Community Market Lead, Southern Virginia

Background

Summary

The Community Market Lead (CML), Southern Virginia, is a first-of-its-kind role for the organization. The CML will provide “boots on the ground” capacity to our first Place-Based Investment Strategy (PBIS) community, Southern Virginia (defined as Danville, Martinsville, South Boston, Halifax County, Henry County, Patrick County, and Pittsylvania County).  This is a grant funded 2-year position.  The preferred candidate will live within the Southern Virginia Region (Danville, Martinsville, South Boston, Halifax County, Henry County, Patrick County or Pittsylvania County). Candidates outside the region may be considered, provided they have deep ties to the community and are willing to spend considerable time there.

Responsibilities

Execute Grant-Funded PBIS Activities:

• Support the Director, PBIS in executing local stakeholder engagement conversations, workshops, focus groups, and convenings.
• Identify and engage key stakeholders across the Southern Virginia region:
• Complete one-on-one interviews & stakeholder conversations.
• Attend relevant community & economic development meetings and conversations.
• Collaborate with the Director, PBIS to develop the Southern Virginia Community Investment & Partnership Plan.
• Collaborate with the Director, PBIS to execute quarterly conversations with a Regional Investment Advisory Group (Beginning in 2026).

Develop a More Robust Lending Pipeline across Southern Virginia:

• Conduct ongoing loan prospecting conversations with capital seekers and provide front-end loan assessment and screening.
• For deals that appear “investment-ready,” prepare an Opportunity Overview Memo to hand off those loan opportunities to Locus’ Director, Impact Lending.
• For deals that need front-end support to become investment-ready:

-Provide technical assistance and development services and/or

-Refer to an appropriate TA provider for support.

-For deals that are not a good product fit for Locus, refer the capital seeker to other potential sources of investment.

• Attend bi-weekly Impact Lending pipeline meetings to ensure appropriate integration and knowledge-sharing with the lending team and to remain current on emerging and evolving lending priorities – overall and sector-specific – for the organization.
• Build and maintain relationships with key regional stakeholders in the public, private, and philanthropic sectors including attending sector-focused and general economic development meetings and conferences.

Connect Southern Virginia Investors to Locus:

• Refer potential banking and investor prospects (e.g., local businesses, government partners, foundations, nonprofits, high-net-worth individuals, etc.) to Locus’ Director, Investor Relations.
• Attend monthly Capital Strategies meetings to ensure appropriate integration and knowledge-sharing with the Investor Relations team.

Ensure Community Learnings are Understood within Locus:

• Collaborate, as appropriate, with the Director, PBIS, to present and facilitate internal conversations with Locus stakeholders (the board, Executive Team, and all staff) about ongoing efforts, development, and findings in Southern Virginia.

Requirements

Experience/Education/Certifications:

• 3-5 years of relevant work experience related to community economic development, community and regional planning, community development finance, small business support/coaching, investing, or other comparable experience.
• Four-year college degree preferred but not required. We will consider candidates with more than five years of relevant work experience in lieu of a formal degree.
• Strong understanding of community and economic development principles and practices, especially around equitable community engagement.
• Experience engaging and building relationships across diverse audiences.

Desired experience includes:

• Must have a basic understanding of common capital products deployed in community development projects.
• Experience providing one-on-one and group business coaching and support services.
• Extensive experience facilitating community engagement processes.

Computer/Technology:

• Proficiency in Word, Excel, and Windows file management skills mandatory.
• Strong technical experience with Salesforce or other CRM tools.
• Demonstrated web research skills.
• Familiarity with Outlook or similar network-based email and calendar software.
• Extensive computer usage and Microsoft Teams communication.
• Must be able to work independently in a stable remote environment.
• Access to high-speed internet bandwidth.

Communication:

• Ability to communicate verbally across all levels of the organization in a clear, concise, and confident manner.
• Ability to write accurate, clear, and organized communications, incorporating a range of information and analysis. Ability to document workflow and procedures.

Compensation and Benefits

• $64,000 – $75,000 annual salary, depending on skills and experience
• 18 days of PTO per year
• 12 Paid holidays per year
• Medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability insurance
• 401k savings plan with employer match
• Life Insurance

Equal Opportunity Employer Locus provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

How to Apply

Click here to apply