Community Development Manager

Mycaf; Lawrence, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Centro de Apoyo Familiar (CAF) is seeking a Community Development Manager to lead programs advancing affordable housing, nonprofit fundraising, and real estate initiatives in Lawrence, MA. You will develop partnerships, secure funding, and oversee all phases from planning to occupancy, ensuring regulatory compliance and impact measurement.

The role requires at least 5 years in related work, strong stakeholder engagement, and bilingual English/Spanish abilities when serving diverse communities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Real Estate Development, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in community development, real estate, fundraising, or grant writing.
• Proven success in managing Affordable Housing development projects and securing funding for nonprofit initiatives.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred to effectively serve CAF’s diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement programs that address community needs, including affordable housing, economic empowerment, and capacity building.
• Conduct community assessments to identify needs, opportunities, and potential development projects.
• Build relationships with local organizations, government agencies, and community leaders to advance development goals.
• Facilitate workshops, forums, and public meetings to engage stakeholders and promote community initiatives.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of community development programs, ensuring alignment with CAF’s mission and goals.
• Identify, evaluate, and pursue real estate opportunities to support affordable housing and community revitalization projects.
• Collaborate with developers, architects, and contractors to ensure projects are executed on time and within budget.
• Manage all phases of real estate development, including planning, acquisition, financing, construction, and occupancy.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations related to real estate development and housing programs.
• Coordinate with funders, lenders, and partners to secure financing and resources for real estate projects.
• Develop and implement fundraising strategies to secure financial support for community development and real estate initiatives.
• Organize and execute campaigns, events, and donor engagement activities to meet revenue goals.
• Build and maintain relationships with individual donors, corporate sponsors, and funding partners.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to create compelling fundraising materials and donor communications.
• Track fundraising metrics and prepare reports to evaluate campaign effectiveness and outcomes.
• Research and identify grant opportunities from government agencies, foundations, and private entities to fund community and real estate initiatives.
• Write and submit high‑quality grant proposals, ensuring alignment with funder priorities.
• Manage grant compliance, reporting, and documentation to meet funding requirements.
• Collaborate with internal teams to gather data and success stories for grant applications and reports.
• Maintain a database of grant opportunities and application deadlines.

Skills

Community development

Fundraising

Grant writing

Real estate development

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

CRM tools

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Budget planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Real Estate Development, Public Administration, or related field

Master's degree preferred

Urban planning background

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM software

Job description

Position Title: Community Development Manager

Department: Community Development

Reports To: Chief Operations Officer (COO)

Location: Lawrence, Massachusetts

Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

To support CAF’s mission of empowering families and transforming communities. The manager is responsible for developing partnerships, securing funding, and implementing Affordable Housing projects that contribute to community revitalization and long‑term stability.

Roles and Responsibilities

Community Development

• Design and implement programs that address community needs, including affordable housing, economic empowerment, and capacity building.
• Conduct community assessments to identify needs, opportunities, and potential development projects.
• Build relationships with local organizations, government agencies, and community leaders to advance development goals.
• Facilitate workshops, forums, and public meetings to engage stakeholders and promote community initiatives.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of community development programs, ensuring alignment with CAF’s mission and goals.

Affordable Housing Development

• Identify, evaluate, and pursue real estate opportunities to support affordable housing and community revitalization projects.
• Collaborate with developers, architects, and contractors to ensure projects are executed on time and within budget.
• Manage all phases of real estate development, including planning, acquisition, financing, construction, and occupancy.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations related to real estate development and housing programs.
• Coordinate with funders, lenders, and partners to secure financing and resources for real estate projects.
• Develop and implement fundraising strategies to secure financial support for community development and real estate initiatives.
• Organize and execute campaigns, events, and donor engagement activities to meet revenue goals.
• Build and maintain relationships with individual donors, corporate sponsors, and funding partners.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to create compelling fundraising materials and donor communications.
• Track fundraising metrics and prepare reports to evaluate campaign effectiveness and outcomes.

Grants Development

• Research and identify grant opportunities from government agencies, foundations, and private entities to fund community and real estate initiatives.
• Write and submit high‑quality grant proposals, ensuring alignment with funder priorities.
• Manage grant compliance, reporting, and documentation to meet funding requirements.
• Collaborate with internal teams to gather data and success stories for grant applications and reports.
• Maintain a database of grant opportunities and application deadlines.

Outreach and Networking

• Develop and execute outreach strategies to engage diverse populations and promote CAF’s programs and services.
• Represent CAF at community events, forums, and conferences to enhance visibility and recruit partners.
• Foster relationships with local governments and policymakers advocating for CAF mission‑related programs. Act as a liaison between CAF and external organizations, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration.

Administrative and Reporting

• Maintain detailed records of community development, real estate, and fundraising activities in CAF’s database.
• Prepare comprehensive reports on program performance, fundraising outcomes, and project milestones.
• Assist with budget planning and resource allocation for development initiatives.
• Monitor compliance with all regulatory and organizational policies related to Affordable Housing and fundraising activities.

Qualifications and Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Real Estate Development, Public Administration, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in community development, real estate, fundraising, or grant writing.
• Proven success in managing Affordable Housing development projects and securing funding for nonprofit initiatives.

Skills:

• Strong knowledge of Affordable Housing development processes, affordable housing policies, and community planning.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, project management software, and CRM tools.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred to effectively serve CAF’s diverse communities.

Other Requirements:

• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for travel to project sites, community events, and meetings.
• Flexibility to work evenings or weekends for events and stakeholder engagement.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to lead impactful community development and real estate initiatives that empower families and transform neighborhoods. Join CAF as the Community Development Manager to make a lasting difference in the communities we serve.

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Centro de Apoyo Familiar (CAF) is an Equal Opportunity Employer