Senior Manager, Economic Development Community of Practice

Position description

Banyan Global is a consulting firm committed to improving livelihoods. We work seamlessly in five practice areas, including Economic Growth, Community Empowerment, Youth, Health and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning. The firm is headquartered in Washington DC.

This full-time position is for an up-coming project to lead strategic development, coordination, and implementation of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Recompete Program’s national Community of Practice. This initiative supports economically distressed communities across the country by connecting them with resources, expertise, and peer learning opportunities to implement large-scale, place-based economic and workforce development projects. The Senior Manager will work closely with EDA leadership, grantees, and a diverse set of stakeholders—including nonprofits, local governments, workforce boards, educational institutions, and Tribal nations—to design and sustain an inclusive, collaborative learning network. This individual will be responsible for establishing systems and processes to provide tailored technical assistance, disseminate best practices, and ensure the long-term success of the Recompete Community of Practice. This position is based in the United States and is contingent on funding.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, build-out, and management of the Recompete Community of Practice (CoP), serving as the primary point of contact between EDA and CoP members.
• Conduct needs assessments with grantees to tailor technical assistance and capacity-building support.
• Develop and manage an interactive digital platform to house CoP resources, learning tools, data, and communications.
• Facilitate cross-coalition engagement activities such as quarterly forums, peer learning sessions, workshops, and strategic advisory meetings.
• Coordinate with key regional stakeholders (e.g., local governments, nonprofits, labor unions, educational institutions) to foster collaboration and network strength.
• Oversee the creation, documentation, and dissemination of emerging and established best practices.
• Ensure continuous evaluation of technical assistance efforts to maintain responsiveness to grantee needs.
• Manage CoP sustainability planning, preparing for a transition to a long-term convening and knowledge-brokering entity.
• Supervise cross-functional teams, subject matter experts, and subcontractors as needed to deliver high-quality advisory and implementation support.
• Serve as a liaison with federal stakeholders for policy coordination, communication of program updates, and strategic alignment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Public Policy, Economic Development, Public Administration, Urban Planning, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 8–10 years of experience in program management, economic development, workforce development in the United States.
• Experience in federal government contract/grant management.
• Demonstrated success in building, managing, or sustaining large-scale Communities of Practice or peer learning networks.
• Deep experience in coalition-building, stakeholder engagement, and intergovernmental coordination.
• Strong understanding of U.S. domestic economic development, workforce development, and equity-focused community revitalization strategies.
• Proven experience supporting or leading technical assistance initiatives for public or nonprofit institutions in the United States.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Experience in strategic planning, data-informed decision-making, and project governance for complex initiatives.
• Proficiency in virtual collaboration tools and digital learning platforms.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and leadership skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and deliverables on tight timelines.

Application instructions

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