Economic and Community Development Specialist

Blacksburg, VA - USA

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: 12 hours ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Job Description

The economic and community development specialist will develop and conduct applied research and technical assistance projects and participate in the collaborative design and implementation of projects with a special focus on western Virginia (Alleghany County as well as the Roanoke-Alleghany and Central Shenandoah area). This position reporting to the Director for Research Development is a restricted calendar year administration and professional faculty appointment.

Forty percent (40%) of the specialists time will focus on Alleghany County and implementing the work of Alleghany Thrives a community-based collective impact program under the guidance of CECEs Associate Director for Community Innovations.

The remaining sixty percent (60%) of the specialists time will include developing and implementing applied research and technical assistance projects related to Alleghany Thrives and the broader CECE project portfolio all in collaboration with CECE project faculty.

Required Qualifications

Experience with community development community-based organizations or collaborative initiatives.

Possess exemplary communication presentation and interpersonal skills

Experience with relationship-building partner development and public engagement (engaging with convening and presenting to clients constituents beneficiaries or similar).

Demonstrate capacity as a highly organized creative entrepreneurial self-starter capable of initiating and leading as well as of contributing to a team.

Experience with applied research or technical assistance projects in a collaborative interdisciplinary setting.

Advanced degree in planning public administration business economics or a related field.

Experience with or demonstrated equivalent skills to perform grant writing and generate funding resources to support new initiatives and programs.

Willingness to be based in or make frequent and regular visits to Alleghany region and to undertake extensive travel primarily within the state of Virginia.

Preferred Qualifications

Leadership experience with collective impact community change or collaborative initiatives.

Familiarity with Alleghany County Virginia (including the city of Covington and town of Clifton Forge) or demonstrated experience working in a community with similar rural characteristics.

Strong analytical skills and experience with research and practice grounded in community and/or economic development concepts and their application.

An understanding of and interest in contributing to the scholarship of community and/or economic development.

Possess experience with grant writing for federal funding agencies.

Demonstrate the ability to build collaborative teams across organizations.

Pay Band

N/A

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

$52000 to budget maximum of $58000

Hours per week

Review Date

04/06/2026

Additional Information

Travel to Covington Alleghany County and other parts of the state will be required regularly.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its mottoUt Prosim(That I May Serve) Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world Virginia Tech is aninclusive communitydedicated to knowledge discovery and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36000 undergraduate graduate and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges a school of medicine a veterinary medicinecollege Graduate School and Honors College.The university has a significant presence across Virginia including Blacksburg the greater Washington D.C. area the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke sites in Newport News and Richmond and numerous Extension officesand research institutes.A leading global research institution Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees students or applicants on the basis of age color disability sex (including pregnancy) gender gender identity gender expression genetic information ethnicity or national origin political affiliation race religion sexual orientation or military status or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about discuss or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation please contact Holly Carroll at during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Required Experience:

Job DescriptionThe economic and community development specialist will develop and conduct applied research and technical assistance projects and participate in the collaborative design and implementation of projects with a special focus on western Virginia (Alleghany County as well as the Roanoke-Al...