The Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP) is seeking a Program Associate to join our award-winning organization. This position will help us directly support thousands of people to participate in real democracy, through participatory budgeting (PB) — a process that has been called “revolutionary civics in action”. You are perfect for this role if you bring energy for working across diverse spaces, excel at facilitating interactive and compelling trainings and presentations, are skilled in relationship-building, and are an enthusiastic problem-solver.

The Program Associate is responsible for supporting the delivery of trainings, consulting, and capacity building services for organizations, governments and schools. This includes educating people about PB and supporting the design, launch, and implementation of local PB processes. You will be able to build on and add to a solid base of experience and skills to help PBP continue to provide excellent technical assistance and sustain strong relationships with practitioners across the United States and Canada. This full-time position reports to the Program Director and is based in either Oakland, CA or Brooklyn, NY.

About PBP

For 10 years, the Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP) has empowered people to participate in democracy through revolutionary civics in action. Participatory budgeting (PB) is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. It gives people real power over the money that affects their lives. We create and support PB processes in cities, schools, and public agencies across the United States and Canada to address deep community needs, develop new community leaders, and make public budgets more equitable and effective. Through our work with partners in over 30 cities, we have engaged over 534,000 people in deciding how to spend $337 million.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver technical assistance (TA) including: consulting with clients, delivering talks and presentations, and facilitating trainings and workshops with municipalities, schools, and partners.
• Coordinate logistics of talks and trainings and assist with event promotion.
• Assist with tracking and evaluation of PBP’s TA services, grant and contract compliance, and PB processes across the US and Canada.
• Other duties expected of all staff including: engagement in all-staff meetings and retreats, organizational development activities, and participation in organization-wide fundraising efforts

Desired Experience and Skills

• Excellent, engaging, and persuasive group training, meeting facilitation and coordination skills
• Strong project management skills: detail-oriented and able to coordinate and track external engagements
• Able to work effectively and build relationships with a diversity of stakeholders including: community members, funders, elected officials, educators, students, and government staff
• Aligned with PBP’s mission and our passion for participatory democracy, community empowerment, and equity
• Demonstrated ability to give and receive feedback, actively listen, consider multiple perspectives, and adapting when necessary
• At least 5 years relevant full-time work experience OR at least 3 years relevant full-time work experience and a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) OR a combination of the two.
• Currently authorized to work in the U.S. PBP is not able to sponsor visas or work authorizations.
• Preferred skills include: strong, demonstrated proficiency in bi-lingual facilitation in English and Spanis.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Position requires some travel to attend meetings and events. Up to 25% of time may be spent travelling in North America. Must be able to travel between Canada and the U.S.

This position requires:

• Ability to work on a computer, including sitting and/or standing at a desk and typing, for extended periods of time.
• Ability to speak clearly on the phone and in person and be understood by others.
• Able to occasionally lift objects weighing up to 10 pounds.
• The ability to listen to others and observe others’ actions.
• The ability to travel within and between cities by local, regional, and air transit.

Values, Compensation, and Location

Our organizational practices embody our values of community, equity, learning, participatory democracy, and transparency. All staff are deeply engaged in the organization’s planning and decision-making. Our office culture is friendly and supportive, with regular potlucks and celebrations, and an emphasis on maintaining a healthy work-life balance. We invest in the professional growth and personal care of our people, including strong benefits:

• Three (3) weeks annual paid vacation, 11 paid holidays, and a week-long end of year paid org-wide winter holiday closure
• Full employee coverage for health insurance (including dental and vision), flexible spending account, life insurance; option available for dependents and/or spouses/partners to join at cost.
• Retirement plan with employer match
• Generous sick day and family leave policy
• Professional development resources
• Schedule and work site flexibility to accommodate your life, including families, continuing education, and community leadership.

This position is based in Oakland, CA or Brooklyn, NY and offers ample flex time to accommodate the need for non-traditional hours. Salary range, depending on relevant experience: $40,000-$60,000.

PBP is an Equal Opportunity Employer, strongly committed to building a staff that represents the diversity of communities we work in. We strongly encourage applications from black, indigenous, and people of color, women, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ individuals.

How to Apply

Please email applications to jobs@participatorybudgeting.org, with Program Associate in the subject line.

Applications should include the following, compiled in a single .pdf if possible:

1. Cover letter explaining your relevant experience and interest in the position,
2. Resume
3. List of three professional references with contact information

Applications are due 11pm EST/8pm PST on Monday, April 13, 2020.

For more information, visit participatorybudgeting.org