Technology Equity Manager

$60,000 - $68,000/Yr

City of South Bend, IN - South Bend, IN

Full-time - Mid Level

Hybrid - South Bend, IN

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support

About the position

The Technology Equity Manager is responsible for digital equity, technology ethics, and technology-related philanthropic programming in the City of South Bend. There are two main components to this position. First, this position seeks new opportunities to help residents - with a focus on low and middle income residents in the city - improve technology access, adoption, and skills. They do this by forming partnerships, developing evidence-based programs, improving policy and seeking grants. Second, they work to make sure that the deployment of technology is as equitable and ethical as possible. To this end, they work with I&T, other City teams, neighborhood groups, and vendors to engage with residents on new technology deployments and projects (ex: WiFi expansion, smart sensors, citizen science projects, public safety technologies, etc.). The Technology Equity Manager is within the Civic Innovation Division in the Department of Innovation & Technology (I&T). Civic Innovation works with philanthropies, universities, businesses, start-ups, and other external national/local stakeholders to leverage technology as a force for quality of life improvements in South Bend. These improvements include IT/Tech workforce programming, tech sector community building, smart city piloting, and technology infrastructure improvements.

Responsibilities

• Foster and maintain local partnerships to forward the technology equity mission, including the South Bend Connectivity Coalition
• Creatively design new solutions that help residents leverage technology for good in their lives
• Apply for grants to forward technology equity, access, and adoption in South Bend
• Research and measure outputs and outcomes as they relate to broadband access, technology training, and other technology equity topics
• Lead civic engagement processes around technology planning, topics, and projects
• Confidently organize and manage the execution of projects that often involve many different types of stakeholders and collaborations (ex: Public Works, Applications, Infrastructure, Parks, Police, Fire, schools, libraries, etc.)
• Run point on the City's engagement with digital inclusion national partners (ex: NDIA, NTIA, etc.)
• Travel as needed to national and state conferences to learn and share technology equity and digital inclusion best practices for South Bend
• Monitor best practices and emerging topics in the field
• Be a multiplier force in the field by engaging with and empowering others to be a force for technology equity in South Bend

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Science, Social Science, or Business, or related area of study; Masters in a related field of study is preferred.
• Preferred two years of strategic partnerships, civic innovation, or related experience beyond coursework.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• An entrepreneurial, growth mindset

Nice-to-haves

• Strong interpersonal written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work with diverse stakeholders in an uncertain environment
• Ability to think creatively and strategically to advance civic innovation priorities
• Excellent organization skills
• Self-motivated with keen attention to detail
• Ability to prioritize and execute tasks in a professional manner
• Ability to analyze problems and select proper corrective action
• Ability to work independently and as a team member
• Experience creating strategy briefs and financial models for potential partnerships
• Experience establishing and maintaining partnerships with philanthropies and other organizations
• Experience in data analysis and other analytical skills to support civic innovation
• Skilled in project management

Benefits

• Salary Range - $60,000 to $68,000 annually
• Hybrid work eligibility
• Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities