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Posting Date: May 2025

Title: Senior Community Builder/Research Associate

Department: National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities (NIMC)

Supervisor Name and Title: Mark Joseph, Professor and Center Director

School: The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University

Location: 11235 Bellflower Rd, Cleveland, OH

Mission, Values and Focus

The National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities (NIMC) at Case Western Reserve University is a Demonstration and Learning Hub dedicated to advancing racial healing and collective liberation through transformative leaders taking action in their communities. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, NIMC is committed to testing and scaling innovative models of community building that prioritize equity, inclusion, and social justice. We seek to foster "transformative interdependence" � a vision where communities thrive through shared prosperity and mutual support, grounded in the healing-centered principles of safety, dignity and belonging.

Our work empowers transformative leaders who are committed to dismantling systemic barriers and building pathways for all residents to succeed. By developing clear tools and metrics for learning and evidence, we strive to deepen our understanding of how to create lasting change while expanding the reach of our approach. 365betÌåÓýÔÚÏßÊÀ½ç±­ NIMC, we center our efforts on healing historical wounds, fostering racial equity, and creating communities where all people can live, work, and grow together in freedom and dignity. Our core values guide our work, ensuring that the communities we serve are not only resilient but also equipped to build a future based on collective liberation for all.

One of our major demonstration projects has been underway in the Buckeye neighborhood on the east side of Cleveland for the past three years where NIMC has served as the lead coordinator for the federal Choice Neighborhoods Initiative which involves the mixed-income transformation of the Woodhill Homes Estates and surrounding target area. NIMC has led operations, governance and community engagement for this cross-sector initiative. We are now expanding our role to encompass the larger community geography of the Greater Buckeye area, in partnership with several local community-based organizations.

Position Objective

The Senior Community Builder (Research Associate) will play a key role in advancing the goals of NIMC by leading the engagement and development of strong leaders and collaborations to foster equitable and sustainable communities. This role is hands-on, requiring a strategic and organized approach to community engagement, along with a passion for working directly with residents and stakeholders. This work requires a highly organized, experienced professional who can develop and execute tactical workplans and strategies and represent the Center in a variety of community and institutional settings. The Senior Community Builder will take initiative in building meaningful relationships, leading and co-leading community meetings, and ensuring that community voices are central to planning and decision-making processes. The role requires someone who thrives in community settings, enjoys door-knocking and other modes of outreach, and can naturally connect individuals across various backgrounds to foster collaboration and collective action.

Essential Functions

1. Community Engagement & Relationship Building: Lead and execute implementation of the strategy for building relationships with community members, local organizations, and partners to influence change. Engage directly with residents through door-knocking, community meetings and events, and ongoing dialogue to ensure their voices inform planning and decision-making. (50%)
2. Strategic Planning & Leadership: Develop a strategic approach to engaging residents and community partners that shifts power and fosters shared leadership. This approach will focus on empowering community members to take ownership of the decision-making process and work together to tackle the goals identified by the community. This leadership will emphasize collective action, allowing the community to drive its own transformation while ensuring alignment with NIMC’s broader mission and values of racial healing and collective liberation. (15%)
3. Initiative Taking & Project Management: Take proactive steps to identify community needs, opportunities for improvement, and potential partners. Manage and coordinate projects, ensuring that they stay on track and deliver measurable outcomes for the community. (15%)
4. Connector & Network Builder: Serve as a natural connector, fostering relationships between residents, organizations, local government partners, and other stakeholders to create an action-oriented network that addresses community needs. (10%)
5. Lead and Support Community Meetings: Plan, lead and support community meetings with stakeholders, ensuring that the sessions are well-organized, human-centered, and productive. Use these meetings as platforms to address concerns, share updates, and align on initiatives that benefit the community (5%).
6. Monitoring & Reporting:
7. Regularly assess the effectiveness of community programs and initiatives. Collect and analyze data to inform future strategies, and report progress to key stakeholders, including university partners, funders, and community groups (5%).

Nonessential Functions

Perform other duties as assigned.

Contacts

Department:  Frequent contact with supervisor, NIMC principal investigators, faculty, staff and partners.  Weekly contact with staff, students and faculty at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences.

University: Regular contact with university staff.

External:  Continuous contact with external constituents and stakeholders.

Students:  May supervise student field placement interns and student employees. 

Supervisory Responsibility

No staff supervision. May supervise project interns and graduate and undergraduate student research assistants.

Qualifications

Experience:
365betÌåÓýÔÚÏßÊÀ½ç±­ least 5 years of experience in community engagement, urban planning, or a related field, with at least 3 years in a leadership role that includes direct engagement with diverse communities. Proven success in leading community-based initiatives and building partnerships across different sectors.

Education:
A master’s degree is required � in urban planning, community development, social work, public policy, or a related field.

Required Skills

1. Community Engagement:
   Ability to engage directly with a wide range of community members, especially through face-to-face interactions like door-knocking and attending community events. Comfortable working in diverse, sometimes challenging environments to build trust and foster collaboration.

2. Strategic Planning & Tactical Execution:
   Strong ability to develop and implement strategic and tactical plans that are well-organized and effective, with a clear vision for long-term community development.

3. Excellent Communication Skills:
   Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly and persuasively share ideas, provide updates, and document progress in a way that resonates with various audiences.

4. Relationship Building & Networking:
   A natural connector who can build strong relationships across a variety of stakeholders, including residents, local businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and academic institutions.

5. Human-Centered Approach:
   Holding the belief that all humans have value and personal power, ensure that community engagement efforts are empathetic, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of residents. Practice active listening skills and cultural humility.

6. Organizational Skills:
   Exceptional organizational skills, including the ability to develop clear workplans, manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and track progress against objectives.

7. Problem Solving & Critical Thinking:
   Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to think critically and adapt quickly to changing circumstances or unexpected challenges in community engagement efforts.

8. Team Leadership and Collaboration Facilitator:
   Ability to co-lead and motivate a diverse team, ensuring alignment and collaboration to achieve shared goals. Strong ability to represent the Center with an array of cross-sector partners and in a range of community and institutional settings.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in mixed-income communities or neighborhood revitalization projects.

• Experience in racial justice or racial healing initiatives and a comfort promoting antiracism.

• Familiarity with community organizing strategies and participatory planning processes.

• Knowledge of local Cleveland community organizations, stakeholders, and resources.

• Experience with grant writing or securing funding for community projects.

To Apply:
Please email your resume and a letter expressing your interest in this position to [email protected]. In your cover letter, please include:

• A description of at least two previous community building initiatives you have helped advance, your role(s), and the outcomes of those efforts.

• A paragraph sharing your personal community building philosophy.

• An example of a workplan you have produced as well as a report or other form of product from a community building effort.

• Please list three references who can speak to your community building experience along with their contact information.

Include all documents in a single pdf with a filename that includes your first and last name and the title of this position.

Salary Range:

The salary range for this position is $58,000 to $70,000.

Equal Opportunity Employer:
Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer.  All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

Reasonable Accommodations:
Case Western Reserve University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation.  Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicant will be made on a case-by-case basis.