Thriving Rural Communities Senior Program Manager

Reports to: Chief Programs Officer
Location: Remote or Washington, DC
Posting Date: April 24, 2023
Application Deadline: May 5, 2023
Anticipated Start Date: June 19, 2023
Organization Description: The Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) is a national network of nonprofit partners that works to ensure that rural and Tribal communities across the US have access to safe drinking water, wastewater treatment, solid waste disposal, and economic prosperity through technical assistance, training, and financial assistance in the smallest communities across the country, many of which are low income. RCAP builds capacity at the local level, while raising the voice of rural and Tribal communities through advocacy, storytelling, research, and strategic partnerships. Annually RCAP serves approximately 2,000 rural and Tribal communities with an average size of less than 1,600.
RCAP is an Equal Opportunity
Employer: We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who can contribute to the diversity of our workforce across a range of dimensions. Individuals who come from rural areas; who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, or other People of Color; who are queer, trans, non-binary, or two-spirit; people with disabilities; people who are immigrants; people from poor and working-class backgrounds; and people who are/have been system-impacted are strongly encouraged to apply.
We expect all our employees to share a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and always seek ways to improve how well we live these values. If we can make the application
process easier through accommodation in the recruitment process, please let us know. Once you have applied, we welcome your feedback on how you have experienced our values around diversity, equity, and inclusion in the recruitment process.
Position Description: RCAP is hiring a Thriving Rural Communities Senior Program Manager. This position will oversee the implementation of RCAP’s community and economic development (CED) strategy and new and existing programming with an eye toward integration with RCAP’s environmental work for more holistic community development, helping to stand up and nurture RCAP’s CED partnerships and programs. The position will help to oversee a handful of RCAP’s linked
strategic programs including regionalization, community leadership development, workforce, economic development, and others. Responsibilities will include leading strategy, growth, and implementation of these programs, tracking and managing program deliverables for the national office and RCAP's regional and external partners, reporting, and liaising with RCAP funders, and developing internal network and external capacity building tools, resources, and curriculum. The Senior Manager may be responsible for hiring, onboarding and supervising staff as programs grow and shift. This position also provides subject matter expertise on their portfolio to the larger RCAP network as well as the research, advocacy, and communications teams. They may be called upon to
serve as a liaison to professional and non-profit organizations as appropriate, and on funding agencies' topic-specific working groups. We look for a passion for improving quality of life, economic opportunity, and public/environmental health in rural America.
Hours: Exempt Full-Time
Salary Range: $90,000-$110,000
Specific Duties/Responsibilities

• Further build on and lead the successful implementation of RCAP’s integrated CED strategy.
• Manage/co-manage federal and philanthropic grant programs including the development and submittal of required funder reports, the development of sub agreements, and regional and

external partner oversight including deliverables and spending tracking. This may include the procurement and management of contractors. A major focus of this position will be successfully standing up new programs and closing out/renewing the existing program portfolio.

• Coordinate, build, and maintain rapport with key funding agencies, our six regional RCAP partners and external partner organizations, and significant regular coordination and collaboration

with RCAP’s internal teams as well.

• Lead or assist with the development of program deliverables and/or drive their completion such as webinars, guidebooks, technical review of communications and outreach collateral, and develop
• In collaboration with the training team, develop and implement both internal RCAP network and external facing capacity building tools, resources, and curriculum.

and implement new policies/approaches as needed.

• Travel to participate in/present at conferences, workshops, programmatic events, RCAP program management meetings and other activities representing small, rural, and Tribal communities and

ensuring they are not left behind.

• Maintain and further develop collaborative relationships with other industry groups, rural community development organizations, potential funders and other entities that complement

the work of RCAP.

• Lead, participate in, and/or contribute to various workgroups including the regionalization and CED working groups, as assigned both on the national external level as well as internally with RCAP regions.
• Generate or contribute to funding proposals.
• Hire, onboard and manage additional staff as needed based on programmatic growth.
• Help organize internal external partners and drive successful CED event planning including helping to secure sponsorships, event budgeting and execution.

Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications

• Experience in workforce, leadership development, regionalization and/or various forms of community and economic development including but not limited to entrepreneurial ecosystem building, small business coaching, and community facilities; previous work directly with
• Experience overseeing programs with a variety of deliverables and overseeing various partner organizations; federal grant management experience preferred including the management of funder relationships, reporting, and budget and sub-agreement processes.

communities a plus. Solid understanding of rural needs and community-based solutions around training and technical assistance.

• Strong written/verbal communication and project management skills including experience with written funder reports and public presentations; attention to detail a must.
• Ability to work independently but also collaboratively in a remote team setting; experience supervising remote staff.
• 10+ years of relevant work experience, a bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred but can be substituted for additional experience.
• Experience in the development, implementation and tracking/measurement of strategic plans and business planning.
• Familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets, and database applications; skills in the MS Office Suite, including Outlook and SharePoint preferred.
• Relationship and trust building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders; facilitation and conflict resolution skills a plus.
• A multi-tasker with the ability to wear many hats in a fast-paced environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Knowledge of and experience with federal agencies and their programs including but not limited to the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Economic Development Administration, Small Business Administration, Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation, Department of Labor, and the Department of Energy.
• Experience working with and a passion for assisting rural, Tribal and/or other un/underserved communities especially in the area of environmental and climate justice.
• Technical assistance, capacity building and/or training experience, a mix of infrastructure and CED a plus.

How to Apply: To apply please submit a letter of interest and resume/CV. The application process will close on May 5.
The Selection Process: In an effort to be as transparent as possible in our selection process as well as to help expedite bringing new staff on board, below is a timeline of key events:

• Reference checks: May 30-June 1
• Initial Screening Interviews (via phone): By May 19
• Review of Resumes: Applications will be reviewed as they come in. All initial reviews will be completed by May 12
• Full Interviews (via Zoom): By May 26
• Extend offer: June 2