Position: Social Impact Designer
Status: Full-time
Reports to: Senior Program Manager for Social Impact Design

OVERVIEW:

Neighborhood Allies is seeking a Social Impact Designer to join a collaborative team working on community-driven programs and projects in the Pittsburgh region. This role is for a leader who loves community-centered work and utilizes their design services to support healthy neighborhoods in historically disinvested communities. A Social Impact Designer at Neighborhood Allies will be responsible for advancing placemaking, place-keeping, and community driven real estate projects through an Equity-Centered Community Development lens – a process that is people centered and encourages designers to co-create with the community by empowering those who have historically been left behind.

Strong candidates will demonstrate a commitment to improving the quality of life of Black and Brown people, and low-income populations of the Pittsburgh region. They will have a high level of integrity, patience, and thoughtfulness regarding community concerns, and have the experience and ability to analyze in-depth community, racial, and economic justice issues; effectively building trusting relationships with grassroots leaders and community-based organizations (CBOs) to facilitate tough conversations as they arrive.
This position is ideal for a recent graduate, an emerging professional, or an individual looking to shift from private or traditional practice into the public interest sector. Neighborhood Allies offers a competitive salary and benefits commensurate with experience, flexible work schedule to support a hybrid schedule, and the opportunity to work collaboratively with a talented team of colleagues as well as an extraordinary group of design volunteers. The is a full-time grant funded position with benefits.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work with the Senior Program Manager to plan and execute the program in accordance with Neighborhood Allies North Star mission and 3-year roadmap
• Manage the day-to-day progress of a portfolio of projects under the direction of the Senior Program Manager. Core duties include:
  • Providing project management and coordination between design volunteers and clients
  • Ensuring project milestones are achieved
  • Setting project benchmarks, schedules, and deliverables
  • Securing funding to expand the program
• Facilitate and lead community workshops, draft design/contract documents, produce 3D renderings and presentation materials
• Mobilize residents and stakeholders to participate in and contribute to design choices important to their neighborhoods by:
  • Effectively building trust and relationships with resident groups
  • Being a consistent, regular presence during meetings of such groups when necessary
  • Educating oneself on the specific policy and planning solutions to tackle challenges identified by resident groups
  • Serving as a broker of knowledge, breaking down complex ideas into simple language to help groups understand difficult, complicated topics.
  • Serve as an architectural designer and/or planning consultant to partners
• Constantly learn, analyze, and implement best design practices and inject new fresh ideas related to community development in Pittsburgh
• Ability to handle and prioritize multiple projects at a time.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate has 2+ years of design experience, an interest in non-profits and community-engaged design, and familiarity with design justice/J.E.D.I. (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion) principles.

Additional qualities that will be valuable to the position include:

• A strong commitment to Neighborhood Allies’ mission. Knowledge of the Pittsburgh region is a plus, but not required.
• Intermediate/ Expert 3D modeling experience.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication, including public speaking; ability to represent the organization with external partners.
• Degree in architecture, urban design, planning, or related field. (Direct professional experience and skills can serve as a replacement for this requirement.) Licensure is not required but is a plus. Exploration of licensure will be encouraged if appropriate.
• Proficient in planning and design suites such as: Sketch-up, Revit, Rhino, AutoCAD, GIS, and Adobe Creative Suites; strong written communication skills.
• Strong organizational, project management, instruction/teaching, and facilitation ability.
• Highly entrepreneurial and flexible, with ability to prioritize, problem solve, and work collaboratively.
• Willingness to travel to and attend community meetings in person (when appropriate) and to work some evenings.
• Ability to perceive design as a component of programs and systems in the real world.
• Passionate and committed belief in equitable community development with an understanding in design justice, human-centered design, racial equity theory of change, and cultural sensitivity.
• Cross-sectional interest in public art, public policy, and research is a plus.
• Grant writing experience is a plus.

COMPENSATION:

This position’s salary is commensurate with experience, not to exceed $65,000.

TO APPLY:

To apply, send the following as a single PDF file (no Word documents will be accepted):

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume
3. Design Portfolio or Two design samples
4. One writing sample (optional)
5. Two references

Applications will be accepted via email only. Materials should be submitted to info@neighborhoodallies.org with “Social Impact Designer” as the subject of your email. All application materials must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, February 14, 2022.

See the PDF version of the job description HERE.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position has been filled. We anticipate the position starting in March 2022. No phone calls please.

NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.