ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

ANNOUNCEMENT OF OPEN POSITION

Title of the position: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Location: Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor headquarters

2750 Hugh Moore Park Road, Easton, PA

(expect a mix of office, telework, and travel throughout five counties for partnership projects)

Reports to: Director of Trails & Conservation

Term of Employment: Full-time, Exempt, 35-40 hours per week

Compensation: $46,000 - $54,000 annual salary plus benefits

Expected Start Date: May 2023

HOW TO APPLY: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and the position is open until filled. Applications should be submitted at https://delawareandlehigh.org/about/team/ under Employment Opportunities.

Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC) helps residents of the Corridor connect with our area’s rich industrial heritage and stunning natural environment. Our work empowers residents of Bucks, Northampton, Lehigh, Carbon and Luzerne counties not just to live in their communities, but to invest in them and become stewards of their natural and historical resources. Through education, conservation, historical preservation, and economic development, we enrich our community now and preserve our environment and history for future generations of residents and visitors.

DLNHC is seeking a proven leader and dynamic individual to join our growing team to manage and oversee the economic development of our community.

The Economic Development Manager coordinates various levels of economic development and outreach to communities along the D&L Trail and throughout the five-county Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC / Corridor). The incumbent is accountable for successfully negotiating multifaceted initiatives with interconnected partners, tasks and activities. This person must have a keen understanding of the importance of interacting with local governments, the public and land managers, as well as visitor bureaus, chambers of commerce and economic development organizations.

The Economic Development Manager is responsible for managing core economic development, partner engagement and data collection programs including:

• • D&L Trail Towns
• • D&L Trail Friendly Businesses
• • Visually Speaking Signage Program
• • Data Driven Sustainability Program

Key tasks and responsibilities:

• • Work with the Trails & Conservation Department to develop an accreditation process, funding plan, and strategy for D&L Trail Towns between Wilkes-Barre and Bristol, PA
• • Build engagement with existing and new steering committees in Trail Towns
• • Identify and engage new Trail Towns and support through accreditation
• • Compile an economic development resource for Trail Towns and Trail Friendly Businesses
• • Support existing and engage new Trail Friendly Businesses
• • Manage the overall Data Driven Sustainability program by working directly with team members collecting and analyzing data, interpreting results to improve D&L programs and projects, and communicating findings to D&L, funding agencies, elected officials, partners and the public.
• • Collect and organize data related to the D&L Trail, Trail Towns and economic development throughout the Corridor, including Trail Counters. Prepare data for partners and compile when needed in a report format in order to convey a need to the DLNHC Board and Partners
• • Coordinate the DLNHC’s Visually Speaking signage program including reviewing incoming requests from partners, identifying signs that need replacement, recommending new sign ideas and locations, creating signage files on Adobe Illustrator and coordinating their manufacturing and installation
• • Synchronize the Trails & Conservation Department for annual field inventory of signage
• • Support regular maintenance of trail counters by managing data subscriptions, visiting sites to download data, change batteries and perform basic maintenance
• • Manage the DCNR Heritage Area grant application and management process including compiling paper and online grant folders, tracking reporting deadlines, collecting support letters, invoicing and expense tracking
• • Coordinate trail event and program planning with department staff to amplify public recognition of the D&L Trail and meet the strategic goals of the organizations
• • Follow the marketing and branding plan for the DLNHC in all partner communications
• • Support department wide grant applications
• • Work cooperatively with the Trails & Conservation Department, staff, governing boards, and public stakeholders to advance trail related economic development

Consults and Works Closely with:

• • Trails and Conservation Director
• • Conservation Coordinator
• • Trails and Conservation Assistant
• • Education Manager

Qualifications/Requirements:

• • Ability to analyze, develop, implement, and revise organizational plans, administrative and operating procedures and methods.
• • Proven ability to develop benchmarks to measure progress towards achieving program goals and objectives.
• • Fulfill related requirements (including reporting) of funding agencies.
• • Familiarity with word processing, spreadsheet, database, email, Adobe Creative Cloud, ArcGIS, and other office software; knowledge of Acrobat, online meeting options and/or web design software a must.
• • Strong interpersonal, organizational, negotiation and analytical skills with the ability to multi-task, work independently within a team and meet deadlines.
• • Maturity, self-confidence, humour, flexibility, interest in acquiring new skills, professional manner, cultural sensitivity, and a friendly, problem-solving personality.
• • Experience leading groups of colleagues and volunteers;
• • Advanced first-aid certification and CPR certification preferred (can acquire after job acceptance).
• • A valid driver’s license in good standing and willingness to drive throughout the Corridor (Luzerne)
• • Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Bucks counties) for work.
• • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including spelling, punctuation and grammar; attention to detail.
• • A track record of integrity, honesty, reliability and performance.
• • Genuine interest in issues related to trail towns and businesses; previous nonprofit experience, particularly in the environmental field, a plus.
• • A desire to join a supportive, dedicated, high-output, fun-loving team of professionals.
• • Ability to meet the attendance requirements of the position, which calls for some evening and weekend hours.
• • All employees are required to act respectfully toward individual co‐workers and toward the D&L’s overall organizational structure following D&L Community Values.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear. Walking is required in field conditions with uneven terrain to perform site visits, acquire information, and perform inspections or to attend meetings. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to handle or feel objects. The employee is also required to kneel or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception. The employee must be able to drive to various locations during the day or night and attend meetings that may last several hours.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Benefits: Full‐time employment benefits include paid holidays, paid vacations, paid sick leave, Social Security,

Unemployment Compensation Insurance, Workers' Compensation Insurance, funeral (bereavement) leave, various types of leave of absences, health and disability insurance, and participation in the D&L 403(b) retirement plan.

Background: The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L) preserves the historic pathway that carried anthracite coal and iron from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, PA. Today, the D&L Trail connects people to nature, culture, communities, recreation and our industrial heritage. The organization was established by Congress in 1988 to celebrate our nationally significant story centered on the transport of anthracite coal from the mines of Luzerne and Carbon County to the markets in the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia (via Bucks County). The D&L Trail is a multi-use trail spanning 165 miles from the mountains of northeast Pennsylvania, along rivers and through the Lehigh Valley and Bucks County. It’s 92% complete. We are in residents’ backyards, winding through towns, on main streets and through parks. We are passionate about preserving the environment, sharing the culture of our region and positively impacting our communities. We are a diverse organization with the ability to connect people to unique experiences in nature and the environment, community and economic impact, health and recreation, history, preservation, and education. This unique merger makes us a reliable resource, able to connect visitors and residents to experiences they feel good about. Along with the National Canal Museum (a Smithsonian Affiliate), we make our home in Hugh Moore Park in Easton PA. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Inc. (DLNHC) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, the DLNHC organization complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.