Community Investment Manager

Town of Smithfield; Smithfield (RI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Town of Smithfield is seeking a Community Investment Manager within the Department of Planning & Economic Development to lead economic development initiatives, grant development, and strategic partnerships.

The role coordinates with the Economic Development Commission, manages town grant programs, and collaborates with businesses and agencies to strengthen Smithfield's economic base and long-term resilience. Evening meetings and occasional travel support program delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, economic development, urban planning, public policy, business or related field is required; Master’s preferred.
• 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, grants management, or municipal government.
• Experience identifying funding opportunities and preparing successful grant applications is required; federal/state grant experience is preferred.
• Experience administering grants including budgeting, reporting, reimbursement, compliance, and closeout is preferred.
• Municipal government experience and working with boards, commissions, or public officials is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Act as primary staff liaison to the Economic Development Commission and coordinate priorities.
• Develop and implement an annual economic and community development work program with measurable outcomes.
• Advance town goals through strategies strengthening commercial and employment bases and long-term resilience.
• Coordinate outreach to local businesses and stakeholders to identify needs and build partnerships.
• Identify redevelopment opportunities and coordinate public-private investment initiatives.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for policies, investments, and programs.

Skills

Grant development

Economic development

Partnership building

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public administration / economics / urban planning

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

MS Office

Grant management software

Job description

TOWN OF SMITHFIELD | RHODE ISLAND

Department of Planning & Economic Development

GENERAL SUMMARY

This position functions as a professional manager within the Department of Planning & Economic Development and works under the general supervision of the Director of Planning & Economic Development.

The Community Investment Manager is responsible for advancing the Town’s economic and community development priorities through economic development initiatives, grant development and administration, strategic partnerships, and implementation of projects and programs. The position serves as the primary staff liaison to the Economic Development Commission and provides professional capacity to translate Town plans, policies, and community priorities into actionable initiatives.

The position leads the Town’s grant development function, including identification of funding opportunities, preparation and coordination of grant applications, administration of awarded funds, compliance and reporting, and maintenance of a coordinated Town-wide grant program.

The Community Investment Manager also works with businesses, property owners, community organizations, institutions, Town departments, state and federal agencies, and other partners to strengthen Smithfield’s economic base, support locally rooted economic activity, advance redevelopment and community investment, and improve the long-term economic resilience of the Town and its residents.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

A. Economic Development Commission and Local Economic Development

• Serve as primary staff liaison to the Economic Development Commission, including preparing meeting materials, conducting research, coordinating initiatives, and implementing Commission priorities.
• Develop and maintain an annual economic and community development work program in coordination with the Director and Economic Development Commission, including priorities, implementation responsibilities, schedules, and measurable outcomes.
• Develop and implement strategies that strengthen the Town’s commercial and employment base, fiscal sustainability, locally rooted economic activity, village centers, and long-term economic resilience.
• Conduct regular outreach to Smithfield businesses, employers, property owners, entrepreneurs, and community organizations to identify needs, address barriers, support retention and expansion, and develop partnerships with the Town.
• Connect businesses and community organizations with appropriate municipal, state, federal, nonprofit, and financial resources and provide assistance navigating relevant programs.
• Identify underutilized properties, redevelopment opportunities, and areas where coordinated public and private investment could advance adopted Town goals.
• Research and analyze economic, demographic, fiscal, business, employment, and property-use trends and prepare recommendations to inform Town policies, investments, and economic-development initiatives.

B. Grant Development and Administration

• Maintain a coordinated Town-wide grant program, including a pipeline of grant-ready projects, funding opportunities, application deadlines, local-match requirements, awards, and outstanding obligations.
• Lead or coordinate the preparation and submission of municipal grant applications, including scopes of work, narratives, budgets, schedules, supporting documentation, and interdepartmental approvals.
• Administer or coordinate awarded grants through closeout, including agreements, budgets, reimbursements, reporting, procurement coordination, compliance documentation, audits, amendments, and performance measurement.
• Assist Town departments in developing grant-ready projects and determining whether proposed applications are consistent with Town priorities, financial capacity, staffing capacity, and long-term obligations.

C. Town Grants, Scholarships, and Loan Programs

• Work with the Director to oversee the administration of Town grant, scholarship, and loan programs, including application and eligibility review, award processing, disbursement of approved funds, recipient compliance, and loan repayment tracking, in coordination with the Finance Department and in accordance with established program requirements, Town policies, and required approvals.

D. Community Programs, Project Implementation, and Partnerships

• Manage and coordinate the Town’s Rural Community Health Network and other assigned community development, public health, and resilience initiatives, including stakeholder convening, community engagement, partnership development, program planning, budget preparation, financial reporting and invoicing, compliance, performance monitoring, and coordination with the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services and other participating agencies.
• Manage or coordinate implementation of assigned economic and community development projects, including budgets, schedules, consultants, contractors, participating departments, funding agencies, and community partners.
• Develop partnerships with governmental agencies, educational institutions, businesses, nonprofit organizations, financial institutions, utilities, and regional organizations to advance Town priorities.
• Research and recommend programs, incentives, financing mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and other implementation tools that support economic and community development objectives.
• Prepare reports, recommendations, presentations, and other professional materials; participate in public and business meetings; monitor relevant legislation and programs; and perform other related duties as assigned.
• Provide general guidance to developers and property owners undertaking larger-scale development or redevelopment projects regarding potential public-private partnerships, funding resources, and opportunities to advance public infrastructure, community amenities, and other adopted Town priorities. Coordinate discussions with the Director and appropriate Town departments, with any proposed municipal commitments subject to required review and approval.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, economic development, community development, urban or regional planning, public policy, business administration, finance, economics, or a closely related field is required. A Master’s degree in a related discipline is preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in economic development, community development, grants management, municipal government, public administration, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience identifying funding opportunities and preparing successful grant applications is required. Experience with federal and state grant programs is strongly preferred.
• Experience administering grants following award, including budgeting, reporting, reimbursement, compliance, procurement, monitoring, or closeout activities, is strongly preferred.
• Municipal government experience and experience working with public boards, commissions, elected officials, businesses, community organizations, or governmental agencies are strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, funding sources, deadlines, stakeholders, and reporting requirements simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare clear, persuasive, accurate, and well-organized grant applications, reports, memoranda, presentations, and other professional written materials.
• Ability to develop productive working relationships with businesses, residents, community organizations, public officials, Town departments, state and federal agencies, consultants, and other external partners.
• Ability to conduct research and analyze economic, demographic, financial, property, programmatic, and other information relevant to economic and community development.
• Knowledge of principles and practices related to economic development, community development, public-sector grant management, project implementation, and public-private partnerships.
• Ability to exercise independent professional judgment while working within established Town policies, financial controls, grant requirements, and direction established by the Director.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn and effectively utilize grant-management, financial, project-management, permitting, data, and other software used by the Town.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Evening meeting attendance is required as necessary to support the Economic Development Commission, Town Council, public engagement activities, and assigned projects.
• Some local and regional travel may be required for meetings, site visits, conferences, business outreach, and project-related activities.
• The position may coordinate grant-related activities involving multiple Town departments but does not supersede the operational responsibility or professional authority of the departments responsible for implementing funded activities.

The position is expected to maintain awareness of changing grant programs and economic and community development opportunities and to proactively identify opportunities that advance established Town priorities

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Work is performed primarily in a municipal office environment with frequent computer use, public contact, and handling of paper and electronic records. Occasional evening meetings and additional hours may be required. Physical requirements and any essential-function accommodations are subject to HR review and the Town’s functional job description.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Town of Smithfield is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Town is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

The Town of Smithfield encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process upon request