Network Associate, City and Community Development

ABOUT THE ORGANIZAITON

Founded in 1991, Living Cities is a collaborative of prominent foundations and financial institutions. We foster transformational relationships across sectors to connect leaders, stakeholders, and policy influencers committed to closing racial income and wealth gaps in America’s cities. We 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. Our staff, investments, convenings, and networks support efforts that operationalize racial equity and inclusion in local government, create inclusive narratives, bring communities together to strategically address systemic racial inequities and build wealth for all communities through specific tactical pathways, such as entrepreneurship, homeownership, and access to capital.

The Closing the Gaps (CTG) Network, a foundational initiative for Living Cities, is a long-term community of practice of city and community leaders from across the country that are committed to racial equity and an inclusive economy. Living Cities’ CTG Network team supports these leaders and staff in their efforts to develop racial equity and inclusion competencies and influence and implement practices, processes, and policies that advance racial wealth equity. The CTG Network sits in the City and Community Engagement (CCE) team that manages Living Cities’ programmatic work and engagement with city leaders. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is committed to racial justice and wants to work on a collaborative team addressing structural inequities through local government.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is committed to racial justice and wants to work on a collaborative team addressing structural inequities through local government.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Network Associate will support the Closing the Gaps Network in coordination with the Assistant Director and other colleagues. Under general supervision, the Network Associate will conduct activities to advance the priorities of the CTG Network management strategy and that will strengthen the team’s engagement with its city partners.

Primary functions may include:

• Collecting and maintaining data and information about Network cities, including in client management system Salesforce, and ensuring that the information can be easily accessed for a range of purposes across Living Cities, including grant reports, site visits, and board member engagement;
• Maintaining an understanding of Network cities, their history, current situations, and their interactions with Living Cities;
• Keeping abreast of current events or trends that may impact cities’ ability to advance their racial equity efforts;
• Developing and maintaining a catalog of CTG’s technical assistance tools and maintain the tracking and sharing of these resources to CTG and other cities;
• Creating briefs, presentations, and updates for both internal staff and external partners
• Contributing to the management of an on-line community platform
• Conduct administrative and practical activities in support of the CTG Network including, but not limited to:
  • Assisting with the planning, coordination, and facilitation of virtual convenings and in person events, such as conferences and site visits; o Documenting direct engagement with cities in client relationship management database (currently, Salesforce);
  • Contributing to reports, blog posts, and other written media to amplify Network success stories and to share learnings;
  • Contributing to the identification of community members and organizations with whom Living Cities may want to engage with or partner;
  • Contributing to team learning in collecting, synthesizing, and sharing lessons from city engagements;
  • Contributing to the building and managing of critical city relationships;
  • Contributing to the program design and initiatives of the CTG Network; and
  • Supporting the City and Community Engagement team and other projects to help achieve Living Cities’ overall goals and vision.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:

Interpersonal Skills:

• Develop and maintain productive relationships, centering humanity and inclusion
• Maintain a growth mindset to both accept and provide adjusting feedback
• Engage and listen effectively, both in person and in virtual environments
• Strategically and appropriately use various methods of communication to convey ideas and contribute constructively

Collaboration:

• Value different perspectives to achieve shared goals and identify opportunities to seek them out
• Share relevant information with managers, team members, external partners and stakeholders
• Demonstrate accountability to team members

Racial Equity and Inclusion (REI):

• Possess foundational knowledge and core concepts of racial equity
• Embrace and demonstrate humility, empathy and compassion
• Have an awareness of self and others
• Have a willingness to learn and apply REI history, and an interest in infusing REI practice and analysis in work and support others across the organization

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• A four-year degree and four years of work experience in a related role or field, or relatable and equivalent experience
• Demonstrated ability to read and synthesize information
• Demonstrated experience with providing clear communication, both verbally and in written form
• Demonstrated experience prioritizing and managing a variety of projects
• Comfortable working within a team with a results-driven approach.
• Proficiency in MS 365 products and/or Google applications and with virtual platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom
• Experience with municipal government systems and functions is desirable

SALARY

Salary is commensurate with experience, location, background and follows our internal compensation strategy. The range for this position is DC $67,000 – $70,000 / NYC $71,825 – $76,050

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

None

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This job operates in a professional office environment, based out of Living Cities’ Washington, DC or New York City office. Currently, Living Cities offers a hybrid work schedule; staff are expected to report to their respective home office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and as needed for organizational events, functions, or other needs.

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.

As much of our work is performed on a computer, an employee must be able to remain in a position that allows them to do so effectively. Additionally, they may require some movement around the office to access files or other equipment or technology. As collaboration and communication are a large part of our work, the employee must also be able to accurately exchange information in these situations.

We will work with each employee to provide reasonable accommodations as needed.

TRAVEL

Occasional travel is required, potentially one to three times a quarter, to different locations across the United States and between our office locations.

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 prohibits 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.

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.