position requires a self-directed leader who is passionate about ROI’s mission and thrives in a high-energy, dynamic team.

Core Responsibilities

ROI seeks an individual with experience working with community members, managing projects, and managing relationships.

  • Serving as a member of the executive leadership team and actively participating in strategic planning, organizational processes, and governance
  • Collaborating with regional partners to support community and economic development
  • Developing resources and providing technical assistance in various areas of community development, such as community planning, housing, downtown redevelopment, infrastructure, transportation, and community revitalization
  • Demonstrating expertise in housing development, including knowledge of best practices, development models, and available programming for the development of housing across all categories
  • Understanding of government programs, operations, and processes
  • Comprehending, interpreting, and communicating federal, state, and local government policies and regulations
  • Possessing foundational knowledge of economic development, in particular, the Indiana READI program
  • Developing programs and initiatives on topics of relevance in the Uplands region
  • Serving as a conduit of information on various topics and grant opportunities for local stakeholders
  • Understanding grant processes, including grant application development, proposal assessment, compliance management, and recordkeeping
  • Building trusted relationships with community leaders across the region

Core Skills:

  • Passion for ROI’s mission and a commitment to the organization’s long-term goals
  • Outstanding organizational skills and detail management
  • Strong relationship-building skills
  • Solid writing and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to listen and seek wisdom from others; Openness to learning new things
  • Commitment to equity and cultural competency
  • Willingness to dedicate time, resources, and energy to driving success
  • Commitment to sticking with challenging situations and relationships
  • Team-based orientation demonstrated success in working alongside others
  • Ability to manage staff effectively

Qualifications:

  • Ten years of progressive management experience
  • Experience with at least two of the following programs/functions: community/economic development, federal/state grant program management, commercial/residential real estate development, housing development, or downtown revitalization/redevelopment
  • Financial/budget management experience
  • Master’s/Bachelor’s degree in public administration, urban planning, business administration, or relevant experience

Job Type:

Full-time salaried position

Benefits:

Health, dental, and vision insurance, health savings account, retirement plan, paid time off

Job Location:

Bloomington, Indiana, with a mix of on-location, remote work, and travel within the Indiana Uplands region. Because the amount of anticipated travel within the region is 25%, you must reside within or near the Indiana Uplands region.

Check Us Out:

To Apply:

Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to: 

Tina Peterson
President & CEO
Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc. 
tinapeterson@regionalopportunityinc.org