Community Innovation Manager

Renaissance of Hope, Inc. (ROH) is the nonprofit development arm of Straight Gate International Church (SGIC). Its mission is to be an organization of true ministry, where divine resources meet human needs through loving channels, and to actively engage in nonprofit residential and community real estate programs for low and moderate-income individuals.

The vision and mission of this neighborhood approach is to create a well-connected, equitable neighborhood bound by the major transit corridors of Grand River and Livernois, utilizing these edges to define the neighborhood character and draw regional traffic. ROH’s Strategic Development Plan aims to build upon the history and strengths of the area by repurposing vacant buildings and lots while maximizing resources of existing spaces, organizations, and proposed projects to create a sense of ownership and pride in the neighborhood.

The Community Innovation Manager leads the design, launch, and coordination of the 1,000 Relationships “Names, Not Addresses” Pilot – a neighborhood-wide relational network connecting residents in the 48204 community through personal outreach, storytelling, and a 24/7 Hope Hotline supported by simple AI tools.

The role is the quarterback for the entire effort, responsible for staff training, data workflows, hotline coordination, community engagement rhythms, and cross-organizational alignment. They do not need deep technical skills – but must be comfortable managing a tech vendor and making small systems work together.

• Lead day-to-day execution of the 1,000 Relationship Pilot.
• Create and manage the project timeline, milestones, and deliverables.
• Facilitate alignment across ROH’s family of organizations including Straight Gate Church and Give Merit.
• Maintain clear communication and monthly progress updates.
• Recruit, hire, train, and support Neighborhood Stewards.
• Develop scripts, listening guides, and outreach workflows.
• Run weekly steward check‑ins & coaching sessions.
• Ensure consistent resident relationship follow‑up.

• Manage external tech partner who builds the system.
• Ensure data is entered accurately and consistently.
• Create simple dashboards and monthly insights.
• Maintain ethical and secure handling of resident information.

• Work with tech partner to set up the hotline.
• Create response protocols and escalation steps.
• Ensure residents receive personal follow‑up.
• Tag stories, needs, and interactions in the database.

• Host resident listening sessions & small gatherings.
• Build trust with residents, block clubs, and partners.
• Collect stories.
• Identify resident‑led micro projects.

• Track pilot KPIs (residents connected, depth of engagement, hotline usage).
• Produce monthly reports and quarterly insights.
• Recommend improvements and next‑phase strategy.

• Strong project or program management experience.
• Comfortable with tech systems (no coding required).
• Experience managing contractors or tech vendors.
• Organized, disciplined, self‑motivated.
• Ability to work across multiple organizations.
• High emotional intelligence and cultural awareness.
• Proven experience managing teams and complex operations.
• Strong financial literacy and experience with budgets, compliance, and reporting.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑management skills.
• Ability to build systems, workflows, and structures in a growing organization.
• Experience coordinating multi‑stakeholder projects.

• Experience in community development, social work, organizing.
• Familiarity with the specific neighborhood and community in which Renaissance of Hope operates.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports to: This position reports to the Renaissance of Hope Director of Operations

Note: This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the Community Innovation Manager position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, responsibilities, or tasks. Other duties may be assigned based on organizational needs and the skills of the selected candidate.