Director, Inclusive Cities

HR&A Advisors•New York, NY

6d•$131,600 - $153,779

About The Position

HR&A, an employee-owned company, guides decision makers in cities, including mayors and agency heads, real estate owners and developers, and nonprofit leaders, to create impact when the stakes are high and the path forward isn't clear. We bring rigorous analysis and creative problem-solving to questions that don't have easy answers, combining data-driven and equity insights with a deep understanding of how cities function. Our work drives lasting impact by unlocking investment and expanding opportunities in communities. The Inclusive Cities studio leverages our deep understanding of government, knowledge of local and private economic forces, and analytical rigor to promote social and economic justice. Cities are where class, race, and geography converge — often to the exclusion of many of the communities that make them vibrant. We help translate the ideas of communities and their advocates into meaningful systems change to create more inclusive and thriving cities. Leveraging analytic rigor and robust civic engagement, we work with partners inside and outside government to disrupt the traditional processes of economic development, build greater civic influence for marginalized communities, increase accountability of local governments, and institutionalize mechanisms for more just and equitable cities. Examples of recent work in our studio include: Detroit Mayoral Transition — Led the most inclusive and rigorous mayoral transition in Detroit's history, supporting the city's first Black woman mayor with deep community engagement, equity-centered staff recruitment, and first-term governing plans to prepare the new administration to lead from day one. NYC Municipal Grocery Stores — Partnered with the Economic Security Project to develop an operational roadmap for New York City to launch the nation's first network of municipal grocery stores, a tangible, scalable win for the City's affordability agenda. Oakland People's Budget Coalition — Translated a community coalition's advocacy agenda into specific, actionable budget asks, helping secure City Council wins including restored funding for violence prevention and the arts, expanded affordable housing investment, and a first step toward police restructuring. To learn more about the Inclusive Cities studio and recent/current projects, visit http://bit.ly/HRAInclusiveCities. Reporting directly to the Head of the Inclusive Cities studio, the Director will manage Inclusive Cities projects in impactful ways that embody our values; develop new practice areas, projects, methodologies, and relationships; and serve as internal and external go-to for the practice. At HR&A, Directors manage multiple projects and business development efforts concurrently. Project timelines and scopes are highly variable and often span several weeks to several months, with Directors managing between three and six projects at a given time. They will be responsible for: Creating project work plans Managing project budgets Directing the analytical work of project teams Ensuring the quality and timeliness of deliverables Interfacing with clients Responsibilities of the Inclusive Cities Director will also include: Close partnership with the Partner on the growth, strategy, and concurrent priorities of the Inclusive Cities studio. Playing a critical role in incubating new lines of work, memorializing methodologies, training staff, and establishing the systems and structures that support HR&A's practices to scale. Support the growth of HR&A's Transition practice, helping newly elected city and county leaders design governing agendas across the practice's three pillars — community, policy, and talent. Support the growth of HR&A's Talent practice, running equitable, rigorous executive searches that recruit values-aligned, diverse leaders into local government, and designing onboarding processes that help them deliver on administration priorities. Serving as a leader in the Inclusive Cities practice by building key external and internal relationships and identifying new project types and services that support those on the front lines of making cities equitable and just. Representing HR&A and the Inclusive Cities practice externally at events, professional associations, and in networks. Training and mentoring staff across the firm, including in multiple offices. Engaging in internal firmwide activities that advance HR&A's commitment to anti-racism.

Requirements

Management and leadership experience in the public, private, or non-profit sector
Deep curiosity about the challenges facing cities today
Passion for equity and systems change
Commitment to leveraging the unique opportunities we are given to work closely with clients to help them accomplish their goals
Demonstrated ability to forge authentic relationships
8–12 years of experience in government, urban planning, economic development, real estate, housing, public policy, or related consulting fields.
Exceptional critical thinking skills
Deep curiosity about the challenges and opportunities of economic opportunity, quality of life, and the built environment
Commitment to proactively address and advance racial justice, equity, and anti-racism.
Strong background and/or foundation in public policy, economic development, city government, political campaigns, or nonprofit management
Experience in consulting or comparable client-facing functions in a relevant field and/or a leadership setting within a social justice-focused organization or local government agency such that they can demonstrate the ability to manage multiple projects at one time in ways that are impactful, adaptive, persuasive.
Experience managing fast-paced, collaborative project teams.
Substantial writing and presentation skills
Sufficient poise for direct client interaction
Mentorship capabilities
Ambitious and creative about new ways in which our firm’s knowledge and expertise can be deployed.

Responsibilities

Creating project work plans
Managing project budgets
Directing the analytical work of project teams
Ensuring the quality and timeliness of deliverables
Interfacing with clients
Close partnership with the Partner on the growth, strategy, and concurrent priorities of the Inclusive Cities studio.
Playing a critical role in incubating new lines of work, memorializing methodologies, training staff, and establishing the systems and structures that support HR&A's practices to scale.
Support the growth of HR&A's Transition practice, helping newly elected city and county leaders design governing agendas across the practice's three pillars — community, policy, and talent.
Support the growth of HR&A's Talent practice, running equitable, rigorous executive searches that recruit values-aligned, diverse leaders into local government, and designing onboarding processes that help them deliver on administration priorities.
Serving as a leader in the Inclusive Cities practice by building key external and internal relationships and identifying new project types and services that support those on the front lines of making cities equitable and just.
Representing HR&A and the Inclusive Cities practice externally at events, professional associations, and in networks.
Training and mentoring staff across the firm, including in multiple offices.
Engaging in internal firmwide activities that advance HR&A's commitment to anti-racism.