ABOUT LIVING CITIES

Founded in 1991, Living Cities is a collaborative of 19 of the world’s largest foundations and financial institutions. They foster transformational relationships across sectors to connect those willing to do the hard work of closing racial income and wealth gaps.

Together, they partner with cross-sector leaders in cities across the country to imagine and create an America in which all people are economically secure, building wealth and living abundant, dignified, and connected lives.

Living Cities staff, investments, convenings, and networks support efforts that operationalize racial equity and inclusion in local government, change problematic narratives, bring communities together to devise and act on a shared vision for the future and eliminate inequities in systems such as entrepreneurship, homeownership, and access to capital.

Living Cities’ core values—the ones they believe are fundamental to the organization’s success in achieving its mission—are collaboration, innovation, leadership, impact, and racial equity and inclusion. These organizational values guide their everyday decisions about how, why, and what they do.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Living Cities has been on an organizational journey to become racial equity centered for several years. They realize that to address systemic racism externally; they must also talk about, understand, and address inequities internally. The Associate Director will play a significant role in guiding the organization through this evolution. They will help lead and facilitate the work and ensure racial equity and justice principles are embedded in Living Cities’ culture, practices, policies, and values.

THE POSITION

The Associate Director, Talent & Organizational Development will report to the Chief Operating Officer ( or Chief Executive Officer on an interim basis), manage a Senior Associate, and partner with senior leadership to create and implement talent, culture, and organizational strategies that are racial equity centered and aligned with Living Cities’ mission and values.

This pivotal role will ensure that employees are engaged, prepared, high-performing, and operating in an environment where they can do their best work and thrive. The Associate Director will design and deliver policies, processes, and programs to attract, develop, motivate, and retain top talent to enable Living Cities to achieve its strategic objectives and make a meaningful impact.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Management and Culture

· Serve as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to the executive leadership team and staff on all talent and culture matters

· Lead, advise, and provide consultation on CORE (Colleagues Operationalizing Racial Equity) across the organization

· Develop, lead, and ensure a high-performing Talent and Organizational Development function and team

· Drive employer brand

· Vision and design all staff events, such as training, retreats, and organization-wide meetings and gatherings

· Plan, develop, and manage the organizational talent budget

Talent Management and Organizational Development

· Lead all strategic and operational aspects of talent management, including planning, acquisition, development, employee relations, retention, compensation, and benefits

· Design and deliver mission-aligned talent management strategies, programs, and practices with a racial equity lens

· Build performance management systems, processes, and organizational capabilities, including implementing annual and quarterly reviews, team health checks, and spot surveys on staff sentiment

· Train and coach performance managers in supervisory skills, including giving/receiving feedback, staff coaching, performance reviews, and work planning

· Oversee staff professional development; create and maintain systems for identifying strengths/gaps in talent and devise strategies to strengthen and build staff and leadership capability internally and externally

· Formalize and institute practices and programs for talent retention, promotion, and leadership succession; foster a culture that facilitates career progression; and support employees with goal setting, training, and professional development for their respective roles and promotional opportunities with a racial equity lens

· Ensure talent management best practices, EEO/regulatory compliance, employee handbook, and HR records/systems

· Ensure that compensation and benefits programs and structures align with Living Cities’ strategic objectives and the talent marketplace; lead and administer annual salary reviews

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AND ATTRIBUTES

Experience:

· SPHR or SHRM Certification is preferred

· Ten-plus years of progressively responsible broad-based Talent and Organizational Development experience, which includes staff leadership and management

· Experience leading racial equity and inclusion or organizational change work

· Experience designing, developing, and supporting talent management programs, including talent planning, development, acquisition, performance management, succession planning, retention, and total rewards

· Track record of developing and implementing organizational systems, analytical tools, metrics, and processes to optimize talent and performance

· Knowledge of Federal, State, and regional employment laws and ability to translate to employee policies

The ideal candidate will have:

· A deep commitment and passion for Living Cities’ mission

· Exceptional communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills

· Excellent relationship skills with a demonstrated ability to partner and work effectively with people across an organization

· Excellent leadership skills with the ability to be a strategist and hands-on executor

· Strong analytical skills and problem-solving ability

· Intense work ethic

· Intellectual curiosity

· Emotional intelligence

· Maturity and sound judgment

· A good sense of humor and teamwork

COMPETENCIES

· Racial Equity and Inclusion

• Foundational Knowledge and Core Concepts
• REI Practice and Analysis
• Empathy and Compassion
• Awareness of Self and Others

· Talent/OD Expertise

· Service & Results Delivery

• Driving Results
  • Establishing accountability
  • Problem-solving/working to solutions
  • Leveraging and building processes and systems
• Organizational Acumen
• Learning and Synthesis
  • Institutional knowledge building
  • Data-informed decision making
  • Knowledge sharing

Leadership & Strategy

• Direction Setting
  • Strategic visioning
  • Facilitation and Convening
• Shaping Change
  • Ability to foster new perspectives and approaches
  • Adaptability
  • Influence

· Relationship Building

• Collaboration
  • Coaching and developing colleagues
  • Giving and receiving feedback
  • Conflict engagement
  • Network weaving
• Communication
  • Writing, speaking, storytelling
• Listening

COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

The target salary range for this position is $143,000-$155,000 (experience and locality are considered when determining a salary offer), along with a comprehensive benefits package.

Living Cities utilizes a hybrid work model and requires staff to split their time working in an office and remotely.

This position can be based in the organization’s New York, NY, or Washington, DC office.

Some travel is expected, primarily local and during the business day, and occasionally out-of-the-area and overnight trips.

AAP/EEO POLICY STATEMENT

Living Cities is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive team at all levels. We are an equal opportunity employer and provide opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Fisher Associates has been retained to lead this search exclusively. For additional information about the opportunity, please contact:

LISA FISHER

Principal lfisher@lafsearch.net www.lafsearch.net