Broadband and Digital Equity Grants Manager

The Massachusetts Broadband Institute’s (MBI) is seeking a dynamic individual to support the expansion of MBI’s broadband and digital equity initiatives. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual seeking to gain hands on experience implementing programs and initiatives focused on affordable and public housing, digital equity planning, broadband infrastructure, stakeholder engagement, and program evaluation. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in grants or related program management activities, urban planning, community development, affordable housing, or other related fields; have an expressed interest in the broadband and digital equity field; and demonstrate an ability to work both independently and in a collaborative team environment. Candidates that can bring a track record of successfully supporting or managing public sector grant programs will be considered favorably.

Primary Responsibilities

Support the operation of MBI’s portfolio of broadband and digital equity grant programs. This position will initially have a significant focus on a grant program that aims to retrofit affordable housing units throughout the state with state-of-the-art broadband infrastructure. MBI is making a concerted effort to address the infrastructure and programmatic barriers to broadband adoption, including those barriers that prevent or inhibit residents of public and affordable housing from receiving or utilizing high speed broadband technologies.

Day to day responsibilities include, but not limited to:

• Management of and support for solicitations/procurements related to broadband and/or digital equity programs, which may include, but not be limited to, programs targeting residents of affordable and public housing.
• Tracking and evaluation of grant program applications
• Liaise with broadband and equity stakeholders. For example, for the program increasing access to reliable broadband service for affordable and public housing residents, this position will directly engage with housing operators – including but not limited to Community Development Corporations, Public Housing Authorities, and For Profit Affordable Housing Developers, to support a robust pipeline of interested program participants.
• Provide technical assistance to the stakeholders listed above as related to MBI’s grant programs.
• Manage procurement activities with support from MassTech’s legal and finance staff.
• Manage grant awards and related federal reporting requirements.
• Work to integrate tenant facing tools and communications to ensure program impact, adoption, and success.

Additional Responsibilities

Support the Implementation of New Broadband and Digital Equity Programs.

Over the next 3–5 years MBI will be implementing broadband access and digital equity programming under a $147M federal grant through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program as well as continuing to implement other federally funded broadband and digital equity programs. The Broadband and Digital Equity Grant Manager will play a supporting role in this body of work as it advances.

Additional responsibilities to include:

• Ensuring connection points between potential new programming and existing activities.
• Providing project support to MBI Team members.
• Providing programmatic support for cross-cutting programs and initiatives related to broadband infrastructure, broadband mapping and digital equity and inclusion.
• Supporting long-term evaluation of MBI’s funding impacts.
• Supporting reporting requirements as related to both the Digital Equity Act, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program and the ARPA Capital Projects Fund.
• Participating in ongoing planning activities as needed.

Requirements

NOTE: Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered for the required qualifications.

• Experience and exposure to grant program management or project management with experience managing or supporting public sector grant programs strongly preferred.

• Minimum 3 - 5 years experience in the fields of affordable housing development, broadband deployment, digital equity, program management, municipal/regional planning, public administration, government, or nonprofit (Community Based Organizations, Community Development Corporations, Etc.)
• Active knowledge and experience with Massachusetts broadband and/or digital equity stakeholder, including housing policy and affordable housing stakeholders and the desire to become immersed in issues related to digital access and equity.
• Experience supporting data analysis, report writing, and visual communication.
• Excellent organizational skill