Smart Growth America (SGA) is seeking a Senior Manager with 5-7 years of experience to advance policy solutions that will lead to more much-needed housing and mixed-use development in vibrant, well-connected locations. The Senior Manager will play a key role in SGA’s land use and real estate work by managing the advocacy work of LOCUS, Smart Growth America’s coalition of real estate developers focused on mixed-income, walkable development. Key topics addressed by the Senior Manager will include transit-oriented development strategy, strategies to support moderate-income housing, and development finance. The Senior Manager will be part of a dynamic team environment and also contribute to SGA’s advocacy work related to other smart growth topics such as zoning, brownfields redevelopment and transportation.
About Smart Growth America
Smart Growth America is a leading national non-profit organization advocating for equitable, sustainable land use, development, housing, and transportation, in short smart growth. We empower communities through technical assistance, advocacy, and thought leadership to realize this vision of livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity. SGA’s north star is a country where no matter who you are, or where you live, you can enjoy living in a place which is healthy, prosperous and resilient.
About the Land Use and Development (LUD) team
The Land Use and Development (LUD) team at Smart Growth America is focused on how land use, development, and real estate can advance SGA’s vision for equitable, sustainable development. The team’s work focuses on delivering more equitable housing and mixed-use development in well-connected locations; preserving affordability in these locations; and creating development strategies that repair environmental injustices and protect from climate hazards. The team’s work addresses topics including zoning, economic development, housing policy and community engagement.
Position Overview
The housing access crisis has made Smart Growth America (SGA)’s advocacy work more urgent than ever before. The Senior Manager will manage key advocacy initiatives to advance policy change for much-needed accessible, sustainable community development. LOCUS, Smart Growth America’s coalition of triple-bottom-line real estate developers, will be a key focus for the Senior Manager. The Senior Manager will manage LOCUS’ advocacy work, including Capitol Hill outreach strategy, initiatives such as comment letters and calls-to-action, and related research and communications work. The Senior Manager will work directly with LOCUS members, who are leading real estate developers seeking to change policy to make it easier to build equitable, mixed-income, mixed-use communities. Alongside advocacy work, the position’s responsibilities will include coalition building to grow LOCUS’ impact. The position reports to the Vice President of Land Use and Development with active collaboration with the Coalition Director and support from the Land Use and Development team, and program support from a Senior Associate.
Responsibilities
This role involves advocacy strategy, research, writing, and outreach, largely focused at the federal level. Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
- Advocate for LOCUS’ priorities, including outreach to and coordination with offices on Capitol Hill;
- Manage advocacy initiatives such as comment letters, calls-to-action, and activities led by the LOCUS policy committees;
- Conduct and manage research on how policy change can advance smart growth;
- Manage advocacy events such as Hill Days, Congressional Briefings and public or membership webinars;
- Author memos, blog posts, and related communications about how policy change can advance smart growth;
- Implement strategies for new LOCUS member outreach and communications in collaboration with the larger LOCUS team;
- Contribute to overall governance strategy for LOCUS with the LOCUS team including the Vice President and Director of Outreach;
- Contribute to advocacy strategy for Smart Growth America’s other coalitions, informing and working in collaboration with Transportation for America, the National Brownfields Coalition and other groups;
- Manage and contribute to fundraising and grant reporting;
- Contribute to LOCUS, team and SGA administrative processes;
- Represent Smart Growth America and LOCUS at events, conferences and meetings;
- Contribute to other team projects, such as technical assistance efforts aligned with LOCUS’ goals and policy priorities, as time allows.
Knowledge and skills
Required:
- Commitment to SGA’s north star, with a demonstrated commitment to equitable development outcomes and advancing racial equity;
- 5-7 years of responsible experience working in, and knowledge of a smart-growth related field, such as land use and urban and regional planning, housing, equitable development, public administration, or a closely related field;
- Some experience with advocacy at the federal, state or local level and/or experience working with federal government stakeholders, such as Congressional offices and/or federal agencies;
- Excellent writing and communication skills with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders of different professional backgrounds and interest areas;
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines; examples include but are not limited to the ability to manage timelines, work plans, reporting, partner communications and production of deliverables;
- High motivation for accuracy and attention to detail;
- Collaborative approach and interest in working in an interdisciplinary team environment;
- Experience as an organizational ambassador in external settings such as conferences, workshops, and partnerships.
- Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Housing, Public Administration, or a related field.
Preferred:
- Knowledge of and exposure to the real estate industry;
- Experience with campaigns or coalition development;
- Working knowledge of design programs such as Canva, InDesign, Illustrator or Photoshop;
- Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, or a related field.
Compensation
Salary is commensurate with applicable experience with a range of $70,000- $85,000. The successful candidate would need to have at least 5-6 years of relevant experience of increasing responsibility, most of the preferred and quantitative skills, project management experience, and mission alignment to be considered for a salary at the top of the range. Internal equity is also a factor in determining a final salary. SGA has an entrepreneurial and innovative workplace culture where employees work collaboratively to achieve the mission with a focus on equity. SGA offers a generous employee benefits package featuring a fully paid medical plan, optional dental and vision coverage, 401k with a strong company contribution, company-paid life and disability insurance, transportation stipend, three weeks’ vacation in the first year and 12 paid holidays.
Office Schedule & COVID Protocols
This position is based in Washington, DC. SGA staff work in the office at 1350 Eye St. NW, Tuesdays-Thursdays. No relocation assistance is offered at this time. SGA requires employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and boosted.
How to apply
Please send the following materials to [email protected] with “Senior Manager, Advocacy” in the subject line:
- Cover letter (one page maximum)
- In your cover letter, please indicate the following:
How you learned about this opportunity
How your experience aligns with the requirements of the job description - How your experience will contribute to advancing SGA’s North Star
- In your cover letter, please indicate the following:
- A writing sample of past work (do not prepare a new writing sample for this application)
- Resume as a PDF
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Only applications submitted via email to the [email protected] account will be considered. Applications will be reviewed as received on a rolling basis. We look forward to hearing from candidates soon!