About PolicyLink
PolicyLink is a national research and action institute advancing racial and economic equity by Lifting Up What Works®. We are dedicated to improving the lives of the 100 million people in America who live in or near poverty, particularly those facing the barriers of structural racism. We are currently working remotely. Please visit our website at: www.policylink.org.
Position Overview
This position, available immediately, is an exciting opportunity to join the staff at PolicyLink. PolicyLink is seeking an Infrastructure Equity Senior Fellow position to leverage key professional experiences at the intersection of government and community transformation work in order to advance equitable practices and outcomes in cities and communities. This position will provide strategic policy, technical assistance and campaign support to PolicyLink’s cross cutting Infrastructure Equity, Water and Climate and Winning on Equity in Places portfolios.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Water Equity and Climate Resilience (WECR)
Water Program
- Water Affordability for All Campaign: Support implementation of PolicyLink’s Water Affordability for All Campaign. This includes designing and refining implementation strategies and deliverables; directly supporting implementation efforts; facilitating or co-facilitating conversations with WECR members; and other support requested by the WECR Director.
- Equitable SRF Implementation: Advise and support on PolicyLink’s equitable SRF implementation efforts, including federal engagement, state SRF program engagement (specifically on the Southern SRF Analysis and Advocacy project), and coordination on SRF-related strategies with PolicyLink partner organizations.
- WECR Federal Policy Agenda Building and Advocacy Efforts: Advise and support PolicyLink efforts to build out a 2024 (and beyond) WECR federal policy agenda.
- WECR Federal Policy Cohort support/Making federal policy advocacy more accessible: Advise on (and help develop) trainings beneficial to the WECR Caucus inaugural federal policy cohort and to all WECR Caucus members interested in increasing their engagement in federal policy advocacy.
- Support to Water and Climate Team: Provide support to WECR Director and other members of the Water and Climate Equity team as requested, including regular 1-1 strategy calls and program/project implementation support.
California and Puerto Rico
- California Place-Based Work: Support the development of PolicyLink's water and climate equity programming in California work including overall advising and engaging on specific regional and statewide California policy, program, and coalition building efforts.
- Puerto Rico: Support Water and Infrastructure Equity teams in engaging lead water and climate justice advocacy groups in Puerto Rico as part of the WECR; identify key federal water equity and advocacy priorities that could be supported through PolicyLink’s federal,water and place based programming
Infrastructure Equity and Sustainable Cities:
- Support Place-Based Equitable TA Coordination: Partner with our Infrastructure Equity and Winning in Equity in Places teams to support coordination and alignment nationally with federal technical assistance to ensure frontline communities and relevant local geographies in PolicyLink’s place-based portfolio have access to technical assistance for infrastructure project development. Additionally, partner with PL Staff to determine if there is a need for a TA provider(s) to be on contract for PolicyLink’s in-place geographies and support the PolicyLink team with potential next steps.
- Actively Participate in the Development and Coordination of PolicyLink’s Technical Assistance Kitchen Cabinet: As needed support further visioning and design work to maximize the impact of our internal Equity TA Kitchen Cabinet in alignment with key coalitions and organizational partners, including CDX, Communities First, NDRC, Emerald Cities, MIT and other relevant partners.
- Support the development of a TA Map and Resource List in alignment with our internal TA Kitchen Cabinet: Complete the curated mapping and resource list for relevant partners that includes federal technical assistance provider mapping and pro-bono technical assistance provider mapping specific to infrastructure project delivery. Map out the local, regional and relevant federal technical assistance providers with movement/organizational partners in alignment with the specific geographies of Sustainable Cities, CA and Puerto Rico.
- Support the design of a PolicyLink TA webpage on our website, under the Infrastructure Program page
- Support the development of PolicyLink’s Federal Infrastructure Equity Priorities, Strategic Communications and Campaigns: Support PolicyLink’s Infrastructure Team to further build up PolicyLink’s work to expand access to equitable infrastructure (resilience, energy, transportation, water, workforce opportunities, etc) with a particular focus on helping underserved communities obtain Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act resources. Provide strategic support to the Infrastructure Director, Senior Associate and other members of the Infrastructure team as requested, including regular 1-1 strategy calls and program/project implementation support. Support existing and new efforts by the Infrastructure team to:
- Further build out PolicyLink’s equitable infrastructure federal and state policy priorities associated strategies, in partnership with our Infrastructure Equity, Sustainable Cities and Racial Equity Governing Agenda (REGA) teams
- Support the design and execution of an infrastructure communications strategy and campaign plans
- Support the design and execution of an Infrastructure Fellowship in local government. Collaborate with the Senior Associate on the design and implementation of the Transformative Justice Infrastructure Fellowship, for local government in our WOE places.
- Support the revision and implementation of the curriculum
- Provide leadership in the implementation and facilitation of the sessions
SKILLS, ABILITIES & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED
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Organizational change management experience in government
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Understanding of federal and state infrastructure, water and climate
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Understanding of the context of climate Equity, climate Justice, and environmental justice networks, movements and initiatives
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A rootedness in place based work and clear understanding of the federal policy and funding landscape
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Ability to draw connections across sectors, fields, and areas of study to adapt messages and analysis to be legible to various audiences and translate complex messages
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An ability to be entrepreneurial and self-driven in work that does not have a blueprint
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A deep sense of accountability to communities impacted by racism and colonization, specifically Black, Brown and Indigenous communities in the US and globally.
EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS
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10+ years experience working on transformational change initiatives in community based organizations and/or government.
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Experience developing and implementing public policy programs and initiatives at the intersection of infrastructure, climate action and equity.
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Experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and practices - both at the programmatic and administrative levels - that work to eliminate systemic institutional marginalization and promote inclusion and anti-racist practices.
ADDITIONAL CANDIDATE CHARACTERISTICS
- Able to manage a constantly evolving landscape, and shift priorities accordingly.
- Passionate about work at the intersection of racial equity, climate change, decoloniality.
- Sense of humor and a passion for prioritizing joy.
Compensation and Benefits
This is a part-time, one year position at a salary of $120,000.
About PolicyLink
This position, available immediately, is an exciting opportunity to join the staff at PolicyLink. PolicyLink is a national research and action institute advancing racial and economic equity by Lifting Up What Works®. We are dedicated to improving the lives of the 100 million people in America who live in or near poverty, particularly those facing the barriers of structural racism. We are currently working remotely. Please visit our website at: www.policylink.org.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT
PolicyLink strongly values equity and believes in a just and fair society where all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. We work towards a more inclusive world and as such we are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. PolicyLink is committed to maintaining a diverse and multicultural working environment.