Cleveland Citywide Development Corporation - Consultant / Contract Employee for Opportunity Corridor

The Cleveland Citywide Development Corporation is seeking a qualified full-time consultant / contract employee to manage efforts to foster inclusive economic growth along the Opportunity Corridor. While the roadway portion of the project opened in late 2021, a cross-sector team of partners has been working for years to ensure that this is more than just a transportation project, but one that truly creates economic opportunity for the residents in its adjacent neighborhoods. Our collective vision – to make Opportunity Corridor a vibrant and inclusive jobs hub focused on food innovation, advanced manufacturing, and health technology with neighborhood amenities and housing mixed-in – is taking shape as exciting projects such as the Meijer grocery store and housing building and the Orlando cold storage facility start construction.

There is much work remaining to realize the full potential created by the Opportunity Corridor, and the Opportunity Corridor Project Manager (OCPM) will coordinate a cross-functional team including the City of Cleveland and its partners on strategy, planning, site acquisition and preparation, marketing, business attraction, community engagement, and real estate development. Many people inside and outside the City continue to play a role in shaping and developing projects along the Corridor, but the OCPM will be a dedicated point person to ensure all efforts are aligned and moving forward. The OCPM will work with the City or Cleveland and a collection of public sector and nonprofit community development partners to achieve a collective vision for developing the Corridor.

About Cleveland Citywide Development Corporation 

Established in 1981, the Cleveland Citywide Development Corporation (CCDC) was originally formed with the sole purpose of advancing, encouraging, and promoting the industrial, economic, commercial, and civic development in the City of Cleveland. Managed by a Board of Trustees, CCDC continues to serve the City in that capacity, along with promoting and assisting business creation—with an emphasis on small businesses—and facilitating financial and technical assistance to ensure that resources reach underserved neighborhoods. 

CCDC also serves as the approval authority for the City of Cleveland Department of Economic Development loans and grants under $250,000 pursuant to Cleveland City Ordinance No. 90-10. For loans over $250,000, CCDC reviews loan requests approved by City administration and financed by the Department of Economic Development, and provides recommendation to Cleveland City Council. CCDC also assists the City in implementing several programs, including Opportunity Corridor and the Mayor’s Neighborhood Transformation Initiative. 

The Project Manager’s responsibilities will include, but not be limited to: 

• Leading and coordinating all aspects of implementing the collective vision for Opportunity Corridor, including strategy, planning, site acquisition and preparation, marketing, business attraction, community engagement, and real estate development

• Leading and coordinating Opportunity Corridor efforts with the City and external partners 

• Refining and clarifying the vision for the Opportunity Corridor, building off the Mayor and partners collective visions 

• In consultation with project partners, developing a marketing strategy for the corridor, and coordinating efforts to market Corridor sites to potential developers 

• Coordinating all site acquisition activity on the Opportunity Corridor 

• Leading efforts to gather and organize information on potential sites, including managing third party consultants for environmental assessment, surveys, geotechnical, or other predevelopment efforts 

• Managing individual development projects on the Corridor, communicating with the development teams, ensuring predevelopment milestones are met, and vetting requests for public assistance 

• Providing oversight for Opportunity Corridor development activities 

• Assisting in fundraising with other economic development partners to help meet project goals and needs 

• Working with City Departments, CCDC and partners to administer contracts and monitor requirements associated with land acquisition, assembly, and larger development projects 

• Serving as lead for development of RFPs, along with managing the review selection processes and contract negotiations. 

• Overseeing community outreach and engagement 

• Coordinating with CDCs and Councilpersons 

• Designing and making presentations on programs to key stakeholders. 

• Performing other duties as assigned.  

Minimum Qualifications 

• A Master’s Degree in Real Estate, Law, Planning, Public Affairs, or Business Administration, or another closely related field from an accredited college or university. 

• At least six years of full-time paid progressively responsible administrative, supervisory and management experience.  

• Professional experience in real estate development, site selection, or economic development. 

Professional Qualifications and Skills Required 

• Demonstrated ability to work across organizations to achieve results.  

• Demonstrated skill in the development and maintenance of effective working relationships with all levels of executive and managerial personnel, various governmental agencies, and other key stakeholders. 

• Experience with working in housing and commercial development including the use of Federal, State, and tax credit funding 

• Strategic thinker 

• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.  

• Exceptional analytical  and organizational skills 

• Effective at building and maintaining interpersonal relationships 

• Commitment to equitable economic development and inclusive growth 

• Knowledge of and experience working with business development organizations and ecosystem as well Community Development Corporations. 

• Demonstrates a sense of urgency and ability to work expeditiously in a deadline driven environment. 

The OCPM will be a 1099 employee under contract with the Cleveland Citywide Development Corporation. The budget for this position is $90,000 per year for a two year contract. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to OCPM hiring committee at CCDC@makeitincleveland.org with “Opportunity Corridor Project Manager” in the subject line.

Job Description and Application Link