Director of the Planning and Policy Lab

 What is our Organization About?

The Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI) is a community-led planning and economic development organization. We are growing a network of community and labor organizations, anchor institutions, and small businesses to build an equitable, sustainable, and democratic local economy that creates shared wealth and ownership for low-income people of color.

What is the Position We are Looking To Fill?

We are looking for a full-time Director of the Planning and Policy Lab (PPL), a project of BCDI. The PPL provides local planning and policy capacity by, with, and for the Bronx. Working collaboratively with local stakeholders, the PPL serves as a coordinating entity and works to co-create a long term strategy for equitable development and supportive public policy in the borough. The PPL provides partners with research, land use, and data analysis as well as participatory planning, strategy development, and capacity building support.

The ideal candidate for this position has experience developing strategy, has a background in participatory planning and policy development, and is adept at building and managing strategic partnerships with cross-sectoral stakeholders.

What are the Job Responsibilities and Duties?

• Lead and manage the Planning and Policy Lab to co-develop a participatory, long-term plan for equitable development for the Bronx alongside a coalition of borough-wide stakeholders

• Provide ongoing strategy development and program planning for the PPL and our network in line with BCDI’s strategic plan

• Develop and maintain partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders, including community organizations, finance, real estate, and government

• Support the development of BCDI’s overall strategy along with the Executive Director, the Board of Directors, and fellow program directors

What Skills Should You Have? What Skills Should You Be Willing To Quickly Learn?

Required Skills and Experience

• Five years or more of professional urban planning & policy related experience
• Strong program management skills
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills, and the ability to effectively interface with a variety of audiences
• Experience developing and managing high-level, institutional partnerships
• Adept at facilitation, collaborative problem solving, and consensus building
• Detail-oriented strategic thinker with analytical problem-solving capabilities
• Experience with supervising and managing a team
• Knowledge of the Bronx and New York City’s housing, real estate, planning, and development contexts, as well as debates and research in these areas
• Graduate degree or equivalent experience
• Commitment to social inclusion, anti-oppression, and racial, gender, and economic justice

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with community organizing
• Experience living and working in the Bronx and New York
• Fluency with Spanish or another language spoken in the Bronx

What Else Should You Know About Us?

• Our framework is economic democracy. A willingness to learn more about it and ask questions is key. Our team is willing to share and discuss, as well as provide suggestions and recommendations.
• Black liberation is the approach we take as our explicit intention to center local economic development as a means for advancing self-determination for Black people and people of color.
• Community is the center of our work. Our organization exists to expand the capacity of the existing assets in the neighborhoods and communities we work with. We facilitate and coordinate in a manner to amplify the work of our partners and advance their desired impact. Working here requires one to orient and relate to others through a strength and asset-based approach, not deficits and pathologies.
• We believe in continuous improvement. We try, evaluate, learn, and improve.
• Our processes are iterative. Revision and drafts are part of getting to the best product.
• Teamwork means open and empathetic listening, clear communication on successes and challenges, active participation in solution-making, and a willingness to support the workflows of colleagues.
• You matter to us. We seek to support the professional development of our staff.

What is the Compensation for this Position?

The salary for this position is $75,000 to $80,000 plus benefits.

How Do I Apply?

To apply, complete this form. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and selected candidates will receive an email from BCDI’s hiring manager with information on next steps.

The deadline to apply for this position is Dec 13th at 11:59 PM EST.

People of color, people with disabilities, women, and LGBTQIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to a diverse workplace, and to supporting our staff with ongoing career development opportunities. BCDI is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discriminatory employment actions and treatment against employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, source of income, past incarceration, status as a victim of an intrafamily offense, or place of residence or business. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination, which is prohibited by law, as is harassment based on any of the above-protected categories.