Vice President, Policy, and Applied Research

Purpose: Lead the development, planning, implementation and evaluation of Prosperity Now’s policy and applied research agendas and key policy and research initiatives; represent Prosperity Now ’s policy and applied research agenda to a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders, ensuring integration across Prosperity Now ’s work; partner with Development staff to ensure a pipeline of funding opportunities for this work; function as an active member of Prosperity Now ’s senior leadership staff with the goal of supporting the performance and impact of the entire organization.

Accountability: Reports to the President and CEO

Responsibilities:

• Stewards and supports the successful execution of Prosperity Now’s enterprise-wide strategy particularly in areas that leverage Prosperity Now’s core competencies as an intermediary that equips local and national leaders and organizations to develop, adopt and/or scale high-impact solutions that address racial/ethnic economic inequity; convenes and mobilizes the field to drive systems change; and influences local, state, and national dialogue and action that lead to better economic outcomes in communities of color.
• Lead a collaborative process to define and articulate Prosperity Now ’s policy and research agendas, engaging staff, and senior leadership and engendering buy-in around vision, strategy, execution, and alignment.
• Lead strategy and work planning efforts for the Policy and Research Team; work with team Directors and staff to ensure strengthening of policy and research efforts and successful implementation of team projects and initiatives; ensure alignment of team’s work with Prosperity Now ’s overall business, programmatic and financial models.
• Identify and leverage promising policy and research opportunities; proactively and systematically engage with staff across the organization to ensure ongoing tactical and strategic integration of policy and research insights and priorities into capacity-building efforts, program design, market support and intervention, and advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Serve as a key member of the Prosperity Now Leadership Team as well as an organizational spokesperson, presenting, analyzing, translating, case-making, and movement-building to new and existing audiences.
• Enable and provide strategic oversight to outreach to legislators, state-specific organizations, and policymakers at the federal, state, and local levels;
• Serve as a key organizational spokesperson, presenting, analyzing, translating, case-making, and movement-building to new and existing audiences.
• Collaborate on the continuous evolution and strengthening of the Scorecard, partnering with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to increase the value, visibility, and impact of one of Prosperity Now ’s key flagship products.
• Work closely with the Development team to advance and provide stewardship for new and existing relationships, potential engagements, and other funding opportunities.
• Maintain accountability for effective project and budget management.
• Provide leadership, coaching and mentoring for research and policy team members; encourage team’s continued professional development and growth.
• Other duties as assigned.

• 10 years of experience in the discipline; or a master’s and eight (8) years of which at least two years were at an Associate Director level or the equivalent.
• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, economics, public policy, public administration, city and regional planning, law, or other related field
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and supporting the growth, performance, and retention of an inclusive workforce.
• Experience as a high-level organizational spokesperson; exceptional verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
• Substantive federal and/or state policy knowledge in asset building, taxation, budget, banking, retirement, economic development, or small business development
• Direct legislative experience at the federal level; state and local advocacy experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrable ability to translate research into policy and practice applications; hands-on research experience, to include analysis, reports, and publications in applied and market research and traditional policy research strongly preferred.
• Demonstrable staff management ability, including coaching, teambuilding, and performance management.
• Strong project management and business analysis skills required. Demonstrable ability to plan project scope and details, and to set priorities and guide investments in people and systems.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with an ability to create resilient relationships, engender trust and work collaboratively.
• Fundraising experience preferred.

Work Environment : Remote work and occasional in-office environment. This job operates in a professional home workspace or office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. This job description is subject to change at any time.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate and exchange information. The employee frequently is required to remain in a stationary position and constantly operate computer and other office productivity machinery.

Travel: 20%

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary range: $157,692 - $252,308

Prosperity Now does not sponsor applicants for any kind of work visas.

Prosperity Now is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that diversity of background and perspective are strengths, and seek to continue to grow a diverse, highly committed, skilled, and collaborative staff. We encourage candidates from various backgrounds to apply.