Neighborhood Activator

The Neighborhood Activator will be responsible for for developing, planning, promoting, and coordinating specialized development and redevelopment programs and activities at the neighborhood level. The Neighborhood Activator will partner with neighborhood and community groups to implement shared priority projects and actions connected to the city’s strategic vision and related planning efforts, such as Imagine Kalamazoo 2025.

Incumbents are responsible for developing, planning, promoting, and coordinating short-and long-range specialized development and redevelopment programs and activities directly related to community input. Duties may include: conducting research and preparing reports and documents; responding to and resolving citizen and organization concerns and questions; assisting the public and developers with applications for permits, grants, and zoning, reviewing site plans, and preparing revisions to documents; overseeing and evaluating programs and projects; acting as City representative at community meetings and events, designing and implementing public education and promotional and marketing materials, newsletters, activities, and events; develops various community, small area, and long-range and short-range plans; attends and facilitates public meetings; coordination and planning activities including project management and oversight of strategic vision and Master Plan work plans.

Examples of Duties

• Coordinates activities and special events; and works directly with the public and City departments in developing and preparing strategic vision and Master Plan work plans for implementing planning projects.
• Oversees and evaluates programs and projects by: organizing team members; taking and processing applications; providing technical assistance; evaluating and monitoring the strategic vision and Master Plan implementation; ensuring compliance with applicable regulations; coordinating and facilitating community input methods; preparing project proposals and contracts; designing plans; oversees long and short range plans; monitors grant application and implementation.
• Responds to and resolves citizen and organization concerns and questions by answering directly or referring them to the appropriate source.
• Performs contract administration which includes: developing contract specifications; determining services to be provided; evaluating bids; evaluating effectiveness of contract and services; negotiating development agreements and real estate sales and services; and, ensuring continuous contract compliance.
• Assists the public and developers with applications, preliminary review of site plans, and assists with revisions to documents; conducts and facilitates public meetings.
• Conducts research and prepares reports and documents to include: obtaining, analyzing, and compiling information; summarizing and interpreting data; providing recommendations; and, presenting information orally; assists with agenda and informational and action items and makes presentations.
• Designs and implements public education and promotional and marketing materials, website stories, Open Town Hall input, newsletters, activities, and events related to development projects and programs which includes: selecting, writing, and editing articles; writing copy; approving layout and design; preparing for publication; and, distributing materials.
• Acts as City representative for community, state and federal boards and committees by preparing meeting agendas, producing press releases, and speaking at conferences, neighborhood meetings, advisory boards, and other groups; responsible for working with all appropriate parties in implementing transportation strategies and programs.
• Assists with budget preparation and administration to include monitoring expenses, identifying funding sources, and tracking payments.
• May assist with property acquisition process which includes identifying and researching viability of acquiring tax-reverted properties and presenting findings to various boards and committees.
• Develops long and short range plans.
• Supervises interns and technical staff as necessary; performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Essential Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Community Engagement Strategies
• Meeting facilitation
• Community Organizing Principles
• Economic development programs
• Urban planning principles and practices
• Landscape, planning, and urban design
• Research methods and techniques
• Legal and code enforcement practices and procedures
• Statistical reporting practices
• Personnel practices and procedures
• Building codes
• City ordinances
• Zoning codes
• City planning principles and practices
• Site plan review procedures
• Community Development principles and procedures
• Historic District/Preservation knowledge
• State and federal planning laws and regulations

Skill in:

• Using computers and related software applications including: GIS, Adobe Suite, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator
• Developing and administering the budget
• Developing site plans
• Gathering and interpreting data
• Preparing reports
• Conducting research
• Solving problems
• Resolving community challenges
• Preparing marketing materials
• Preparing and giving presentations
• Community organization and/or public engagement experience
• Developing government programs
• Writing grants and other reports/documents
• Preparing proposals
• Conflict resolution and mediation
• Project management
• Public speaking
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction

Acceptable Training and Experience
Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Planning, Resource Management, Recreation, Social Science, City/Urban Planning, Environmental Science, Natural Resources or field related to area of responsibility and three years of progressively responsible administrative, development, and/or management experience in area of assignment; three years’ experience working in a municipal planning office, urban development or a closely related field where public interaction is required or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.