Director, Place-Based Strategies

Title: Director, Place-Based Strategies
Reports to: Senior Strategic Advisor
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary Range: $80,728 - $90,819
Location: Remote
Tentative Start Date: As Soon As Possible
About Race Forward Race Forward's mission is to catalyze movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial democratic society free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.
Since 1981, Race Forward has brought a systemic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues to help people take effective action toward racial equity. In 2017 Race Forward united with the Center for Social Inclusion to become the new Race Forward.
Employment at Race Forward is contingent upon a new employee submitting on their start date: (1) proof they are up-to-date on their vaccinations; or (2) an application for an approved exemption as an accommodation due to: (i) a medical reason; (ii) a sincerely held religious belief; or (iii) other exemption recognized by applicable state law. Up-to-date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines. Employees may request an accommodation in good faith without fear of retaliation. Accommodations will be granted where they do not cause Race Forward an undue hardship, pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others, or prevent an employee from performing the essential functions of the employee's job. Exemption application forms are available from Human Resources at .
About Race Forward's Place-Based Strategies Race Forward's Place-Based Strategy bridges the efforts of community stakeholders and public institutions to produce collaborative governing power and results that are strong enough to deliver on the promise of a multi-racial democracy.
We do this by:
1) BUILDING. Building knowledge, sharing new tools and skills, and developing strategies for advancing racial justice.
2) ORGANIZING. Helping partners build solidarity, institutionalize practices that center communities of color, and grow their influence/power to shape governance systems and drive desired results.
3) CONVERGING. Leveraging the power of intersecting institutions, coalitions, and partners to develop transformative solutions rooted in systems change.
Our core work involves partnering with local stakeholders to assess opportunities for targeted impact and scope specific strategies that can advance change efforts in alignment with Race Forward's theory of change. We also seek to capture lessons learned and key insights gleaned from these engagements to contribute to the growth of the wider field of racial justice practitioners. We believe local success lays the groundwork to drive translocal spread and impact.
Position Summary The Director for Place-Based Strategies (PBS) is responsible for playing a key role on Race Forward's Place-Based Strategies team. The Director will drive implementation and track progress of operations inside and across multiple local site engagements, with which Race Forward has scoped partnerships for local impact to advance racial equity outcomes.
Under the leadership of the Senior Strategic Advisor, who drives development and scope of site engagements and other projects, the central work for this role includes ensuring successful partnerships with local stakeholders that produce dynamic results aligned to shared goals. This means excellent project management of scoped engagements, identifying and deploying prospective tools and interventions to help drive impact, problem-solving and navigating unforeseen challenges, documentation of key insights and lessons learned, and fostering connections for knowledge and power building.
The ideal candidate will bring a strong historical understanding of structural racism, great program management and organizational skills, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, effective written and verbal communication skills, and a passion for making real-world impact. Candidates should also be able to analyze the current cultural and political contexts, innovations in racial justice strategies, and regional and local systems of power. Applicants with community organizing, public sector, and/or civic policy or engagement experiences that have centered building trusting relationships with community organizations and leaders of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
This role is great for those looking to bring theory into practice, be creative in working through challenges, bridge relationships across lines of difference, and share lessons to help local leaders drive greater impact across the country.
Duties and Responsibilities Lead scoping processes to analyze needs, identify shared goals, develop work plans, and establish metrics of success for local site engagements. Project manage activities, outputs, and results of portfolio of site engagements and other department projects. This includes problem-solving (with support if needed) conflicts, issues, and unforeseen obstacles as they arise. Coordinate activities and inputs of partners, stakeholders, and resources to ensure they align and advance desired goals and objectives. Provide tools and program interventions to build collective power, bold racial justice vision and emergent strategy to transform sector partners to achieve their goals. Facilitate meetings with partners and Race Forward staff to advance projects and co-design convenings, conferences, or in-person workshops with the support of the Race Forward team. Report on progress, information, and insights for development of case studies. This includes organizing and amplifying stories, emerging solutions, key challenges and learnings to share with the broader field. Manage consultants and affiliate trainers. This includes scoping costs, monitoring work progress, trouble-shooting issues, and facilitating payment processing. Engage and collaborate with appropriate Race Forward program departments and staff to develop key program components that respond to articulated needs within the site communities Contribute insights and ideas for the creation of new tools, practices, and strategies that work to embody the values that guide our work and our vision for racial justice and transformation. Manage designated budgets, forecast resource needs of sites, and contribute to regular reporting of spending and activities. Inform the development of annual work plans and multi-year planning, including goal setting, budgeting and performance metrics for each distinct site and across sites. Additional program duties as assigned Knowledge, Skills and Abilities The following skills are needed to perform successfully in this role:
Ability to implement and manage the daily logistical demands across multiple geographical sites and time zones, all possessing a unique set of priorities and expectations for Race Forward's role in their collective efforts. Ability to be strategic toward advancing racial equity goals in a manner that delivers clear results and utilizing a power-building process for communities of color. Knowledge of the history and field of racial justice efforts nationally and/or locally and concepts of structural racism. Understanding of dynamics of local and regional movement building and c ommunity organizing. Strong relational skills that bridge across race, ethnicity, gender, class, language, region and cultural practices. Highly collaborative. Promotes and embodies racial solidarity and pro-Blackness. Awareness of current developments, tactics, trends and prominent issues, innovations and dilemmas in the field of racial justice nationally, but especially within key sectors such as government, and as identified locally by the tables, coalitions and networks we support. A combination of strong creative, empathetic, analytic and strategic-thinking and the ability to apply these assets to our work. Possess a strong analysis of structural racism and its relationship to a vision for multiracial democracy, racial justice and transformation of our society. Qualifications and Experience At least 6 years of experience in program management and/or demonstrated ability to juggle multiple tasks, track and report progress and work in deep collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. At least 6 years' experience collectively in: strategy/policy development, facilitation of learning/ capacity-building, program or curricular design, or community organizing Extensive experience working in multiracial settings that seek racial justice, leaderfulness and strengthen democratic practice. Proactive, self-directed, able to multi-task effectively and to make strategic adjustments to programs and interventions on the ground, as necessary. Strong verbal and written communication skills appropriate for email communications, project reporting, drafting case studies and project narratives. Experience managing travel logistics, scheduling across multiple groups and coordination of large meetings - both virtually and in-person. Proficiency in Google Suite, Microsoft Office applications, Zoom, SalesForce, Canva and project management tools such as Asana and confidence with emerging platforms that can enhance our work. Additional Information Working remotely which includes long periods of computer monitor use, including video conferencing. Plane, train and car travel. Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% time to seed and deepen partner relationships and to coordinate and facilitate convenings. How to Apply External Applicants: To apply for this position, please click the link below. To ensure full consideration, please be sure to include both a cover letter and resume with your application.
Reasonable Accommodation Statement Race Forward is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Race Forward will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at .
EEO Statement Race Forward provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) 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.