Community Innovation Lead

Job Summary:
Erie’s Black Wall Street (EBWS) is seeking a visionary and solutions-driven Community Innovation Lead to join our team through the American Connection Corps. This full-time role is designed for someone who thrives at the intersection of systems thinking, public policy, community-centered innovation, and organizational strategy. The Community Innovation Lead will support EBWS in identifying and addressing structural challenges, driving systemic change, and creating the internal capacity needed for sustainable impact.

This person will work closely with EBWS leadership to ensure that the organization is positioned to respond to external opportunities, and build frameworks that connect our work to statewide and national resources and decision-making structures.

This is a primarily in-person role. Candidates must be based in or near Erie, PA, or willing to relocate. While occasional remote work is permitted, the majority of work will require physical presence in the community.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Systems Strategy: Analyze root causes of challenges facing EBWS, especially those stemming from external institutional structures. Recommend and implement systems-level solutions.
2. Research & Intelligence Gathering: Conduct research on businesses in the EBWS Directory, perform in-depth interviews with board members, and track local/state policy developments relevant to EBWS's mission.
3. Innovation Pipeline: Build a portfolio of initiatives that strengthen EBWS’s infrastructure and capacity—including the power spreadsheet, interlocking directorates system, and tools to evaluate program alignment and performance.
4. Grant Infrastructure: Identify grant opportunities aligned with strategic goals, coordinate applications, and track outcomes.
5. Internal Capacity Building: Create systems that reduce the operational burden on executive leadership—such as templates, data tools, reporting workflows, and onboarding materials.
6. Public Policy & Advocacy: Stay informed about state and local policy, engage with policymakers, and prepare public-facing materials that connect EBWS’s work to broader advocacy agendas.
7. Cross-Sector Collaboration: Interface with funders, public officials, venture capitalists, researchers, and partner organizations to elevate EBWS’s strategic initiatives.
8. Reporting & Strategic Input: Provide regular briefings, memos, and reports to the Associate Director and Board to inform decision-making and long-term strategy.

Deliverables:

1. Design and implement a strategic "Power & Influence" map detailing relationships between EBWS, partner organizations, and local/state institutions.
2. Deliver a comprehensive "Innovation Audit" with recommendations for revamping current programs and aligning them with larger systemic goals.
3. Develop a centralized knowledge and research database with profiles of local businesses, grant tracking, board interviews, and policy analyses.
4. Prepare a minimum of 5 strategic memos or white papers annually that guide EBWS’s external engagement and policy advocacy.
5. Contribute to securing at least $150,000 in aligned funding through research, proposal writing, or strategic support.
6. Lead or co-lead two strategic convenings per year (e.g., innovation roundtables, policy forums, or think-ins with key stakeholders).

Qualifications:

We believe that passion, curiosity, and drive can’t always be measured by degrees or traditional credentials. As such, no formal degree is required for this position. We are looking for a candidate who embodies the following:

Core Skills & Competencies:

• Basic writing proficiency: Able to clearly and effectively communicate ideas in writing (reports, memos, emails, summaries).
• Research literacy: Comfortable locating, reading, and summarizing articles, policy documents, and other sources of information.
• Critical thinking: Able to synthesize information from multiple sources and identify patterns, insights, or contradictions.
• Tech-savvy: Knows how to use digital tools (e.g., AI platforms like ChatGPT, spreadsheets, cloud documents) to enhance productivity and understanding.

American Connection Corps Member Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen, National, or Lawful Permanent Resident
• Must hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent
• Must be 17 years of age or older by the start of service

Personal Attributes:

• Willingness to learn: Open to engaging in rigorous orientation and ongoing professional development.
• Problem-solver: Proactively identifies obstacles and seeks creative, outside-the-box solutions.
• Self-starter: Comfortable working independently, managing priorities, and taking initiative without constant direction.
• Collaborative: Works well within a team, contributes to collective goals, and values community input.
• Mission-driven: Aligns with the values and vision of Erie's Black Wall Street and is passionate about social change and systemic transformation.

Benefits & Support:

• Annual Living Allowance of $33,000
• $7,395 AmeriCorps Education Award upon completion of service
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Student Loan Forbearance (if eligible)
• Childcare Assistance (if eligible)

Length of Position: Up to 4 years, renewable annually based on performance and program alignment.