Community Development Senior Program Manager

Community Development Senior Program Manager 

Reports to: Chief Programs Officer  

Location: Remote or Washington, DC  

Posting Date: May 9, 2024  

Application Deadline: May 24, 2024 

Anticipated Start Date: July 15, 2024 

Organization Description: The Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) is a national network of nonprofit partners that works to ensure that rural and Tribal communities across the US have access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and economic prosperity through technical assistance, training, and financial assistance in the smallest communities across the country including the US territories, many of which are low income. RCAP builds capacity at the local level, while raising the voice of rural and Tribal communities through advocacy, storytelling, research, and strategic partnerships. Annually RCAP serves over 2,000 rural and Tribal communities across the country with an average size of less than 1,600.  

RCAP is an Equal Opportunity Employer: We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who can contribute to the diversity of our workforce across a range of dimensions. Individuals who come from rural areas; who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, or other People of Color; who are queer, trans, non-binary, or two-spirit; people with disabilities; people who are immigrants; people from poor and working-class backgrounds; and people who are/have been system-impacted are strongly encouraged to apply. We invite every potential job applicant to apply regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or disability and we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.    

We expect all our employees to share a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and always seek ways to improve how well we live these values. If we can make the application process easier through accommodation in the recruitment process, please let us know. Once you have applied, we welcome your feedback on how you have experienced our values around diversity, equity, and inclusion in the recruitment process.  

Position Description: RCAP is hiring a Community Development Senior Program Manager. This position will oversee the implementation of RCAP’s community-led rural development (CLRD) strategy with an eye toward integration with RCAP’s environmental work and a more holistic community development approach. The position will help to oversee RCAP’s linked strategic programs including regionalization, leadership and capacity development, disaster and climate resilience, broadband, community facilities, transportation, economic development, and others. Responsibilities will include leading the strategy, growth, and implementation of these programs, tracking and managing program deliverables, collaborating closely with other teams within RCAP as well as RCAP's regional and external partners, reporting, liaising with funders, and developing capacity building tools, resources, and curricula. This position will be responsible for hiring, onboarding, and supervising staff as programs grow and shift. The position also provides support and expertise on their portfolio to the larger RCAP network as well as the research, advocacy, and communications teams. They may be called upon to serve as a liaison to professional and non-profit organizations as appropriate, and on funding agencies' topic-specific working groups. We look for a passion for improving quality of life, economic opportunity, and public/environmental health in rural America. 

Hours: Exempt Full-Time  

Salary Range: $95,000-$110,000  

Benefits: RCAP offers an outstanding benefits package which includes: 

• 15 days of paid Vacation Leave (accrued on a prorated per payroll basis) 
• 15 days of paid Sick Leave (accrued on a prorated per payroll basis) 
• 10 Set Holidays plus 3 Floating Holidays 
• Platinum level Health Insurance with 100% of premium paid for the employee and 70% for dependents 
• Dental and Vision Insurance with 100% of the premium paid for both employee and dependents 
• 403b Retirement Plan with automatic employer contribution of 7% after 6 months 
• Employer paid Life, Long and Short-Term Disability Insurance 
• FSA Plan 

Specific Duties/Responsibilities:  

• Further build on and lead the successful implementation of RCAP’s integrated CLRD strategy. 
• Manage/co-manage federal and philanthropic grant programs including the development and submittal of required funder reports, the development of sub agreements, and regional and external partner oversight including deliverables and spending tracking. This may include the procurement and management of contractors. A major focus will be successfully standing up new programs and closing out/renewing the existing program portfolio and maintaining funder compliance.  
• Coordinate, build, and maintain rapport with key funding agencies, RCAP’s six regional partners, and external partner organizations, including significant and frequent coordination and collaboration with RCAP’s internal teams. 
• In collaboration with the training team, develop and implement capacity-building tools, resources, and curriculum.  
• Lead or assist with the development of program deliverables and/or drive their completion such as webinars, guidebooks, and technical review of communications and outreach collateral. 
• Participate in and present at conferences, workshops, programmatic events, RCAP program management meetings, and other activities. 
• Maintain and further develop collaborative relationships with other industry groups, organizations, current and potential funders, and other entities that complement RCAP’s work. 
• Lead, participate in, and/or contribute to various workgroups including the disaster and climate resiliency and CLRD working groups, as assigned both on the national external level as well as internally with RCAP regions.  
• Generate or contribute to funding proposals. 
• Participate on the RCAP Managers team.  
• Oversee and manage at least one program support staff member. 
• Hire, onboard, and train staff as needed. 
• This position requires frequent overnight travel and, in most cases, over multiple days. The ability to travel is required and expected as part of this position.  

Other duties as assigned.  

Required Qualifications:   

• Experience overseeing programs with a variety of deliverables and various partner organizations; federal grant management experience preferred including management of funder relationships, reporting, and budget and sub-agreement processes. 
• Experience in leadership & capacity development, regionalization, disaster & climate resiliency, community facilities, broadband, transportation and/or various forms of community development; previous work experience directly with communities a plus. Solid understanding of rural needs and community-based solutions around training and technical assistance.  
• Strong written/verbal communication and project management skills including experience with written funder reports and public presentations; attention to detail a must.    
• Ability to work independently but also collaboratively in a remote team setting; experience supervising remote staff. 
• Experience in the development, implementation, and tracking/measurement of strategic plans and business planning. 
• Relationship and trust building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders; facilitation and conflict resolution skills a plus.  
• Familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets, and database applications; skills in the MS Office Suite, including Outlook and SharePoint/Teams preferred. 
• A multi-tasker with the ability to wear many hats in a fast-paced environment.  
• 10+ years of relevant work experience, a bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred but can be substituted for additional experience. 

  Desired Qualifications:  

• Knowledge of and experience with federal agencies and their programs including but not limited to the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, the Economic Development Administration, Small Business Administration, Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Energy. 
• Technical assistance, capacity building and/or training experience, a mix of infrastructure and other community development initiatives a plus. 
• Experience working with and a passion for assisting rural, Tribal and/or other un/underserved communities especially in the area of environmental and climate justice.  

How to Apply:  

To apply please submit a cover letter and resume/CV to apply@rcap.org. The application process will close on May 24th.  

The Selection Process: In an effort to be as transparent as possible in our selection process as well as to help expedite bringing new staff on board, below is a tentative timeline of key events: 

• Review of Resumes: Applications will be reviewed as they come in. All initial reviews will be completed by May 31 
• Initial Screening Interviews (via phone): By June 7 
• Full Interviews (via Zoom): By June 21 
• Reference checks: June 24-25  
• Extend offer: By June 26 

While we will proactively communicate these dates and any changes to you throughout the process, please consider placing tentative holds on your calendars for the initial screening and full interviews. Dates subject to change. 

Benefits: RCAP offers an outstanding benefits package which includes: 

• 15 days of paid Vacation Leave (accrued on a prorated per payroll basis) 
• 15 days of paid Sick Leave (accrued on a prorated per payroll basis) 
• 10 Set Holidays plus 3 Floating Holidays 
• Platinum level Health Insurance with 100% of premium paid for the employee and 70% for dependents 
• Dental and Vision Insurance with 100% of the premium paid for both employee and dependents 
• 403b Retirement Plan with automatic employer contribution of 7% after 6 months 
• Employer paid Life, Long and Short-Term Disability Insurance 
• FSA Plan