Robert O'Brien

Skills

Top Skills:

Strategic project & program leadership
Housing & economic redevelopment strategy
Stakeholder engagement & public presentation
Grant development & management
Community planning & facilitation
Fundraising, events & nonprofit operations

Leadership & management:

Team leadership and supervision (project teams, managers, analysts)
Program direction and oversight (multi-project portfolios)
Mentoring and staff development
Budgeting and financial oversight

Planning, policy & strategy:

Housing strategy development (rural, suburban, urban)
Economic development & industrial redevelopment strategy
Public policy analysis and program design
Comprehensive plan and ordinance development

Project delivery & grants:

Project management (multi-account delivery)
RFP / proposal writing and contract pursuit
Grant writing, administration, and EDA/EDA-type grant management
Grant reporting and compliance

Community engagement & communications:

Public presentations and Q&A at public meetings
Workshop and seminar facilitation (public and stakeholder workshops)
Event planning and large public event coordination
Written communications: reports, data narratives, magazine and newsletter copy

Technical & analytical:

Data analysis and translating findings into recommendations
Market analysis and pro forma (housing / development feasibility)
Development of custom databases and WordPress site coordination
QuickBooks bookkeeping and chart of accounts setup

Partnerships & stakeholder relations:

Convening multi-sector stakeholders (federal, state, municipal, private)
Coalition building across NGOs, academia, industry, and government
Experience with Opportunity Zones, broadband strategy, and infrastructure programs

Other:

Historic preservation review and regulatory board experience
Volunteer & internship program management
Familiarity with downtown revitalization frameworks (Main Street Four Point Approach®)

About

Organizational leader with deep experience at the intersection of public policy, economic development, and community engagement. Most recently a Senior Housing Specialist at Camoin Associates (2023–2025), Robert led multi-account housing strategy work for county and municipal clients nationwide—overseeing project teams, authoring data-driven reports, presenting findings to public audiences, and producing numerous RFP proposals. At the Greater Portland Council of Governments (2022–2023), he jump-started regional redevelopment conversations at the 150-acre former Sappi mill site, coordinating federal, state, municipal, and private stakeholders. As Program Director at the Maine Development Foundation (2017–2022), he led the FOR/Maine initiative and managed a $1.2M EDA-funded redevelopment effort supporting ten mill towns, while advising communities on Opportunity Zones, infrastructure grants, broadband strategy, workforce housing, and downtown revitalization. Earlier work includes consulting, municipal planning, and eight years as Assistant Director of Maine Preservation, where he managed budgets, fundraising, events, communications, and volunteer/intern programs.

Core strengths: strategic project leadership, community & stakeholder facilitation, grant & program management, economic redevelopment strategy, public presentation.

Education: M.P.P.M., Muskie School of Public Service (USM); B.A., Bates College; Senator George J. Mitchell Scholar.