Director of Community Engagement

Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation (DBEDC) is seeking a visionary Director of Community Engagement (DCE) to lead and strengthen our resident services and community engagement work across our portfolio. This enterprise-level role ensures that DBEDC’s programs are coherent, outcomes-driven, and responsive to resident needs, advancing our mission and racial equity commitments.

The DCE translates organizational priorities into measurable community outcomes, provides strategic oversight of resident services, builds strong community partnerships, and advises senior leadership on trends, risks, and opportunities affecting residents. This role focuses on housing stability, resident well-being, access to resources, and resident voice, rather than workforce development or economic mobility programs.

What you can expect to do in the role:

Lead Community Engagement Strategy

• Shape the strategic vision and direction for resident services and community engagement.
• Align programs with DBEDC’s mission, equity framework, and organizational priorities.
• Define measurable goals, outcomes, and success metrics for resident-facing programs.
• Use resident data, trends, and qualitative insights to inform strategy and investment decisions.
• Advise the COO and senior leadership on the implications of organizational decisions.

Drive Outcomes Accountability & Performance Discipline

• Establish KPIs, logic models, and evaluation plans across all community engagement programs.
• Hold staff accountable for performance, quality, and outcomes.
• Use data and resident feedback to assess effectiveness and identify gaps.
• Ensure consistent documentation, reporting, and learning practices across the department.

Oversee Resident Services & Engagement

• Provide strategic oversight of resident services, ensuring support for:
• Housing stability and crisis response
• Access to community-based resources
• Resident leadership and participation
• Promote culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and equity-centered practices.

Build Community Partnerships & Serve as a Public Leader

• Represent DBEDC in community coalitions, civic initiatives, and resident forums.
• Build and maintain partnerships with residents, nonprofits, public agencies, and funders.
• Elevate resident voice in internal planning and external collaboration.

Ensure Cross-Functional Alignment

• Partner with Real Estate, Property Management, Small Business, Finance, and Development teams.
• Align workflows, communication, and decision-making to reduce fragmentation and strengthen resident engagement.

Lead, Coach & Build Team Capacity

• Establish goals, expectations, and accountability for the team.
• Foster leadership development, delegation, and professional growth.
• Promote a culture of learning, collaboration, and results orientation.

Oversee Budget, Grants & Resource Stewardship

• Manage community engagement budgets in line with DBEDC financial standards.
• Ensure grant compliance, reporting, and deliverables are met.
• Allocate resources to reinforce program outcomes and sustainability.

Contribute to Senior Leadership

• Participate in enterprise planning, organizational alignment, and culture-building.
• Model accountability, equity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications – What Success Requires

Mission & Values Alignment

• Commitment to DBEDC’s mission and understanding of racial equity in affordable housing & community development.
• Ownership and growth mindset with the ability to deliver high-quality work and understand its impact on residents and the organization.
• Comfort navigating change and proposing innovative solutions.

Technical Expertise

• Minimum 6 years of progressive leadership experience in community engagement, resident services, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success leading integrated, outcome-based programs at scale.
• Experience supervising managers or supervisors and translating strategy into accountable execution.
• Strong background in using data, community insights, and evaluation to inform strategy.
• Experience working across sectors (nonprofit, public, philanthropic, employer-based systems).

Leadership & Collaboration Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present financial and asset information accurately and accessibly.
• Ability to work effectively across teams, building and maintaining productive working relationships through reliability, responsiveness, and follow-through.
• Proven ability to coordinate information, timelines, and follow-up across multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to translate financial and asset data into actionable insights.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and able to manage multiple priorities in a mission-driven environment.
• Strong judgment, discretion, and political acumen.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to pass a background check.
• Availability for occasional evenings and weekends.

Why DBEDC?

Join an engaging team dedicated to creating equitable, thriving communities. You’ll work on a mission-driven real estate portfolio, collaborate with a values-driven team, and ensure your analysis directly informs decisions that benefit residents and local businesses.

Living Our Values

At DBEDC, our culture is grounded in shared values:

• Accountability: We take ownership of our words, actions, and their impacts.
• Curiosity: We ask questions, try new things, and learn from experience.
• Collaboration: We build trusting relationships internally and externally.
• Transparency: We communicate directly, honestly, and with clarity.
• Innovation: We embrace change, challenge convention, and adapt with intention.

Benefits

DBEDC proudly offers a total compensation package that goes above and beyond, supporting your health, well-being, and work-life balance. Here’s what you can look forward to:

Health and Wellness

• Choose from several generous medical insurance packages with no waiting period.
• Employer-paid dental and vision coverage to keep you smiling.
• Access to Flexible Spending Accounts and the Dependent Care Assistance Program for added flexibility.
• Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, and Accidental Death coverage for peace of mind.
• On-demand Employee Well-being Services to help you thrive.

Lifestyle and Perks

• Access exclusive discounts through our Perks at Work Program.
• Enjoy a flexible hybrid work environment that balances work and life with ease.

Time Off That Works for You

• Generous amount of vacation time to recharge and relax.
• Seventeen paid holidays, including your birthday, because you deserve to celebrate.
• Fifteen sick days for when you need to rest and recover.
• Three personal days for life’s unexpected moments.
• Five volunteer days to give back.

Future-Focused Benefits

• Save for your futurewith our 403(b) retirement plan, featuring a generous employer contribution.

Professional Development

• Grow your career with access to professional development opportunities, including workshops, conferences, and training programs.
• Collaborate and learn in a dynamic environment that encourages innovation and skill- building.

At DBEDC, we’re not just offering benefits, we’re investing in you! Join us and experience a workplace that values your well-being and success while building a brighter future for Dorchester and beyond!