Director of Community Development

We’re a mission-driven lender, real estate consultant, and developer that helps communities thrive by creating opportunities through tools and expertise.

**Basic Job Function:** The Director of Community Development is responsible for conceptualizing, planning, organizing, and implementing IFF’s proactive community and real estate development business, including business development, relationship development, executive oversight of projects, and financial management; and assists in the generation and implementation of Community Strategies’ consulting business and grant-funded projects. The Director of Community Development works collaboratively with Real Estate Services and Capital Solutions team members as well as other Community Strategies staff to coordinate initiatives in innovative and collaborative ways to solve community development challenges. **Duties and Responsibilities:** * Originates and develops IFF’s proactive real estate development business through relationship-building, marketing and outreach efforts, and strategizing implementation; assists in generating and implementing comprehensive community development consulting and grant-funded projects; creates an annual work plan for providing development and consulting services; and undertakes appropriate business development and communications activities. Utilizes the Community Strategies screening tools for selecting projects and locations. * Develops and maintains relationships with municipalities and other governmental entities interested in innovative real estate development and consulting solutions for low-income communities to foster sustainable, livable communities. * Develops and maintains relationships with business, civic and nonprofit leaders to understand relevant community development challenges and needs to facilitate the design of innovative solutions utilizing IFF tools and resources. * Develops and maintains relationships with for-profit and nonprofit developers dedicated to undertaking comprehensive community development in low-income communities or to serve special needs populations. * Independently manages project teams as Project Executive on Community Strategies proactive real estate and consulting projects and as a general resource for answering questions, troubleshooting and solving problems when they arise, and providing guidance and training to staff. * Assumes responsibility for workload planning and project assignments in coordination with the Senior Director of Community Development and the VP of Community Strategies, assigns teams for most effective use of skills and resources and monitors team progress on projects. * Oversees assigned project team including scheduling and job assignment. * In some cases, acts as a Project Team Leader and coordinates all aspects of project management for each project assigned including scheduling internal and external meetings as appropriate, following project steps that have been delineated, managing project Team Members, ensuring that project goals and milestones are being met. * Develops operating policies and procedures for IFF’s proactive real estate development; updates and improves systems and procedures as needed and trains IFF staff in these systems and procedures. * Monitors financial results of IFF’s proactive real estate development on a quarterly basis; maintains internal financial data for planning purposes; analyzes internal financial data. Assists in the preparation of financial projections for IFF Five-Year Forecast. Prepares budget request and recommendation in detail. Assists in the planning and management of the Community Strategies department budget. * Develops and maintains external relationships to grow the community development initiatives work, and interacts with IFF’s Communty Strategies, Capital Solutions and Real Estate Services to identify community development challenges and opportunities for the respective lines of business. * Makes presentations to and facilitates meetings with clients, represents IFF at meetings, presentations and events. * Prepares regular reports for IFF’s VP of Community Strategies, senior management and board and prepares written materials on projects for other IFF departments as needed. * Maintains required job knowledge and skills and core professional competencies. Attends and participates in required educational programs and staff meetings. * Performs other duties as assigned. **Performance Measures:** * Meets or exceeds Community Strategies business goals from annual work plan. * Meets or exceeds all financial goals related to IFF’s proactive community and real estate development business. * Maintains highest standard of excellence in relationships with all external partners. * Manages and leads staff for maximum productivity. * Continually seeks efficiency and other improvements in all operations. * Assumes a leadership role internally and maintains excellent relationships with colleagues and peers. * Successful completion of projects according to goals set forth for each project, the project budget and schedule, and the Community Strategies department’s policies and procedures. Completed projects meet quality standards. * Internal and external reports are clear, accurate and completed on time.

**Education :** * Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in urban planning or studies, business or community development finance. * Advanced degree in real estate, urban planning, public policy, business, social science, or social work preferred. **Experience :** * At least seven years of experience in economic or community development, real estate analysis or development required. **Special Knowledge & Skills :** * Direct experience with community development projects, including affordable housing. * Demonstrated management skills. * Direct project management experience. * Analytical and strategic skills; ability to plan, manage and implement multiple projects; ability to conceptualize, plan, research, and implement complex community development projects. * Strong financial, analytical, and writing skills. * Understanding of finance and lending. * Experience working with clients. * Experience working with a team charged with implementing and completing multi-faceted projects. * Ability to use a wide variety of computer software related to project management, including word processing, database programs, spreadsheet and project management packages. * Ability to work with a wide variety of people in urban neighborhoods, suburbs and state-wide. * Good communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills. **Unusual Physical Requirements:** * Travel is required. * The Director of Community Development may visit abandoned buildings and vacant lots and inspect them fully, and will inspect construction project sites. * Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.