Urban’s greatest asset is our people. We strive to attract and cultivate a vibrant, creative, and diverse community. Our employees drive Urban’s mission through entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, effective communication, results-orientation, and relationship cultivation. Our success depends on engaging individuals who possess and value these attributes.
Within the Urban Institute, the Research to Action Lab (The Lab) is an innovation hub serving decision makers and creative thinkers eager to effect social change. We draw on the breadth and depth of Urban’s research insights to test new strategies and develop cutting-edge tools, programs, and trainings, as well as to provide strategic and philanthropic advice to public, nonprofit, and private sector leaders. The Lab is currently seeking a dynamic and highly motivated principal policy associate to serve in a leading role in an initiative that fills knowledge gaps on how a range of “smart” technologies affect historically excluded populations. The initiative will also identify and support best practices for incorporating equity into local technology policy and planning.
What: The Principal Policy Associate will serve as the managing director for an initiative to explore ways that the private sector and local leaders can harness technology and innovation to advance mobility, equity, and inclusion in cities. This expert will be responsible for leading research and policy projects that inform such efforts in the public and private sectors, managing relationships with funders and external partners, and conceptualizing and developing new bodies of work pertaining to technology, equity, and inclusion. The principal policy associate will work closely with the Urban Institute’s chief innovation officer and research and policy leaders from across Urban research centers, and our data and technology and communications teams. Responsibilities:
- Propose evidence-based policy and program solutions that draw upon expertise within the Lab and across the Urban Institute
- Write substantive content for a range of products including research reports, briefs, blog posts, and other policy-related documents
- Coordinate product development and release in close partnership with Urban scholars and the communications team
- Manage relationships with external partners and stakeholders, including funders, local leaders, advocates, policymakers, social entrepreneurs and technologists
- Help develop projects and deliverables that respond to knowledge gaps and needs identified by local leaders; manage and cultivate relationships with internal researchers across Urban research centers
- Develop and execute an annual work plan for the initiative, including leading monthly team check-ins and quarterly leadership discussions
- Report on initiative progress, receiving and sharing feedback, identifying issues and challenges, and adapting work plan based on feedback, assessment tools and independent judgment
- Manage complex budgets and timelines and set plans, priorities, goals and quality control activities for projects
- Lead the planning and organizing of meetings and events with external stakeholders to share insights, build knowledge, uplift innovations and advance practice
- Possess a bachelor's degree with an advanced degree in urban planning, urban science, public policy, public administration or business strongly preferred and a strong background in urban policy and technology
- Thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment and bring diverse stakeholders together to develop and execute shared goals
- Lead or significantly contribute to multiple projects relating to the application of technology to urban policy challenges, including authoring products and assessing the outcomes and impacts of policy proposals and changes
- Understand and manage the application of complex research methodologies to analyze sophisticated, complex policy issues, and propose policy solutions
- Coordinate and work with researchers, local policymakers, and philanthropic and/or private sector leaders
- Conceptualize fundraising opportunities and new business development ideas which lead to new or expanded programs of work
- Demonstrate outstanding writing skills with an ability to translate/synthesize research into clear, comprehensible products that are accessible to non-technical audiences
- Exhibit exemplary project management and organizational skills, develop and manage detailed workplans and project budgets, ensure accuracy quality and timeliness of personal and team work products
- Advance multiple work streams while also responding to quick turnaround requests under tight deadlines
- Plan and help execute effective meetings of diverse stakeholders
- Utilize excellent oral communications skills, including an ability to communicate results effectively to policymakers and diverse stakeholders
- Display strong interpersonal skills with experience managing cross-organization collaborative projects and working in team environments
Find the posting and apply here.