Community Economic Development Jobs in California

Join the Black Cultural Zone CDC as a
Manager, Programs!

The Black Cultural Zone CDC is seeking a strategic and mission-driven Manager, Programs to provide leadership across BCZ's core program groups — spanning Community Development and Economic Development. This role stewards initiatives across Career & Workforce, Wealth Building, Community Stewards, Community Life, and Community Engagement, ensuring all programs are aligned with BCZ's Mission, Vision, and the Life to Legacy Framework. The Manager, Programs collaborates closely with team leads, team members, Collaborative and community partners to design, implement, and evaluate programs that create pathways to prosperity for East Oakland's current and legacy residents and business owners. If you are a relationship-builder, program strategist, and community steward who is deeply committed to the restoration, preservation, and place keeping of Black culture, arts, and economic empowerment in East Oakland, we want to hear from you.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Steward all assigned program groups across Community Development and Economic Development: Provide strategic leadership and programmatic direction for Career & Workforce, Wealth Building, Community Stewards, Community Life, and Community Engagement initiatives, ensuring alignment with BCZ's Mission and Vision.
• Develop and implement comprehensive program strategies: Design, coordinate, and evaluate programs that create pathways to prosperity for East Oakland's current and legacy residents and business owners — spanning workforce development, wealth building, financial literacy, community life, and community engagement.
• Build and sustain strategic partnerships: Develop authentic, long-term relationships with community members, employers, workforce agencies, financial institutions, community organizations, and civic stakeholders to advance BCZ's community development and economic development goals.
• Collaborate across teams: Partner with the Experience Team, Community Development Team, and Economic Development Team to design and deliver programs and community experiences that reflect BCZ's values, cultural identity, and the Life to Legacy Framework.
• Track and report on program outcomes: Monitor participant progress, program outcomes, and initiative success across all program groups using the Nexus data framework; contribute to grant reporting and fund development efforts with program data, narratives, and impact documentation.
• Facilitate team meetings and hold open office hours: Design agendas, facilitate regular internal team and working group meetings, and hold regular office hours to provide guidance, support, and coordination with core and non-core team members across all program areas.
• Steward implementation plans and documentation: Create clear implementation plans for each initiative, translate organizational policies into actionable processes, and steward the creation of scripts, talking points, and presentation materials to communicate team efforts effectively.
• Model BCZ's C.R.E.A.T.E. values: Bring Collaboration, Respect, Execution Speed & Excellence, Accountability, Tenacity, and Equity & Fairness into every interaction — both inside the organization and with the community.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor's degree in Community Development, Economic Development, Social Work, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent lived and professional experience.
• 3-5 years of experience in community development, economic development, program management, or a leadership role.
• Proven experience designing, implementing, and evaluating community-based programs and initiatives across multiple program areas.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including community organizations, employers, government agencies, and civic leaders.
• Strong analytical, project management, and communication skills, including the ability to translate data into actionable program improvements and represent BCZ in public-facing and partner settings.
• Deep understanding of the cultural, social, and economic dynamics of East Oakland and a commitment to the restoration, preservation, and place keeping of current and legacy residents and business owners.

OUR CULTURE AND BENEFITS

At BCZ, we are guided by the Sankofa principle - looking back to move forward - and our C.R.E.A.T.E. values: Collaboration, Respect, Execution Speed & Excellence, Accountability, Tenacity, and Equity & Fairness. We are a growing, mission-driven organization committed to the restoration, preservation, and place keeping of East Oakland's current and legacy residents and business owners through Black culture, arts, and economic empowerment.

Status: Full-Time, 40 hours per week

Schedule: Monday-Friday; weekends and evenings as necessary

Location: Hybrid and Black Cultural Zone hubs, offices, and community locations

Salary: $75,000 to $82,500 per year

FLSA: Exempt

Are you ready to lead programs across community development and economic development and steward pathways to prosperity for East Oakland's current and legacy residents and business owners? Join us in building a thriving, empowered community rooted in Black culture, arts, and economic empowerment.

VIEW THE FULL ROLE DESCRIPTION HERE