Manager - Community Investment Trust - Community of Practice - Portland, Oregon

Location: Portland, OR

Position Status: Full-time, Exempt, Regular

Salary Level: HQ5 ($64,000 - $70,000)

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Program / Department / Team

Community Investment Trust (CIT) investcit.com is the only nationwide domestic program of Mercy Corps. The Community Investment Trust investcit.com is a US-based program that created a new investment product in commercial-retail real estate designed to meet the needs and desires of first-time, lower-income investors in its pilot in East Multnomah County and is leading replication of the model nationwide.

The Position

The CIT COP Manager will lead the development and management of a national network of CIT replicators during phases of their learning and development from feasibility to post-feasibility, launch and post-launch. S/he leads the development and management of a shared learning, digital library of knowledge and case studies, news, DMERL alignment (impact tracking) for all organizations engaged in replicating the CIT. The position will work closely with the entire CIT team in developing the national scale and fidelity to the CIT model. The position plays a key relationship role in forming a continual improvement of the CIT and connecting and documenting the learning and examples of cities and their respective teams, as well as with external stakeholders.  The CIT COP Manager works with the CIT Executive Director, Operations Director and the Implementation Manager while maintaining and building a national network. The position requires an entrepreneurial mind-set and capacity to learn and adjust quickly to new challenges.

Essential Responsibilities

• Design and build the staged roll-out of a national CIT COP to propel shared learning and engagement between CIT replicators. The elements of the COP may include knowledge housing, cases studies, contact lists, questions and answer forums, site recognition, news media documentation, specific audience buckets for CIT positions (operations, education, leadership) and board members, funders and impact investors.
• Develop and maintain relationships with replicating organizations in their engagement and sharing under the COP network.
• Identify, schedule, and lead learning events virtually and in-person, regionally as hubs develop and for convenings in Portland.

NATIONAL SYSTEMS AND SUPPORT FUNCTIONS

• Support and participate in feasibility studies with cities and organizations nationally who are pursuing replication of the CIT model.
• Represent Mercy Corps in collective advocacy efforts in support of CIT community economic development objectives.
• Other duties as assigned by the Operations Director and Executive Director.

STRATEGY, PLANNING & LEARNING

• Collaborate with Implementation Manager in measurement and analysis of the CIT’s key performance indicators to inform the network leaning and strategic decision making (DMERL).
• Design a template for localized best practices of replicators.

Supervisory Responsibility

Interns as needed and assigned.

Accountability

Reports Directly To:  CIT Operations Director and CIT Executive Director.

Works Directly With: CIT Operations Director, Executive Director and Implementation Manager and leaders and staff of many cities (21 presently, with a goal of 100 in five years) engaged in launching a CIT.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Lived and work experience and/or BA/S in relevant field preferred.
• Experience with community outreach and organizing organizations serving marginalized populations.
• 4+ years of relevant professional experience, preferably in community development, knowledge management and/or working with organizations serving low-income and/or culturally diverse groups.
• Strong interpersonal, writing and communication skills.
• Experience with commercial real estate finance is a plus.
• Demonstrated sensitivity, skill and experience in working diplomatically and effectively within different cultural settings and in public relations and correspondence with a wide variety of public constituents.

Success Factors

The successful candidate is a problem solver, who is adept in successfully dealing with issues of complexity and demonstrates the ability to serve as a mentor and advisor to community leaders in Portland and members of organizations nationally who are seeking to replicate the CIT through feasibility studies. S/he is a skilled communicator, able to develop and utilize strong relationships with staff, partners and donors. S/he will coordinate with his/her supervisor, the ED and be effective at building working relationships with stakeholders.  Further:

• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues, peer groups, officials and stakeholders, diverse community, regional and national contacts & an appetite to cultivate, grow & share them.
• Ability to work simultaneously on multiple tasks in a fast paced, sometimes stressful environment and meet deadlines under those conditions.
• Ability to work as part of a team, and to operate with a significant degree of autonomy within agreed upon parameters.
• Calm under pressure, predictable in uncertain circumstances.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position can be remote or based in Portland, OR.  Frequent travel may be expected (though most duties will be held on online. Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, policies, procedures, and values at all times.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Covid-19 Vaccine Policy for US-Based Employees

Mercy Corps has determined that, in an effort to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all Mercy Corps employees working in the United States, all U.S.-based employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, regardless of prior COVID-19 infection status. This policy is necessary to ensure not only the safety of our workforce, but the ongoing functionality of the organization.

This policy will be revised as needed to comply with federal, state, and local requirements, and to respond to changing guidance from public health authorities.

For new employees this requirement goes into effect within 10 business days of employment.  Team members that travel are expected to comply with host-country requirements, including vaccinations.  Failure to comply may impact your employment.  Proof of vaccination or exemption must be provided.