Employment Opportunity: Program Assistant

August 18, 2023

Capitalize Albany Corporation is seeking a highly-motivated and organized candidate for Program Assistant. The Corporation, a non-profit and local public authority charged with economic development in the Capital City, operates in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, and has broad and lasting positive impact on the City and Region. An integral responsibility of the position is to support the Corporation’s senior staff with the implementation and monitoring of the Corporation’s programs and initiatives. The successful candidate must be detail-oriented, results-driven, and be able to both take direction and demonstrate the critical thinking necessary to act independently. This position is supervised by and reports to the Senior Economic Developers, but works with everyone on the team.

About the Capitalize Albany Team

The small, dedicated and talented team at Capitalize Albany and its engaged and influential Board of Directors strive to inspire investment in the City of Albany, NY. The Corporation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and local public authority with the mission of facilitating strategic economic development and stimulating transformative investment throughout the City of Albany, making New York’s Capital a vibrant place to thrive. A catalyst for economic growth, Capitalize Albany Corporation serves as the City of Albany’s official economic development arm, developing economic development strategies and matching projects with the right partners, tools & resources to equitably stimulate transformational local real estate development & business investment. Capitalize Albany also manages the City’s industrial development agency – a critical tool for local development. As a staff, the Capitalize Albany team values drive, teamwork, flexibility and follow-through and is looking forward to welcoming new perspectives and areas of expertise.

Our Community

The City of Albany is the Capital of New York and has a population of 97,000. The City itself, however, is much more than a star on a map. Its history spans four centuries, and it builds on that rich heritage to drive into the future as a vibrant, thriving and innovative city. Located at the crossroads of two of the Northeast’s busiest interstate highways and along the historic Hudson River, the City of Albany’s distinctive commercial districts and neighborhoods make Albany an urban center of diverse residential, commercial and institutional activity. In addition to being the seat of local, county and state government, the City of Albany is the commercial and cultural heart of a million-person region with major growth in the healthcare, creative economy and technology sectors. The City is home to three hospitals, ten colleges and universities, and hundreds of thriving businesses across all sectors.

Albany is a small city with the potential for big impact. Its affordability, quality of life, and sense of community are matched by its access to major public and private-sector organizations, diversity of cultural, natural and recreational destinations in the rich Capital Region, and easy proximity to major population centers like Montreal, Boston and New York. This combination offers unparalleled opportunities for residents and businesses alike.

Responsibilities
Program Support

  • Assists with the execution and implementation of annual operating plans that support strategic direction set by executive staff and the Board of Directors.
  • Assists with implementation and monitoring/evaluating results of the Corporation’s initiatives and programs.
  • Reviews financial assistance and grant program documentation for completeness, accuracy and compliance with applicable guidelines and regulations, in consultation with Senior staff.
  • Researches and provides reports on economic development opportunities and best practices in business development, real estate development and strategic planning.
  • Represents the Corporation at meetings of its stakeholders, such as local business improvement districts, chambers of commerce, neighborhood associations and City agencies and departments as needed.
  • Prepares and edits correspondence, reports, social media content and presentations as needed.

Administration

  • Assists with the administrative duties of three organizations (Capitalize Albany, the City of Albany Industrial Development Agency and the City of Albany Capital Resources Corporation) including attending and assisting with the preparation of minutes, presentations and materials for monthly board and committee meetings.
  • Adheres to and assists with the compliance of applicable rules and regulations set in the bylaws and by oversight authorities, including filing and maintaining economic development documents.
  • Assists with the production and distribution of administrative and programmatic materials for the organizations, including the preparation of official correspondence and regular updates to the organizations’ websites regarding projects, meetings and other information.
  • Corresponds with business owners, property owners and other constituents on related matters including information on assistance programs, project status or other documentation needs.

Other

  • Works and interacts professionally and diplomatically with government officials, business leaders, community and neighborhood organizations and the public, prioritizing customer service.
  • Prioritizes conflicting needs; handles matters expeditiously and proactively; and follows-through on projects to successful completion, often with deadline pressures.
  • Assists with the organization and implementation of corporate events as needed.
  • Edits, prepares and produces promotional and social media materials as needed.
  • Other duties as needed.

Qualifications and Skills

The successful candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in a related field; or two years of related post-secondary education with at least two years of comparable experience in a similar environment. The successful candidate should have a general understanding of and enthusiasm for economic development and urban revitalization. An understanding of, affinity for and residency in Albany, NY upon hiring is desirable.  The successful candidate must be well-organized, personable, results-driven and consistently detail-oriented. Excellent people skills, verbal and written communication skills are critical. The dynamic and fast-paced nature of the Corporation’s environment requires excellent critical thinking skills as well as flexibility and the ability to prioritize and execute multiple tasks simultaneously and efficiently. The successful candidate must be able to work as part of a team, take and execute on directions, and display initiative while working independently. Microsoft Office proficiency and advanced word processing skills are required and experience with WordPress, Zoom and Adobe Acrobat is a plus. Capitalize Albany Corporation is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. The ideal candidate will add a new perspective and skillset to complement the team’s existing strengths.

Compensation and Benefits

Capitalize Albany recognizes that its greatest strength is its people and is grateful to consistently attract and retain passionate, highly-qualified and highly-motivated individuals to carry out its dynamic and impactful mission. As such, the Corporation offers a competitive benefits package. Salaries are commensurate with experience and performance, and are proactively and routinely assessed through formal performance reviews and third-party analysis to ensure market competitiveness. Benefits include excellent health/vision/dental insurance and a robust 401-k retirement plan. The Corporation offers flexibility in the work environment, including a generous leave plan and hybrid on-site/remote operations.

To Apply

Please email both a cover letter and resume to [email protected]  with “Program Assistant Position” in the subject line. The position will remain open until filled, and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis.