Director of Community Design & Planning

Salary: $80,000-95,000. Starting salary is determined by the scope of the position, the candidate's qualifications, and internal equity. 

Job Classification: Full-time, FLSA exempt position with benefits 

Supervised by: Executive Director 

Location: Hybrid with 3 days on-site in Boston, Malden, and/or Quincy.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

About the Organization

Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) invests in Asian American and low-income communities by creating and preserving affordable and vibrant neighborhoods in Chinatown and Greater Boston. 

Position Summary 

The Director of Community Design and Planning leads ACDC’s Community Design and Planning Department, overseeing resident engagement, youth programs, and placekeeping initiatives across ACDC's three target communities of Boston Chinatown, Malden, and Quincy. This work is central to ACDC’s holistic approach to community development. This role also serves as a part of ACDC’s senior leadership team. The ideal candidate is a strategic and collaborative leader who can align staff around a cohesive departmental vision, execute this vision through programming and cultural organizing, build strong community relationships, and advance ACDC’s long-term goals.

Roles & Responsibilities 

Department Leadership, Strategy, and Management

• Set a department vision and workplan that draws from ACDC’s mission, strategic planning goals, and advocacy priorities in Boston Chinatown, Malden, and Quincy.
• Supervise department team of staff, interns, and volunteers, coaching 4 full-time direct reports across Community Building (resident engagement), Youth Programs, and Placekeeping.
• Serve as a member of ACDC’s senior leadership team.
• Identify opportunities to promote resident and youth voice and spatial justice in Boston Chinatown, Malden, and Quincy, and guide staff to make strategic decisions based on each community’s context.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with community partners, residents, youth, elected officials, city staff, planners, researchers, artists, volunteers, and program alumni, and represent ACDC externally in place-based coalitions (e.g., The. Chinatown Coalition steering committee) and community planning efforts.
• Oversee department operations, including budget management, grant spenddown, program risk management, department compliance with relevant laws and organizational policies (e.g. mandated reporting and youth safety), and continuous improvement of the department’s internal infrastructure.
• Prepare materials for monthly Board reports and convene bi-monthly Programs Board Committee.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Community Building

• Supervise Community Building Manager (Chinatown) and Community Building Associate (Malden/Quincy).
• Expand ACDC’s resident engagement work in Malden/Quincy.
• Coordinate with Community Building staff, Real Estate department, and property management to align ACDC building-specific resident engagement efforts.

Placekeeping

• Supervise the Community Design and Planning Manager, providing strategic oversight of placekeeping projects, including site selection, impact strategy, artist and stakeholder coordination, and implementation.
• Support the integration of placekeeping across youth and resident programming.
• Shape the department’s long-term placekeeping vision, advancing ACDC's Chinatown ANCHOR strategy while exploring placekeeping opportunities in Malden and Quincy.

Youth Programs

• Oversee team of 3 full-time staff, with direct supervision of the Youth Programs Manager, providing strategic oversight of leadership programs for high school youth and implementing positive youth development principles.
• Sustain and strengthen Youth Programs in Chinatown and Malden and explore program development in Quincy.

Qualifications & Skills 

• 5 years of progressive experience in community development, cultural organizing, youth programming, nonprofit leadership, or a related field, with demonstrated experience leading complex programs and initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience supervising, coaching, and developing a team of staff.
• Strong strategic planning, vision-setting, execution, and project management skills.
• Ability to build and maintain productive relationships with diverse stakeholders, including community partners, residents, youth, elected officials, and funders.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).
• Strong emotional intelligence and ability to listen deeply, build trust, negotiate, problem-solve, and exercise sound judgment.
• Experience with program operations, including budgeting, grant management, risk management, and systems or process improvement.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including availability during some evenings/weekends.
• Experience with low-income, immigrant, and/or Asian American communities is a plus.
• Experience with placekeeping, public art, or cultural organizing is a plus.
• Fluency in Mandarin and/or Cantonese preferred.
• Alignment with ACDC’s mission and ability to communicate it authentically.

Benefits 

• Medical/Dental/Vision insurance and flexible spending account. 
• Paid time off: 15 vacation days per year, increased to 20 days after 3 years of service. 13 holidays plus the week between Christmas and New Year’s, 6 sick days, and 2 personal days per year. 
• 3% Employer contribution with 1% additional match in 401k for eligible employees. 
• Optional flexible 4-day, 40-hour work week.

ACDC’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging 

We are actively interested in ensuring that ACDC represents a range of experiences and

backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. AA/ EOE

Work Environment 

ACDC requires all staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Masks are optional in the office. This position requires three days per week on-site in Boston Chinatown, Malden, and/or Quincy until further notice. The office is climate-controlled with heat and air conditioning. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required. 

Application Instructions 

Please upload your resume and cover letter, titled respectively, in PDF format here via OneDrive. You will enter your full name during the submission process.

If you cannot upload your materials via the link, you can email them to jenny.huang@asiancdc.org (Director of Community Design & Planning) and emily.ding@asiancdc.org (Director of Operations & HR) with the subject line: “Director of Community Design & Planning -- your first and last name.” Please name your application files as FirstName_LastName_Resume and FirstName_LastName_CoverLetter.