Governance & Democracy Program Lead

Universities of Wisconsin • Madison, WI

2d • $65,000 - $75,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Mayors Innovation Project (MIP) seeks a Governance & Democracy Program Lead to serve, inform, grow, and strengthen our network of forward-thinking mayors. MIP is a national, nonpartisan peer learning network for US mayors that seeks to advance equity, sustainability, and responsive democratic governance in cities. We seek a mid-career individual with a deep commitment to public service to serve as our inaugural Governance & Democracy Program Lead. This individual will manage a portfolio of work that includes partnerships and programs that center race, gender, and authentic engagement, and lead leadership development work focused on newly elected mayors and women mayors. In addition, the individual will collaborate with our small team on routine, ongoing planning, outreach, and communications efforts that support the broader network. This is a unique opportunity to help shape local government policy and to support the next generation of local leaders. In this role, you will work directly with a small, established team and with our national Steering Committee of US mayors while directing and growing this piece of our program. The Governance & Democracy Program Lead will build and maintain relationships with US mayors in our network, design programs that strengthen the network, and help expand MIP’s reach and impact. This includes planning and facilitating peer-learning sessions, engaging mayors and former mayors to update and deliver our New Mayors Cohort curriculum, cultivating and strengthening relationships with national partners, participating in planning for our two annual meetings, and contributing to communications such as policy memos and blogs. The role reports to and works closely with the Managing Director to align outreach with MIP’s outreach and technical assistance, track engagement across cities, and identify new opportunities for program growth. MIP staff typically work onsite at UW-Madison. A hybrid work schedule is a possibility. Some national travel, approximately 2-4 times per year, is required. This position is a 1-year appointment with the possibility to be extended or converted to an ongoing appointment based on need and/or funding. MIP is based at the High Road Strategy Center (HRSC), a think tank based at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, which offers an opportunity to shape local and national policy while growing professionally in a vibrant university setting. The City of Madison, our hometown, is frequently ranked among the most livable cities in the U.S. UW-Madison was recently identified by Time as the 2nd best public university in the US and the 20th best university in the world, which creates a vibrant setting for HRSC’s work. HRSC offers a warm and supportive work environment, and as a UW-Madison employee, you will receive excellent benefits and retirement, flexibility to support work-life balance, along with opportunities for travel and professional development.

Requirements

• Working knowledge of municipal government policies, processes, and best practices, especially with respect to their structural impacts on race and gender equity
• Commitment to our “high road” framework of shared prosperity, environmental sustainability, and democratic governance
• Professionalism and comfort working with a wide range of partners, including local government officials
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build trust and rapport
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience facilitating meetings, coordinating partnerships, or engaging stakeholders that demonstrate strong relationship-building skills
• Ability to work independently, solve problems, and manage multiple tasks
• Bachelor’s degree in planning, public affairs, organizational leadership, public policy, or a related field Or a bachelor’s degree in another field plus relevant professional experience

Nice To Haves

• Experience working for or serving in local government
• Experience planning or delivering professional development opportunities and/or conferences
• Experience in coalition building, collective action, or network facilitation
• Experience with grant writing or fundraising, especially with private foundations
• Project management or strategic planning experience
• Master’s degree in planning, public affairs, organizational leadership, public policy, or a related field Or equivalent professional experience demonstrating advanced skills in the field

Responsibilities

• Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
• May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending
• Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
• Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers
• Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
• Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
• Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program

Benefits

• generous paid time off
• competitive insurance
• tax-advantaged savings accounts
• participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund
• flexibility to support work-life balance
• opportunities for travel and professional development

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees