About Us

Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. (RISI) is a social impact nonprofit consulting firm with a multi-disciplinary team of strategists, advocates, and capacity builders.

Our capabilities reflect the depth and breadth of our commitment to serve rural America, and the local leaders there working to advance tech-enabled economic development. Our work provides critical support to secure funding, develop infrastructure, and implement the programs needed to unlock the potential of rural America.

We work with rural communities across the country as they build tech economies that support scalable entrepreneurship and tech job creation. From writing federal grants and launching accelerators to convening stakeholders and securing funding, our team supports communities through the entirety of their tech-based economic development journey.

Rural America is home to 12% of the U.S. workforce, but just 5% of the tech workforce. Smaller populations and lack of broadband in rural areas have historically translated into inequities in access to training for fast-growing tech careers, leading rural employers to outsource their tech talent demand to other markets. This has led to a vicious cycle in which there is never enough demand to justify tech training in rural areas, and because training is not available, employers continue to outsource their tech needs. RISI aims to break this cycle by showing that tech jobs and tech talent can exist in rural areas, and we are seizing the moment to create a more equitable distribution of accessible future-proof jobs.

RISI and its collaborating organization, the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), are headquartered in a historic general store building in the village of Hartland, Vermont, part of New England’s Upper Valley and greater Dartmouth College region.

Job Summary:

This role is responsible for supporting communities looking to develop their digital economy ecosystems with the support of our technical assistance process. CORI has developed a model for building digital economy ecosystems in rural America that introduces remote work strategies, scalable tech entrepreneurship development programs, and computer science training to small towns. This role is strategic and a change agent/catalyst to support communities as they build their digital economies and work creatively to close the rural opportunity gap.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Provide direct capacity-building support to communities, working directly with community leaders to:
  • Perform an assessment for helping rural communities understand what will enable their rural digital economy ecosystem
  • Prepare and present quantitative data analysis of community’s economic indicators
  • Identify and help engage key local leadership and partners necessary to ensure strategy development and deployment centers diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Lead virtual and in-person strategy sessions
  • Support communities to achieve fundraising and partnership goals for applying to federal grant programs like the Economic Development Administration’s Build to Scale grant program
  • Internally collaborate with organizational staff to support communities in the long term
  • Improve processes and tools used in capacity-building work with rural communities
• Assist with administrative functions that support technical assistance to communities, including:
  • Coordinating and building schedules, managing community and project documentation, tracking project activities
  • Adhering to all RISI policies such as travel policy requirements, managing expense filing, and maintaining proper filing systems

• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

Required Skills/Attributes:

• Demonstrated familiarity with the theory and application of economic development principles and methodology
• Ability to execute quantitative data analysis and translate into a clear accessible story
• One or more years in program coordination, preferably related to economic or community development
• Exceptional verbal communication skills, including active listening, small group facilitation, and public speaking
• Demonstrated ability to interact well and manage relationships with a diverse range of people, experiences, and constituencies
• Self-directed, and able to thrive in a collaborative team environment
• Strong writing skills and experience developing powerful deck presentations
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks/projects in a fast-paced and entrepreneurial environment
• Strong computer skills, including use of Google Suite, web-based collaboration and project management tools, and virtual presentation platforms
• Committed to the belief that rural America provides real economic opportunity and that sustainable, future-focused development is necessary to bridging geographic and economic divides facing our country

Education and Experience:

• 3+ years of relevant experience in professional services, aligned or adjacent subject matter, rural economic development, or public sector at the federal/state/local level

• Preference for experience with specific practice area of adjacent subject-matter expertise, though not required

• Experience with facilitating meetings and workshops and/or giving presentations
• Strong computer skills, including use of Google Suite, web based collaboration and project management tools, and virtual presentation platforms

Essential job functions and requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. However, this job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position. This job description is general and may evolve over time. The description is subject to periodic updating. At management’s discretion, the employee may be assigned different and/or additional duties or responsibilities.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
• RISI will manage the application and review process using our Workable platform. Please direct all inquiries through this system. We are unable to respond to phone inquiries at this time.

Location:

This is a remote position, however periodic travel to rural communities across the United States, as well as to the CORI/RISI headquarters in Vermont for strategic planning and alignment with the team is required.

Benefits

• You’ll enjoy working here if:
  • You value an entrepreneurial culture that encourages teammates to think boldly, take risks, and learn from experience
  • You appreciate an independent work environment that supports diverse work styles and preferences
  • You want to be part of a collaborative and interested team that finds opportunities to engage each other and have fun (whether in the office or dialing in)
  • You like the idea of an open and transparent organization that embraces honest conversations and new ideas
  Important Notes
  • Please make sure your application materials are tailored to showcase your ability to succeed in this specific role.
  • RISI will manage the application and review process using our Workable platform.

CORI/RISI is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Contact Information

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