Livable Communities Program Officer

This position is eligible for a hybrid (a combination of remote and onsite) telework arrangement. The candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

The Community Development Division is responsible for the Council's regional long-range planning efforts; planning and technical assistance to local governments; planning for and funding the regional parks and open space system; delivering rent assistance through the Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority; and delivering the Livable Communities Act grant programs.

In Community Development,we have set the following goals to guide our work:

• Our division builds competency, takes meaningful actions, and creates the necessary infrastructure to advance racial equity.
• Our division's workplace culture is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

• Serve as lead staff for annual Livable Communities Act grant solicitation rounds.
• Apply their knowledge of housing development, economic development, transit-oriented development, and grantmaking to help cities and townships achieve development goals that support the regional Imagine 2050 plan.
• Advance outreach, technical assistance, public engagement, policy analysis, and program evaluation projects to improve the delivery and impact of grant programs.
• Provide a high level of customer service to local governments, development team partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Deliver consistent, fair, accurate, and equitable grantmaking processes.

• Implement and improve grant programs as a senior-level individual contributor within the Livable Communities Act (LCA) team.
• Develop and implement grant application criteria and review, evaluation, and award processes for LCA programs within statutory and policy guidelines.
• Serve as lead staff (program coordinator) for annual grant solicitation rounds.
• Develop and implement outreach and technical assistance strategies, tools, materials, and events to communicate availability and expectations of LCA programs to project teams, program applicants, and recipients.
• Present grant information and recommendations to the Council, its Community Development Committee, and other advisory committees and stakeholders, as applicable.
• Coordinate with funding partners and related public, nonprofit, and professional organizations.
• Proficiently use program information, databases, and other technologies to produce reports; respond to internal and external inquiries and requests for information; and evaluate programs.
• Work with finance and grants administration colleagues to ensure a seamless, integrated process for grant recipients.
• Serve as project manager and/or contributor to public engagement, policy analysis, and program evaluation projects.
• Articulate and represent the Council's regional policy in internal and external discussions, including internal and external committees and workgroups.
• Advance racial equity through knowledge of how the history of housing and land use policy has contributed to the region's racial disparities, considering racial equity outcomes in the administration of LCA programs, and the implementing and updating of the Regional Development Guide.
• Contribute to intra-division and cross-Council working teams to advance regional policy goals and promote an equitable, positive, and respectful professional environment that values culture and diversity among all stakeholders and colleagues.

Any of the following combinations of completed education (degree field of study or major coursework in social sciences, housing studies, public policy, public administration, urban planning, or related field) AND professional experience (in grantmaking, housing development, economic development, transit-oriented development, or related field):

• High school diploma/GED AND eight or more years of experience
• Associate degree AND six or more years of experience
• Bachelor's degree AND four or more years of experience
• Master's or higher degree AND two or more years of experience

• Experience implementing or developing grantmaking or lending programs
• Experience with real estate development/redevelopment processes
• Experience implementing or developing technical assistance and training tools
• Experience advocating for or incorporating equity into projects, processes, or decision-making
• Experience analyzing proformas, budgets, financial statements, and balance sheets
• Experience identifying challenges or opportunities, and creating solutions to meet these challenges or opportunities
• Experience communicating clearly to a diverse audience of internal and external stakeholders, both verbally and in writing
• Experience working collaboratively and facilitating outcomes through cross functional teams
• Experience and advanced skills in MS Word, Excel, relational databases/CRMs, and project management tools

• Extensive knowledge of the purposes, objectives, guidelines, criteria, and processes of the Livable Communities Act grant processes
• Ability to articulate the impacts of systemic racism on development in a variety of settings
• Knowledge of the real estate development processes and the funding resources that support community economic development, transit-oriented development, and affordable housing development in the region
• Basic knowledge of the governmental environment in which the Metropolitan Council works as it applies to the Livable Communities programs and local and regional housing policy
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with local governments and their development partners, even when delivering unwelcome news
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and consistently and effectively apply the Metropolitan Council's values of Equity, Leadership, Accountability, and Stewardship
• Ability to analyze and interpret Metropolitan Council's goals for the region to be equitable and inclusive, healthy and safe, and dynamic and resilient; lead on addressing climate change; and protect natural systems and apply them effectively in the delivery of Livable Communities Act grant programs

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Union/Grade: AFSCME/Grade H
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be:
You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.