Employment Opportunity: Program Assistant Position

January 18, 2022

About the Position

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 that has broad and lasting positive impact on the City and Region. An integral responsibility of the position is to support the Corporation’s executive staff with the implementation and monitoring of the Corporation’s programs and initiatives. The successful candidate must be well organized, detail-oriented, personable, and be able to take direction and also act independently. This position is supervised by and reports to the Vice President, but works with everyone on the team.

About the Capitalize Albany Team

The dedicated and talented 10-member 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 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 unmatched opportunities for residents and businesses alike.

Responsibilities

 

Administration

  • Assists with the administrative duties of three Boards (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.
  • Reviews financial assistance and grant program documentation for completeness, accuracy and compliance with applicable guidelines and regulations, in consultation with Senior staff.
  • 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 materials for the organization, including the preparation of official correspondence and regular updates to the organization’s website regarding projects, meetings and other information as needed.
  • Corresponds with business owners, property owners and other constituents on related matters including information on assistance programs, project status or other documentation needs.

Program Support

  • Assists with the execution and implementation of annual operating plans that support strategic direction set by the Board of Directors.
  • Assists with monitoring/evaluating results of the Corporation’s initiatives and programs.
  • Researches and provides reports on economic development opportunities and best practices in business development, real estate development and strategic planning.
  • As needed, represent the Corporation at meetings of its stakeholders, such as local Business Improvement Districts, chambers of commerce, neighborhood associations and City agencies and departments.
  • Prepares and edits correspondence, reports and presentations.

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.
  • 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. Flexibility and ability to prioritize and execute multiple tasks simultaneously and efficiently is essential. The successful candidate must be able to work as part of a team, take and execute 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.

To Apply

Please email cover letter and resume to [email protected] with “Program Assistant Position” in the subject line.