The Community Development Division for the Department of Commerce is looking for a Community & Economic Vitality (CEV) Program Specialist with rich experience administering projects to promote and enhance community revitalization and economic development through education, marketing, and technical assistance for Montana's communities. Programs, such as the Montana Main Street Program, include state-wide community revitalization programs based on design, organization, promotion, and economic vitality. The CEV Specialist assists the CEV Program Manager with the coordination and administration of a statewide downtown revitalization program that utilizes historic preservation as an integral foundation for downtown economic development and employs the principles of the National Main Street Center. This position is responsible for administering CEV contracts and managing grants from start-up to project completion; coordinating and performing grant application evaluations, and award processes; assuring program and project compliance with federal and state requirements, and providing detailed technical assistance, outreach, information, and expertise to local grant recipients and partners. If you are a natural communicator with strong motivational skills and the ability to support operational goals and meet community development objectives, with a focus on historic preservation and economic revitalization, this may be the opportunity for you. All applicants selected for an interview will be required to conduct a presentation as part of the interview process. Details about the presentation parameters will be provided in advance. Cover Letter and Resume are required. Please make sure these items are attached by checking the box marked "relevant", for each attachment, prior to uploading. The cover letter and resume must be attached in order to be considered for this position. If the application does not have the required attachments, this will result in your application being considered incomplete and removed from further consideration.

Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Historic Revitalization, Economics, Marketing, or a related field plus two (2) years professional experience with community or business development, including program development and training.
Other combinations of education and experience may be considered.
Knowledge:
A thorough knowledge of community development concepts is expected of this position; knowledge of program planning, public administration, management and fiscal accountability practices is desired. Knowledge of current practices and techniques of marketing, communications, program administration, public and media relations, budgetary management, and contract administration. The position requires knowledge of methods and techniques of writing, public speaking and editing, and the role and responsibilities of public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private businesses. Program planning and coordination requires knowledge of project planning and management; budgeting; contract administration; records management; and a general knowledge of trends and issues affecting downtown revitalization and historic preservation. Familiarity with grant program terminology, rules, guidelines, and procedures is beneficial, as is working knowledge of applicable state and federal laws and administrative rules that apply to grants projects, such as procurement and labor standards.
Skills:
This position requires skill in communicating effectively orally and in writing, and interpersonal relations as applied to interaction with partners, state and local government and the general public. Skill in problem solving and time management. Skill in creating and giving presentations. Skill in developing approaches to issues that involve consensus and establishing and maintaining effective relationships with diverse groups and individuals. The successful applicant must be skilled in Microsoft Windows-based OS, Outlook, Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat and have the ability to design charts and graphs, audiovisual presentations, workshop materials, and edit technical publications and reports.
Abilities:
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to establish and maintain effective and positive working relationships with co-workers, local and state officials; local, state and federal agency staff; consultants; legislators; and the general public. Ability to think critically and problem solve. Ability to effectively communicate community revitalization and historic preservation concepts orally and in writing to elected officials, members of the public, and laypersons outside of the profession. Ability to travel extensively for technical assistance, meetings, workshops, conferences, and as requested by the Community Economic and Vitality Program Manager, the Operations Manager or Division Administrator.