Title: Project Manager

Hiring Range: $75,000-$90,000

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Commission to Study the History of the Uprooting of Black Communities by Public Institutions of Higher Education in the Commonwealth

Location: General Assembly Bldg

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Summary

The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Commission to Study the History of the Uprooting of Black Communities by Public Institutions of Higher Education in the Commonwealth is seeking a Project Manager who will manage and coordinate the work of the Commission.

The purpose of the Commission is to study and determine (i) whether any public institution of higher education in Virginia has purchased, expropriated, or otherwise taken possession of property owned by any individual or entity within the boundaries of a community in which a majority of the residents are Black in order to establish or expand the institution's campus and (ii) whether and what form of compensation or relief would be appropriate for affected individuals.

This position will work under the direction of the Chair, in consultation with the Commission, to research, synthesize, and report on findings relating to the acquisition of property by public institutions of higher education and its effects on Black communities. This position will require significant, reimbursable travel throughout the Commonwealth.

This position will be eligible for state benefits. This is a temporary, full-time position that is expected to last through June 30, 2026.

The Division of Legislative Services’ Human Resources Office is assisting the Commission with this position posting. This is not a DLS position.

Job Duties

The position will support the goals of the Commission by carrying out the following responsibilities and any additional tasks or projects, as assigned by the Commission:

• Research and Analysis:
  • Create a framework to assess and analyze institutional land acquisition and displacement, including historical timelines, property records, and legal proceedings.
  • Review and synthesize independent research findings and GIS outputs to identify systemic trends, patterns of harm, and institutional variance.
  • Validate institutional and locality self-reporting against legal and historical records, including deeds, eminent domain proceedings, and demographic trends.
  • Research and compile data relating to average property values at the time of acquisitions to determine if any properties were undervalued when acquired through eminent domain proceedings and to facilitate economic analysis of the generational wealth lost through displacement.
  • Research and compile data relating to institutions of higher education outside of the Commonwealth that have a history of community displacement, including information about any compensation or relief these institutions have provided to address this history.
  • Compile periodic findings to inform Commission deliberations and identify data gaps requiring further investigation.
    Partnerships and Collaboration:
  • Develop and maintain collaborations with research partners, including individual scholars; state universities; state agencies; localities; private research centers and institutes; legal, planning, and archival analysts; and other potential partners.
  • Procure the services of contracted experts as needed, in consultation with the Chair.
• Public Engagement:
  • Assist the Commission with soliciting public comment in affected localities to receive input from local communities regarding the impact of the displacement of Black communities as the result of campus expansions.
  • Prepare online materials detailing the work of the Commission to promote public awareness and transparency.
  • Assist with media requests under the direction of the Chair, including draft media advisories.
• Administration and Communications:
  • Assist the Commission with project fiscal administration.
  • Supervise all project correspondence, recordkeeping, and other office tasks.
  • Compile and draft the Commission’s final report.
    

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in the social sciences, history, African American studies, public policy, economics, or a related field preferred. Candidates with relevant and equivalent professional experience will also be considered.
• Minimum of two years of work experience in the above fields preferred.
• Knowledge of current scholarship on race and research methodologies in the social sciences and public policy.
• Knowledge of the tenets of public engagement and the ability to share research findings in a way that makes them “accessible and useful” to the public and policy makers.
• Experience conducting and directing archival research and reviewing property records and land use issues.
• Experience conducting and directing the development of online materials and websites.
• Experience in investigative reporting.
• Experience with recruitment and contract management.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate and work with a diverse group of stakeholders, including scholars, policy makers, vendors, and the public.
• Experience planning and implementing large-scale programs.
  

Special Instructions

To be considered, please submit a resume and a cover letter.

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Applications for this position must be submitted electronically through this website. Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications and resumes will not be accepted. Information on the application is the primary source used for screening the position. Phone calls and emails are not accepted regarding an inquiry to the status of an application.

The first round of applications will be provided to the Commission’s hiring committee on October 31, 2025. This position will be posted until it is filled.

Contact Information

Name: Eleni Georgiou

Email: egeorgiou@dls.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.