City of Newton Seeks CPA Manager

Job Description:

Under the direct supervision of the Director and Deputy Director, this position is responsible for all aspects of implementing the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act (MGL Ch. 44B, “CPA”) in Newton. The program manager advises and supports Newton’s nine-member all-volunteer Community Preservation Committee (“CPC”) but also works collaboratively with other City agencies and departments, community organizations, and the general public.

The program manager’s responsibilities for program planning, management and evaluation include: advising the CPC and managing public participation in updating Newton’s Community Preservation Plan and other funding guidelines or requirements; managing program finances, including proposing the annual program budget for CPC and City Council approval, submitting required annual reports to the state, and publishing additional financial reports for the CPC and the public; and ensuring wide public notice and distribution of documents for public meetings, hearings and projects. The program manager assists funding applicants in navigating Newton’s CPA funding process while also supporting the critical evaluation of funding requests and project results by the CPC and City Council, supporting effective problem-solving and accurate reporting by the managers of funded projects, overseeing the release of project funds, and evaluating project results.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

Master’s or other post-graduate degree in public policy, public administration, planning, public finance, or another field related to one or more of the resources eligible for CPA funding: affordable housing, historic resources, open space, and recreation land.

At least 5-7 years of work experience, with increasing responsibility over time, for a combination of:

• Evaluating competitive submissions for funding or other awards, either in government or the private sector; candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to the fairness and transparency required to ensure continued public support for Newton’s CPA program;
• Working with citizen advisory committees (in government) or boards of directors (in nonprofit organizations), state and City officials, local non-profit and neighborhood organizations;
• Policy, planning or project management experience and familiarity with non-CPA funding sources for at least one, and preferably more than one, of the resources eligible for CPA funding; candidates must have a demonstrated capacity to master information sources and standards for the other resources and to avoid favoring their own prior specialties when advising the CPC and responding to funding requests;
• Hiring and supervising consultants, part-time or temporary staff, and interns;
• Budget design and analysis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Exceptional skills in written and oral communication, research, and analysis, including ability read and draft legal documents and to design and produce financial reports. Ability to identify, evaluate and apply core information resources and standards for all CPA-eligible resources. Ability to work effectively in a political environment. Organization, initiative, and judgment, to prioritize multiple, simultaneous tasks. Experience designing and using spreadsheets (Excel or equivalent); word processing; presentations (PowerPoint or equivalent); html/website editing and content management. Flexibility to attend night meetings or events several times a month, plus occasional weekend events.