Project Coordinator – Overview

Organization Description

Austin Coming Together is the backbone support organization for a broad network of private, public, and non-profit organizations that share a vision for a thriving Austin community. Our mission is to increase the collective impact of our member organizations on education and economic development outcomes in the Austin community of Chicago. ACT and our members have created a long-term strategy called “Thrive 2025,” a blueprint for collective impact over 10 years. Thrive 2025 outlines 4 impact areas that our members collaborate around: Quality Early Learning, Living Wage Careers, Safe Neighborhoods, and a Stable Housing Market. ACT’s role is to build shared leadership in each impact area, facilitate strategic and collaborative action to achieve common goals, develop systems of mutual accountability and support, and create opportunities to engage the community together. Our work is driven by our core values of unity, commitment, transparency, collaboration, and action.

Initiative Description

ACT works to achieve its Thrive 2025 goals through three strategic imperatives: Service Delivery Enhancement, Planning & Investment, and Policy. Austin Coming Together builds collective power and facilitates collaborative action in Austin with those three strategic imperatives in mind, more specifically: 1) improving the quality and coordination of service delivery, 2) creating plans to attract public and private investment, and 3) and organizing for policy change.

Position Description

The Project Coordinator will have four main responsibilities to administratively support the mobilization, implementation, and evaluation of the Austin Forward. Together. (AFT) Quality of Life Plan: a) aligning community members and resources towards completing Action Plans; b) maintaining a designed approach for project management of AFT Strategies, Actions, and Project Plans; c) coordinating and executing communications for AFT Leaders and partner organizations; and d) organizing funding information to be provided to AFT funding bodies.
In order to carry out this role effectively, the Project Coordinator must deliver a clear and consistent message about the Austin Forward. Together. (AFT) Quality of Life Plan and its project operating model, maintain up-to-date knowledge of partner organizations programs and services, be able to communicate and establish rapport with a diverse range of residents and stakeholders, and be able to leverage relationships and networks to increase involvement with Plan efforts throughout the Austin community. Additionally, special emphasis is placed on administrative and technical assistance support as well as infrastructure management and refinement as an ongoing process improvement control. Core responsibilities include:

• Provide administrative support for the mobilization, implementation, and evaluation of the Austin Forward. Together. Quality of Life Plan; developing a deep understanding of the Actions and Project Plans for each Task Force
• Work with the Organizers to support successful execution of the Actions and/or Project Plans developed by key AFT participants (i.e. Task Force Chairs, Strategy Leads, and Implementation Partners); serving as a project management function for AFT using the project management operating model and tools
  Coordinate, track, manage and report AFT financial resources; supporting the identification and curation of resources
• Collect and prepare information for the purposes of meeting AFT funding requirements; executing the funding operating model in partnership with the Planning & Investment Manager
• Create and execute a communications plan for the mobilization, implementation, and evaluation phases throughout the lifecycle of AFT to provide relevant information in a timely manner to all key parties
• Coordinate key progress and tracking meetings supporting the mobilization, implementation, evaluation of the Austin Forward. Together. Quality of Life Plan; including, but not limited to, managing the logistics for setting up and sending follow-ups for Task Force meetings, quarterly Leadership meetings, and meetings with the public
• Work across the Planning and Investment team and, more specifically, with the Community Organizer/Lead Organizer to provide technical support to Task Force Chairs and Strategy Leads that help them create and progress through Action Plans and Project Plans; including, but not limited to, one-to-one engagement of Implementation Partners, providing technical assistance trainings, power analysis, and/or facilitation training to task force members when necessary, and providing administrative assistance for communicating about meetings and actions
• Act as a liaison between ACT and external partners at all levels on special events, projects, and initiatives of Austin Coming Together per the Austin Forward Together plan (i.e., Austin Eats, ASPIRE, Austin Workforce Collaborative, Central Ave. Plan, MMRP, etc.) on an as needed basis
• Research the Austin community to understand the landscape and identify trends at a local, state, and national level to inform planning and investment initiatives
• In coordination with the Planning and Investment team, participate in quarterly planning sessions and other professional development activities to inform work

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (preferred)
• Must have 2-3 years experience in project coordination or management
• Demonstrated success coordinating complex projects with multiple functions
• Ability to work in a disciplined manner within a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated ability and commitment to work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders around an issue including CBOs, government agencies, business owners and community residents
• A familiarity with the Austin community and the issues its residents face; experience working in Westside neighborhoods of Chicago, Austin community preferred
  Strong communication and interpersonal skills and ability to maintain relationships in the community
• Strong attention to detail, a willingness and ability to use data management tools, the ability to use email marketing and social media tools, and a high level of self-motivation
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with limited supervision and as part of a team
• Strong commitment to ACT’s mission, vision and values
• Knowledge of the restorative justice framework and experience integrating the framework into outcomes
• Competency with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Business Suite, and other modern technology

Skills preferred, but not required:

• ArcGIS / Spatial Analysis
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Real Estate Finance
• Data and Database Management
• Budget Planning and Management
• Salesforce / SharePoint
• Survey Design and Analysis
• WordPress
• MailChimp / Email Marketing
• Graphic Design
• Social Media
• Bilingual

Hours and Compensation

This is a full-time permanent position that may be eligible for a hybrid work schedule which could include up to 2 days per week of remote work. The Project Coordinator is expected to work evenings and weekends when necessary. Salary is commensurate with experience and ranges from $40,000-$50,000 plus benefits. The Project Coordinator reports directly to the Planning & Investment Manager.