Community Economic Development Manager

Role: Community Economic Development Manager

Reports To: Director of Economic Advancement

Classification: Full-Time, Exempt, Salaried

Salary Range: $55,000–$60,000, commensurate with experience

Benefits: Health, dental, vision, life insurance, long and short-term disability insurance, annual professional development stipend, 20 vacation days in addition to 4 recognized holidays, paid Thanksgiving week break, and paid time off the two weeks spanning Christmas and New Years.

About the Position

The Community Economic Development Manager helps turn community priorities into visible change—from filling vacant storefronts and supporting local businesses to improving commercial corridors, activating public spaces, and bringing new investment into Belmont Cragin. The relationships you build and projects you lead will directly influence where resources go, how our neighborhood grows, and whether residents and small businesses benefit from that growth.

This is a highly collaborative, community-facing position responsible for coordinating projects that bring neighborhood plans and community priorities to life. The Manager will work on initiatives related to commercial corridor development, business retention and attraction, place making and place keeping, public-space activation, arts and culture, special events, storefront and streetscape improvements, and other efforts that strengthen Belmont Cragin’s economic vitality and neighborhood identity.

Guided by the Avenues for Growth, Belmont Cragin Quality of Life Plan, Grand Vision Corridor Plan, and ongoing resident and business feedback, the Manager works closely with NWSCDC staff and community partners to implement projects and initiatives that support equitable neighborhood development.

The Manager will be responsible for coordinating assigned projects from planning through implementation. This includes developing workplans, coordinating partners and vendors, tracking budgets and timelines, organizing community engagement, maintaining project data, troubleshooting implementation challenges, and documenting results.

Project & Program Management — 40%

• Coordinate assigned community and economic development projects from planning through implementation and completion.
• Develop project workplans, timelines, task lists, and other tools needed to keep projects organized and moving forward.
• Coordinate place making and place keeping initiatives that strengthen neighborhood identity, activate public spaces, and increase community participation.
• Coordinate an annual calendar of corridor activations, community events, and other neighborhood initiatives in collaboration with NWSCDC staff.
• Coordinate contractors, consultants, artists, vendors, and project partners and ensure agreed-upon deliverables are completed.
• Track project budgets, timelines, activities, deliverables, and outcomes and provide regular updates to department leadership.
• Maintain information on vacant and occupied commercial properties throughout Belmont Cragin.
• Maintain organized economic development and commercial corridor data to support planning and organizational reporting.
• Assist with community meetings, surveys, focus groups, and other engagement activities to gather resident and business feedback.
• Collaborate across NWSCDC departments on beautification, business engagement, public-space, and neighborhood revitalization initiatives.
• Maintain positive working relationships with businesses, property owners, residents, community organizations, City departments, elected officials, and other project partners.

Economic & Commercial Corridor Development — 25%

• Support the implementation of economic development strategies identified throughNWSCDC neighborhood plans, community engagement, and organizational priorities.
• Track commercial corridor conditions, including business openings and closures, vacancies, property activity, and other neighborhood changes.
• Conduct basic research and collect economic, demographic, commercial corridor, and community data to support projects and planning.
• Conduct outreach to businesses and property owners to better understand corridor needs, vacancies, and opportunities.
• Support efforts to retain neighborhood businesses and connect vacant commercial spaces with prospective businesses when appropriate.
• Assist with marketing and promotional initiatives that strengthen the identity and visibility of Belmont Cragin’s commercial corridors.
• Coordinate arts- and culture-based economic development activities, including public art, cultural programming, creative placemaking, and community events.
• Support projects related to equitable development, transportation access, economic resiliency, and neighborhood quality of life.
• Help translate recommendations from community plans into specific projects, activities, and next steps.

Community Engagement & Partnerships — 25%

• Build and maintain relationships with residents, businesses, artists, property owners, block clubs, community organizations, and other neighborhood stakeholders.
• Conduct outreach to residents and businesses related to NWSCDC projects, events, programs, and community engagement opportunities.
• Coordinate community meetings, advisory groups, stakeholder meetings, and other engagement activities.
• Support collaboration with Aldermanic offices, City agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other partners on community and economic development initiatives.
• Partner with organizations working on transportation equity, pedestrian and bicycle safety, public-space improvements, arts and culture, and related neighborhood priorities.
• Connect entrepreneurs and business owners to appropriate NWSCDC programs, resources, and staff.
• Represent NWSCDC at community meetings, public events, partner meetings, and neighborhood activities as assigned.
• Document resident and business feedback and help incorporate community perspectives into project implementation.

Organizational & Professional Responsibilities — 10%

• Participate actively in staff meetings, organizational planning, training, and professional development.
• Maintain accurate project documentation, data, records, and reports.
• Provide regular project updates and communicate potential challenges or delays to department leadership.
• Protect confidential organizational, client, and partner information.
• Stay informed about programs, resources, and emerging practices related to community and economic development.
• Contribute to a collaborative, creative, and accountable organizational culture.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

We recognize that strong candidates may bring different combinations of professional, educational, and lived experience. Candidates who meet many—but not necessarily all—of the qualifications below are encouraged to apply.

Required Qualifications

• Approximately 1–3 years of relevant professional experience in community development, economic development, community engagement, project coordination, urban planning, small business development, nonprofit programming, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and coordinate projects involving multiple tasks, deadlines, and stakeholders.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills and comfort working with diverse community members and partners.
• Ability to facilitate or support community meetings, outreach activities, events, and public-facing initiatives.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to track project activities, budgets, timelines, and deliverables.
• Comfortable working independently on assigned responsibilities while collaborating closely with a team and seeking guidance when needed.
• Ability and willingness to attend occasional evening and weekend community meetings and events.
• Commitment to equitable community and economic development and to working with culturally and economically diverse communities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in community or economic development in Chicago.
• Familiarity with Chicago neighborhoods, particularly Belmont Cragin and theNorthwest Side.
• Experience working with small businesses, commercial corridors, property owners, community organizations, or local government.
• Experience coordinating events, public-space activations, arts and culture initiatives, or community engagement activities.
• Familiarity with basic data collection, mapping, spreadsheets, or other tools used to track neighborhood conditions and project outcomes.
• Experience coordinating vendors, contractors, consultants, or community partners.
• Spanish language skills are strongly preferred given the communities served by NWSCDC.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Community & Economic Development Manager is someone who can take an established project or community priority and help move it from “we want to do this” to “this is happening.”

They are organized, responsive, comfortable working with different types of people, and able to keep multiple projects moving at the same time. They do not need to arrive as an expert in every area of community and economic development. We are looking for someone who brings strong foundational skills, curiosity, good judgment, and a willingness to learn and grow in the role.

Work Schedule

The typical work schedule is Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Because this is a community-facing position, occasional evening and weekend work is required for meetings, events, and neighborhood activities.

Work Environment

This is primarily an in-person, community-based role. The Manager will work from NWSCDC's accessible office and regularly travel throughout Belmont Cragin and other parts of Chicago to meet with businesses, residents, partners, and public-sector stakeholders; attend meetings and events; and oversee projects. The position may work remotely up to one day per week, coordinated with the employee's supervisor and based on organizational and project needs. The role routinely uses standard office equipment and requires the ability to participate in community events, site visits, meetings, and other activities throughout the neighborhood. NWSCDC maintains a smoke- and drug-free workplace.

About Northwest Side CDC

The Northwest Side Community Development Corporation (NWSCDC) works alongside residents, small businesses, and community partners to build a more equitable, resilient, and economically vibrant Belmont Cragin and Northwest Side of Chicago.

Our mission is to provide residents and businesses with the tools and resources to preserve affordable housing, prevent displacement, strengthen local businesses, and create economic opportunities. We advance this work through small business development and access to capital, rental counseling, community development, commercial corridor revitalization, placemaking, and culturally responsive neighborhood investment.

Our vision is a resilient Latine community where individuals, families, and business owners are thriving economically and culturally and have the resources and opportunities to achieve their goals.

Our work is guided by five core values:

Resident-Led: We center the voices and leadership of Belmont Cragin residents and ensure community priorities help drive neighborhood change.

Responsive: We adapt to emerging needs and opportunities and meet our community with timely, relevant support.

Relational: We build authentic, trust-based relationships across sectors and believe collaboration and mutual exchange are essential to sustainable community development.

Innovative: We embrace creative approaches and pilot new strategies that challenge traditional models of community and economic development.

Data-Driven: We combine quantitative data with lived experience and community knowledge to guide strategy, measure impact, and continuously improve our work.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Northwest Side Community Development Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, marital status, military or veteran status, order of protection status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local

Health, dental, vision, life insurance, long and short-term disability insurance, annual professional development stipend, 20 vacation days in addition to 4 recognized holidays, paid Thanksgiving week break, and paid time off the two weeks spanning Christmas and New Years

Proficient in both English and Spanish