Community Economic Development Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

Work for Indiana
Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.
About the Lieutenant Governor's Office:
The Office of the Indiana Lieutenant Governor's mission is to strengthen Indiana's rural economies and communities through capacity building, advocacy, and innovation in agriculture, small business, tourism, defense development, housing, and community economic development.
Role Overview:
The Community and Economic Development (CED) Project Manager serves as a subject matter expert for OCRA and the Office of the Lt. Governor. The PM develops, manages, evaluates, and improves statewide community and economic development programs including Stellar Pathways, Site Certified, and the Rural Empowerment & Development Program. This role includes project management, policy research, program evaluation, and broad stakeholder engagement. The PM must demonstrate strong communication and facilitation skills, the ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives, and strong organizational capacity. The position works closely with internal OCRA program staff, state agency partners, and community stakeholders to advance economic development outcomes across Indiana.
Salary:
The salary for this position traditionally starts at $53,222.00 but may be commensurate with education and work experience. Use our Compensation Calculator to view the total compensation package.
A Day in the Life:
• Develop, interpret, and communicate program policies and procedures.
• Assess program effectiveness and recommend improvements based on community needs.
• Create and manage project plans to achieve major milestones and deadlines.
• Coordinate project activities to ensure timely and on-budget completion.
• Prepare funding applications to expand or enhance program offerings.
• Review and approve documentation, including invoices, for program compliance.
• Manage program data collection, reporting, and research needs.
• Lead development and monitoring of regional Strategic Investment Plans and Feasibility Matrices.
• Oversee the application and finalist selection processes, including LOIs, narratives, resolutions, and planning documents.
• Coordinate multi-agency participation with partners
Track funding and match requirements across state, local, and private partners.
• Support capacity-building for regional leadership teams through training and coaching.
• Ensure compliance with CDBG and state/federal program requirements.
• Facilitate community engagement sessions to gather feedback and strengthen regional participation.
• Develop program evaluation metrics and dashboards to assess readiness, impact, and alignment.
• Lead outreach and awareness efforts in partnership with state marketing organizations.
• Provide ongoing post-designation support for implementation, reporting, and cross-agency follow-through.
• Lead the review and evaluation of certification applications across Silver, Gold, and Prime tiers.
• Ensure sites meet all tier-specific requirements, including zoning, acreage, environmental review, infrastructure readiness, and transportation access.
• Coordinate annual recertification and maintain updates within the Indiana Site Selector Database.
• Collaborate with FASTeam partners, local governments, LEDOs/REDOs, IEDC, IDEM, INDOT, and IFA Brownfields to uphold statewide standards.
• Conduct outreach and marketing efforts to promote certified sites to site selectors and economic development prospects.
• Explore funding partnerships with public, private, and philanthropic entities to support site readiness and infrastructure improvements.
• Develop and deliver educational webinars and guidance materials for communities.
• Prepare reports detailing certification trends, gaps, and opportunities to strengthen Indiana's inventory of ready sites.
• Serve as liaison between OCRA and community, state, federal, and academic stakeholders.
• Represent OCRA at meetings, workshops, regional convenings, and community events.
• Facilitate productive discussions among diverse stakeholders to address challenges and identify development solutions.
• Contribute content for newsletters, press releases, and agency communications.
What You'll Need for Success:
• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of five years of project management experience.
• Knowledge of project management practices and the ability to set program goals and methodologies.
• Understanding of Indiana community and economic development initiatives.
• Proficiency in grants administration, budgeting, and financial oversight.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex material and recommend solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel within Indiana and occasionally out of state.
• Ability to work productively with federal, state, and local partners.
Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:
The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
• Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
  • 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers
  • Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave
• Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
• 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Group life insurance
• Referral Bonus program
• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Free Parking for most positions
• Free LinkedIn Learning access

Equal Employment Opportunity:
The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at jobs@spd.IN.gov.
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