Strategy Associate (62019)

Graham Windham•New York, NY

11d•$75,000 - $75,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Graham provides life-changing tools and resources for children, young adults and families who face some of the most difficult obstacles caused by poverty, racial injustice, and lack of access to educational opportunities, living wage employment, quality healthcare, and affordable housing. We collaborate with communities and strong partners to create and implement innovative strategies so everyone can lead healthy, joyful, and successful lives. Reporting to the Chief Strategy and Program Officer, the Strategy Associate is a pivotal role primarily dedicated to strategic projects. This position blends high-level strategic planning with "on-the-ground" community co-design. You will be responsible for researching global best practices, facilitating group design sessions, and translating community-led ideas into viable pilot models and advocacy materials in partnership with other members of the Strategy, Development, and Performance & Planning teams at Graham.

Requirements

Action-Oriented Execution: Ability to operate efficiently and move projects from a "blank slate" to a finished implementation plan with high attention to detail.
Facilitation & Cultural Humility: Demonstrated ability to encourage participation across cultures and viewpoints, maintaining respect and equity in group settings.
Strategic Mindset: Proven ability to multitask between administrative tasks (taking notes/budgeting) and high-level strategy (researching international models).
Mission Alignment: A deep commitment to Graham’s mission and the vision of creating meaningful alternatives to the foster care system and other community-driven offerings and supports.
Master’s degree, discipline non-specific
At least 3 years’ experience in human services
Excellent written and verbal communications skills
Requires the ability to travel regularly throughout Brooklyn, Manhattan, and The Bronx.

Nice To Haves

Conversational Spanish preferred
Past experience in gathering, facilitating group work required
Microsoft Office Suite, CRM, and other technology skills a plus

Responsibilities

Co-Lead Co-Design Workgroups: In collaboration with others, design and execute group activities that bring together staff and community members to reimagine foster care alternatives and other opportunities for community-driven innovation.
Event Design: In collaboration with others, plan and help facilitate intensive co-design retreats and high-profile summits where pilot concepts are presented to stakeholders.
Research & Synthesis: Conduct global research on promising practices and synthesize findings into accessible materials that inform the leadership team’s decision-making.
Translate Insights: Move from listening and recording in workgroups to drafting tangible pilot implementation strategies, staffing models, and budgets.
Documentation & Precision: Manage the "back-end" of innovation by preparing meeting materials, capturing detailed notes, and ensuring all co-design outputs are accurately recorded.
Impact Measurement: Assist in developing evaluation plans and tools to measure the success and social impact of proposed pilots.
Budget Planning: Help update model budgets as pilots develop into full initiatives.
Staffing: Help develop job descriptions and support the hiring and onboarding process related to the new initiative.
Evaluating Success: In collaboration with initiative leadership and Program Performance and Planning, support the assessment of what is working well and opportunities for initiative evolution.
Support with Iteration: In collaboration with initiative leadership, develop plans in support of strategic initiative evolution.
Codifying Initiatives: Help document processes and practices and develop manuals that will support initiative replication.
Knowledge Sharing: Help research and write articles to share Graham’s models and co-creation approach with the human services sector.
Policy Support: Attend internal advocacy and external lobbyist meetings as available to ensure co-design outcomes are reflected in Graham’s policy agenda.
Drafting & Influence: In collaboration with Development and Advocacy, create compelling letters and advocacy materials that push for the systemic changes identified during the co-design process, as well as other initiatives that are grounded in trust-building and community support.
External Representation: Travel across Brooklyn, Manhattan, and The Bronx as well as other locations to engage with diverse community viewpoints and build external partnerships.