About PolicyLink

PolicyLink is a national research and action institute advancing racial and economic equity by Lifting Up What Works®. We are dedicated to improving the lives of the 100 million people in America who live in or near poverty, particularly those facing the barriers of structural racism. We are currently working remotely. Please visit our website at: www.policylink.org.

Position Overview

This position, available immediately, is an exciting opportunity to join the staff at PolicyLink. PolicyLink is seeking a Senior Civic Engagement Strategist to support Sustainable Cities for All (“SC4A”), a program designed to cultivate community-driven partnerships with city governments and local elected leaders to advance racial wealth equity and climate-related outcomes for Black populations. The Senior Civic Engagement Strategist’s role provides leadership and facilitation for a cohort of five to seven cities.

Sustainable Cities for All is a national initiative that invests in transformational local solutions at the intersection of climate change and racial wealth equity by strengthening the capacity of relationships between cities and communities to co-create and implement solutions. The initiative will prioritize deep investment over four years in 25 cities with significant Black populations and high levels of climate vulnerability and racial wealth inequity. PolicyLink serves as the lead partner for SC4A and will coordinate the efforts of national, regional, and local partners to implement the portfolio of community engagements.

The Senior Civic Engagement Strategist will have leadership responsibilities overseeing a regional cohort in one of four US regions (Southeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, all others). Each regional team will have 15 to 20 full-time, cross-sector positions staffed from multiple partners participating in SC4A. The Senior Civic Engagement Strategist serves as a critical point of coordination, information sharing, and coaching across their region. Please note that this is a three-year, termed position.

This position is a three-year termed position with the possibility of being renewed, dependent on funding and program needs.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all local engagement for cities within the regional cohort, ensuring effective communication, coordination, and partnerships with stakeholders within cities and across the region.
• Manage day-to-day communications to support shared understanding, effective program delivery, and internal trust.
• Establish and maintain relationships with local leaders, community-based organizations, activists, and other stakeholders to drive change at the intersection of climate change and racial wealth equity.
• Collaborate with cities, community-based organizations, local partners, and embedded program staff to identify local technical assistance needs and make recommendations for funding to community-based organizations and other local partners to support capacity and local implementation.
• Interface with policy, technical, and community-based strategists, and subject-matter experts, with an emphasis on racial wealth equity and climate, to ensure necessary support and alignment for initiatives within the region.
• Anticipating challenges, proactive oversight, and troubleshooting.
• Interface with local leaders, community-based organizations, and other local stakeholders as needed.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with embedded city innovation team (i-team) staff and regional i-team advisors to facilitate proactive community/city communications, strategy development, and problem solving.

Skills, Abilities , and Knowledge Required

• A politically astute leader with the ability to set clear priorities, delegate, and advise cross-sector, multipartner teams.
• Keen analytic, organization, and problem-solving skills, which support and enable sound decision-making.
• Strong coalition-building skills with an ability to communicate and work effectively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Experience Qualifications

• A minimum of seven years of experience in community engagement, organizing, or field roles within union, nonprofit, electoral, or government settings.
• Experience working with community-based organizations and/or other frontline organizations that serve communities.
• Experience training, supporting, or managing staff in a community engagement capacity.
• Commitment to racial justice.

Additional Candidate Characteristics

• Ability to travel approximately 25% of the time.
• Able to manage a constantly evolving landscape, and shift priorities accordingly.
• Passionate about work at the intersection of racial wealth equity and climate change, advancing approaches to community co-creation, and developing strategies to mitigate extraction and harm.
• Sense of humor and a passion for prioritizing joy.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $90,000-$110,000 based on the experience.

Additionally, PolicyLink provides an excellent and comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, 401k match, ancillary benefits, access to Flexible Spending Accounts, commuter expenses, and generous leave benefits.

To Apply

We accept online applications only.

No phone calls please. Only those selected to participate in our hiring process will be contacted.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT

PolicyLink strongly values equity and believes in a just and fair society where all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. We work towards a more inclusive world and as such we are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. PolicyLink is committed to maintaining a diverse and multicultural working environment.

“Proof of eligibility to work in the United States must be provided if selected for hire.”

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