Program Director, Economic Opportunity And Financial Empowerment

THE OPPORTUNITY

The National League of Cities is an organization based in Washington, D.C. comprised of city, town, and village leaders across the country who are focused on improving the quality of life for their current and future constituents. With over 90 years of dedication to the strength, health, and advancement of local governments, NLC has gained the trust and support of more than 2,000 cities, towns, and villages across the nation. Together, our mission is to strengthen local leadership, influence federal policy and drive innovative solutions. To learn more about our guiding principles .click here.

POSITION SUMMARY

Consistent with the mission, vision, and values of the National League of Cities, oversee the day-to-day operations of projects in NLC’s Economic Opportunity and Financial Empowerment (EOFE) portfolio. Collaborate with the Director to manage the development of new initiatives, oversee programming that furthers program goals, and generate member growth and diversity, integrating and aligning program efforts with overall NLC strategies. Serve as the in-house thought leader in Economic Opportunity and Financial Empowerment topics.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Program Strategy, Design, and Administration
   • Participate in developing short- and long-term strategic plans for the EOFE program in collaboration with the director that promotes, grows, and extends program goals and agendas in alignment with overall EOFE and NLC strategies and initiatives.
   • Propose new programs, outreach efforts, and member engagement initiatives in alignment with the NLC mission, current organizational goals, and member city needs. Ensure consistency and continuity among programs, resolving discrepancies or conflicts between programs as required.
   • Oversee the development of publications, tools and resources on topics related to Economic Opportunity and Financial Empowerment to support the administration of programs with member cities. Respond to general inquiries and requests for assistance from NLC member cities, state municipal leagues, and other interested organizations.
   • Develop and implement work plans with staff assignments, timelines, and milestones to guide the implementation of EOFE initiatives.
2. Partnerships and Sponsorship
   • Identify and facilitate the formation of key partnerships with member cities, government officials, and other key stakeholders to generate collaboration in alignment with program goals and mobilize policy efforts.
   • Meet with senior officials in NLC, state municipal leagues, and external partners at other nonprofits and universities to understand the current landscape of city strategies and structures and forge partnerships to help further program efforts. Identify opportunities to draw upon these partnerships to broaden the resources available to municipal leaders in NLC member cities.
   • Connect and strategize with external partners, advanced city leaders, and city staff to contribute Economic Opportunity and Financial Empowerment content to programs. Encourage, support, and publicize commitments by NLC members and partners in furthering program advocacy and goals.
   • Build internal support for EOFE programs with other NLC divisions/departments. Collect their input on effectively supporting program agendas and goals within the organization.

• Develop grant proposals to sustain and expand services for EOFE programs in collaboration with the Director. Solicit funding for proposals, identify potential funders for proposed programs and cultivate relationships with key representatives in those organizations. Finalize and submit proposals to funders for approval.
• Manage the fulfillment of and compliance with grant agreements. Develop processes, procedures, and timelines that govern the delivery of grant data, financial reports, program narratives, and other information to funders as outlined in grant agreements.
• Manage relationships with program officers, grant administrators, and other staff at foundations that provide program funding. Prepare, provide, and present executive summaries and detailed reports to NLC leadership and grant providers for ongoing programs as needed.
• Monitor and oversee the use of grant funding. Ensure that available funds are fully utilized and that all grant expenditures are consistent with approved budgets.

• Develop and deploy technical assistance, marketing, and communications initiatives that foster program goals. Monitor progress and provide reports on program results.
• Provide guidance and support to city leaders and staff on Economic Opportunity and Financial Empowerment through direct communication, city convenings, and other communications.
• Guide the development of toolkits and other publications for city leaders to grow their capability to implement strategies focused on improving the economic well-being of residents.
• Plan the development of program-specific content for conferences and meetings. Make speeches and presentations to diverse audiences and otherwise represent NLC at events. Leverage these opportunities to build new partnerships and strengthen existing collaborations with city leaders, foundations, corporate funders, and other stakeholders.

• Provide thought leadership on the development of innovative solutions to problems confronting city leaders related to Economic Opportunity and Financial Empowerment.
• Identify new and emerging opportunities for exploration to shape the direction of future NLC programs.
• Lead efforts to collect best practice information to produce meaningful, actionable recommendations for city policy makers in assigned programs.
• Oversee the compilation of best practices to support the development of technical assistance, communications, and learning. Publish results in internal and external media publications, present key information at relevant conferences, and otherwise socialize key information with appropriate stakeholders.
• Serve as a resource on relevant issues to other NLC staff and departments.

• Define and establish measures to evaluate the achievement of program strategies and goals. Use membership data and analytics to track and evaluate the impact of ongoing programs.
• Solicit and incorporate feedback from cities and other stakeholders on EOFE programming to ensure that programming is effective and meet their needs. Recommend changes to improve the effectiveness of programs based on program results, member city feedback, and changes in city needs/requirements.
• Collect data and review progress on the overall growth and success of EOFE programs. Provide feedback and reports to program leadership regarding the success or failure of particular programs.

• Supervise, guide, and direct the efforts of assigned staff members to plan and complete the necessary work in support of overall program strategies. Define individual work goals, expectations, priorities, and measures for success.
• Serve as a mentor and coach for staff, providing knowledge and technical expertise in the EOFE program area. Plan and deliver professional development to staff based on their current work assignments and long-term career goals.
• Perform functions typically associated with managing and leading others, including performance management, recruitment and selection, and compensation and policy administration.

8. Perform other duties and lead special projects as assigned

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 8 years of practical experience in the program area, or Master’s degree in a related field and 6 years of practical experience in the program area (Master’s degree preferred)
• At least 3 years of experience leading the planning, implementation, and/or administration of a non-profit program
• Possesses required technical knowledge within assigned program areas (refer to specific qualifications below)
• Experience drafting/writing program documentation, grant proposals, and management reports
• Ability to interact effectively with members, representatives of other organizations, elected officials, consultants and all levels of NLC staff
• Experience working in and with city government is preferred
• MS Office skills (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
• Public speaking experience

NLC Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access

• NLC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons and to prohibiting discrimination because of race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, status as a veteran, or any other protected status and/or conditions specified in federal and local civil rights law.
• NLC strives to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences enable us to be a better team that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers results.
• NLC will take steps to ensure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations accordingly if a 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.

Vaccination Requirements: This position requires proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 prior to the first date of employment, subject to applicable law. If you are offered employment, this requirement must be met by your date of hire unless a reasonable accommodation request is received and approved.

Work Location: This hybrid position is based in Washington, DC, and requires three days on-site at our NLC headquarters.

Our Benefits:

• Competitive benefits and retirement package
• Generous paid time off and holidays
• Hybrid work environment
• Professional Development