Description

The Blue-Green Infrastructure Cluster Lead for the Office of Economic Development is a grant-funded position with at least two years of funding. The City of New Orleans, along with the New Orleans Business Alliance and YouthForce NOLA received a grant through J.P. Morgan Chase Advancing Cities Initiative. The project title is “Innovating through Our Water Crisis: An Inclusive Water Cluster Powered by New Orleanians” and seeks to leverage the City’s blue-green infrastructure spending to provide more opportunities for local workers and local small businesses with a focus on racial equity.

Responsibilities include providing project management and daily operational oversight of the Advancing Cities grant. The Lead will assist the City’s Advancing Cities leadership team to assure efficient and timely communication with all grant partners and key stakeholders. The Lead will coordinate efforts and communications among internal City departments and public agencies toward systems changes related to the Advancing Cities grant. The Lead will also conduct outreach to blue-green infrastructure businesses related to the grant. The Lead will also assure timely reporting of performance documents in accordance with funding guidelines. The Lead will participate and may facilitate meetings and trainings, as necessary, while also coordinating and maintaining working relationships with stakeholders. The Blue-Green Infrastructure Cluster Lead will report to the Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Economic Development.

Representative Duties

• Provide daily project management of the Advancing Cities initiative to ensure key objectives are met.
• Develop policies that support and advance the blue-green infrastructure cluster in New Orleans.
• Build relationships with partners, key external stakeholders, and key City departments and internal staff to further the Advancing Cities initiative.
• Participate in and facilitate meetings and trainings related to Advancing Cities.
• Compile data related to current and upcoming blue-green infrastructure projects and facilitate information sharing and match-making among local small business contractors in the blue-green space as well as training providers and higher education institutions that credential workers in blue-green related industries.
• Conduct outreach to the community, including the business community and local workforce, to inform about the Advancing Cities initiative.
• Track progress and performance of Advancing Cities initiatives. 
• Perform contract administration and compliance functions related to the Advancing Cities grant.
• Prepare complex correspondence, memoranda, meeting agendas, public remarks, research, talking points, and administrative staff reports for internal staff and partners. Make presentations to stakeholders as needed.
• Stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the blue-green industries.
• Research future funding opportunities to continue the blue-green ecosystem development work beyond the Advancing Cities grant.
• Perform other duties and participate in other relevant special projects as may be assigned.

Skills and Background Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience in project management and/or the blue-green or sustainable industries sector
• Ability to deal tactfully and successfully with public and private officials, colleagues, civic groups and the general public
• Experience leading meetings at the executive level
• Strong communication skills and the ability to craft effective correspondence, presentations, and other communications

Qualifications and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• 3+ years of work in a related field or role preferred, such as project management, economic development, blue-green sector, or government
• Advanced computer/technology literacy

Residency Requirement

Orleans Parish Residency Required. Candidate must relocate to or reside within Orleans Parish within 6 months.

To Apply

Please send both a resume and cover letter as attachments in an email with the subject line “Blue-Green Infrastructure Cluster Lead Application – YOUR NAME” to Courtney Stuckwisch Wong at castuckwisch@nola.gov.