Director, Policy Solutions – Southeast

Background

Reinvestment Fund’s Policy Solutions team (Policy) partners with government, nonprofit, and other civic leaders to support strategic decision-making to strengthen communities. We conduct rigorous research and build analytic tools that help stakeholders implement effective interventions to achieve equitable outcomes. We are recognized nationally for producing objective research on residential and commercial market conditions, fair housing, access to high quality early childhood education, mortgage foreclosures and evictions, fresh food access, community social wellbeing, and the impact of housing and community development programs.

Summary

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who is passionate about the work we do helping communities use objectively gathered and rigorously analyzed data to improve outcomes, and who is excited to seek out new opportunities to do that work in the Southeast region. Policy Solutions is a collaborative and collegial work environment where curiosity, and continual learning are highly valued, and the successful Director is a person who thrives in that setting. We have worked with many of our clients for more than a decade, and candidates should enjoy building authentic relationships with partners based on trust and shared goals. We are looking for someone who is committed to high quality work and enjoys an intellectual challenge as well as delivering results that keep our clients returning and enhance our reputation for rigorous and relevant analytic products.

About the Position

The Director, Southeast will lead Policy engagements in the Southeast region (AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA), and be the chief designer of strategies to increase our reach and impact and grow our business in collaboration with Policy leadership. The Director will support business development by establishing and maintaining relationships with current and prospective clients, writing project proposals, and sharing our work in public forums and publications. The Director will also oversee spatial, statistical, and qualitative data analyses conducted by senior analysts, policy analysts, fellows, and interns. These analyses frequently use methodologies uniquely created by Policy, and there is an opportunity to design methodologies for new research engagements. Specific topics of focus include but are not limited to residential market characteristics, affordable housing policy, fair housing, access to high-quality early childhood education, urban and rural food access, and community social wellbeing. The position will entail coordination with Southeast-based staff from Reinvestment Fund’s Lending and Capacity Building/Capital Access teams. The Director will meet with other members of the Policy team in the field for data validation and meetings with clients and stakeholders. Although the position does not have direct reports at this time, with sufficient business growth, there is potential for the Director to expand the Southeast-based Policy team.

Responsibilities

The majority of the Director’s time will be spent attending to the following responsibilities:

• Lead mixed method research and evaluation efforts related to key Policy areas of expertise: manage project components such as contracting, client communication, budget, and delegation of tasks to staff analysts and subcontractors; contribute to and review analytic deliverables.
• Lead business growth and relationship development for Policy in the Southeast region.
• Communicate research findings to clients and public audiences via written reports, presentations, media interviews, panelist roles at conferences, and public testimony.

The Director will also:

• Engage with key stakeholders such as local government officials, philanthropic leaders, and research partners whose work intersects with Policy’s key areas of expertise in the course of research projects.
• Conduct key pieces of research and analysis
• Coordinate with Southeast-based staff from Reinvestment Fund’s Lending and Capacity Building/Capital Access teams to identify opportunities for growth and collaboration.
• Identify emerging issues for study that are of importance to our clients and partners, and serve as Policy’s voice on those issues in policy conversations in the Southeast.

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below. 

• A bachelor’s degree and 10+ years relevant professional or academic experience is required; a master’s or other advanced degree is strongly preferred (in public policy, city planning, social sciences, or related field).
• Successful track record of obtaining funding for research through contracts and/or grants and managing project budgets.
• Experience translating research into recommendations or action steps.
• Subject matter knowledge and professional experience related to one of Policy’s core issue areas: housing, access to early childhood education, community development, or related social science discipline.
• Familiarity with geographic analysis.
• Experience in or working closely with the public sector is preferred.

 Required Skills  

• Strong analytical thinking
• Relationship management
• Business development
• Demonstrated ability to write reports with research-informed recommendations
• Creating and delivering public presentations on research results
• Mixed methods research experience and knowledge of a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Project and contract management
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Preferred Skills

• Advanced statistical and spatial analysis experience
• Research methods skills (e.g., experimental design, survey construction, research ethics).
• ArcGIS, SQL and/or R (or similar applications) skills

Compensation and Benefits

Reinvestment Fund offers a competitive salary based on experience and skills, as well as an excellent benefits package including employer-paid health, disability and life insurance, 401(k) savings plan with employer match, flexible spending accounts (medical, dependent care and transportation), tuition reimbursement, paid time off, and EAP program.

The salary range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $102,400 and $130,000/year, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

How to Apply

Please visit www.reinvestment.com/careers to complete your application.

Reinvestment Fund uses E-Verify to validate all new hires’ ability to legally work in the United States and all new hires may be subject to a background check.

Reinvestment Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We do not discriminate in hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, national origin, non-job-related disability, or status as a veteran. Reinvestment Fund is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) throughout our organization and in our external investment practices.

Reinvestment Fund, Inc. has an affiliate, RF Impact Advisers, Inc. (“RFIA”) that is a state-registered investment adviser.  In order to advance compliance with and prevent violations of federal and state securities laws and to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest, RFIA has adopted a Code of Ethics to govern certain conduct of its staff, including certain staff of Reinvestment Fund because Reinvestment Fund is an advisory affiliate of RFIA.   As part of this Code of Ethics, there are specific personal reporting and other requirements and disclosures of personal financial and/or securities transactions information for certain individuals, and this reporting may extend to your household members.