Community and Economic Development Specialist I

Central Mississippi Planning & Development District; Pearl (MS); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Mississippi Planning & Development District seeks a Community and Economic Development Specialist I to perform planning, grant administration and program coordination in Pearl, Mississippi. The role involves preparing grant applications, budget monitoring, environmental clearances, and coordinating with municipalities and non-profits to advance regional development.

The position requires strong organizational and communication skills, plus proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in a related field of study.
• An associate’s degree or technical certificate in administrative assistance or business-related field and two years of related full-time experience.
• Four years of experience in related work.

Responsibilities

• Grant application management: approve invoices, track spending, ensure grant compliance and quarterly reporting.
• Environmental clearance assistance for CD/EC or CDBG projects as needed.
• File maintenance for grant sources and document distribution.
• Support CMPDD’s EDA eligibility and fulfillment of the CEDS plan.
• Prepare correspondence, graphs and reports for grant applications.
• Monitor budgets and provide monthly updates for the department.
• Attend meetings and conferences to view project models for educational development.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Skills

Planning and Organizing

Communication

Initiative/Independence

Customer Orientation

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in related field

Associate’s degree or technical certificate + 2 years experience

Four years of related experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

This website is AudioEye enabled and is being optimized for accessibility. To open the AudioEye Toolbar, press "shift + =". Some assistive technologies may require the use of a passthrough function before this keystroke. For more information, activate the button labeled "Explore your accessibility options".

Position:Community and Economic Development Specialist I

Location: Pearl, MS

Job Id:224

# of Openings:1

COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST I

The Central Mississippi Planning & Development District has promoted regional excellence since 1968. We aim to assist our member governments with creative regional solutions to relevant and emerging issues.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Classification: Non-Exempt

Department: Planning

Reports to: Director of Planning & Management Division

Summary / Objective

This position is responsible for technical work involved in the planning, preparation and implementation of regional short-range community development programs and projects. Incumbents assigned to this classification are responsible for specific economic development and community development activities as directed. The work involves considerable contact with localities within the District.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Responsible for grant application to include approving invoices, tracking spending, ensure grant compliance, financial quarterly reporting, environmental assessments, public hearings, etc for Delta Regional Authority and Community Development Block Grants. Procurement, collection, and distribution of documents to the appropriate persons.

Assist with environmental clearance for Community and Economic projects as needed for CDBG grants.

File maintenance for grant sources.

Assist with various internal administrative tasks to maintain the Districts EDA eligibility and in fulfillment of the Districts Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

Prepare correspondence, graphs, charts, and reports for grant applications assistance.

Monitor the department's budgets and prepare monthly updates.

Attends numerous meetings, conferences, and seminars to view models and examples of projects that could be used within the District and for general educational development.

Other tasks as assigned.

Competencies

Planning and Organizing

Communication

Initiative/Independence

Customer Orientation

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this position, the employee may travel by automobile or airplane and be exposed to changing weather conditions.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently lifts and moves up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Travel

Travel is primarily local, with some out-of-area and overnight travel expected.

Required Education and Experience

A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in a related field of study.

OR

An associate’s degree or technical certificate in administrative assistance or business-related field from an accredited community college or technical training institute and two (2) years of full-time experience in related work.

OR

Four (4) years of experience in related work.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

Strong organizational, project management, problem-solving skills and impeccable multi-tasking abilities are necessary.

Demonstrate the ability to handle difficult situations while maintaining a professional demeanor tactfully.

Ability to speak confidently and effectively, present information, and respond to questions from groups of government officials, clients, customers, and the public.

Strong interpersonal skills, including experience building and maintaining relationships with a diverse network of individuals and organizations.

Self-motivation, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn are essential to this role.

Excellent proofreading and editing skills with strong attention to detail are required.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is required.

Must have and maintain a valid Mississippi driver's license.

Other Duties

Assist in preparing grant applications, including binding, as needed.

Maintain and organize all files from all grant sources applied and administered by CMPDD’s Economic and Development area.

Handle procurement for engineering and construction related to grants.

Draft documents (press reports, resolutions of matching funds, mid-year reports, etc.)

Communications with Municipalities and Non-Profits.

Assist with the Annual MAPDD Conference as assigned.

Accepts and routes calls and messages for the Economic and Development Area.

Mailing, delivery, and assistance with grant applications.

AAP/EEO Statement

CMPDD provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.