POSITION:          Policy Manager, Just Urban Economies, MIT Community Innovators Lab

REPORTS TO:     Director, Just Urban Economies

SALARY: $60k – $75k annual salary based on qualifications plus benefits

Overview

The MIT Community Innovators Lab (CoLab) is a center for planning and development within the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning. CoLab supports the development and use of knowledge from excluded communities to deepen civic engagement, improve community practice, inform policy, mobilize community assets, and generate shared wealth.

CoLab’s domestic work is anchored through its Just Urban Economies (JUE) Program. JUE engages local stakeholders from a multitude of sectors to position communities to govern their own regional economies, and build shared wealth in BIPOC communities at scale. Using a movement building framework, the JUE team works to leverage resources at MIT to advance institutional leadership development, community-led participatory planning and policy-making, and convene cross-sector tables in key geographies across the United States.

A major cornerstone of CoLab’s domestic work has been the Mel King Community Fellows Program (MKCF) — dedicated to the legacy of Mel King, an active champion of cities and the communities they comprise. Historically, the MKCF program convened leaders working on developing economic democracy and self-determination while creating the “holding space” for them to strategize, prototype, and coordinate with each other. The program is currently focused on building shared wealth and ownership at scale among BIPOC communities through the transformation of the long-term care industry sector. Mel King Fellows will work together to build community & labor coalitions, advance policy that enables shared wealth creation while improving job quality, unlock non-extractive finance opportunities for worker-to-owner conversions, and coordinate among different workforce development efforts to establish career ladders for BIPOC workers.

Position Description

MIT Community Innovators Lab is seeking a Manager of Planning & Policy Initiatives with strong analytical and communications skills with expertise in healthcare policy. In deep partnership

with our Just Urban Economies Director, the Planning & Policy Manager will have strong problem-solving skills, be able to conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis; and have superior writing skills to communicate important policy issues to stakeholders. The Planning & Policy Manager will be able to translate policy developments and impacts of trends in the long-term care sector into powerful strategic advice and guidance through policy memos or other written research summaries that describe the current state of knowledge in the sector and “translate” CoLab’s research into lessons for the MKCF and other key stakeholders. At times, the Planning & Policy Manager may need to represent the Director on workgroups or special projects; interact with representatives from stakeholders from local, state and federal agencies, legislators, healthcare organizations and the general public.

Responsibilities:

Research and Reporting

• Research local, state, and federal policies and programs related to the long-term care industry. This includes, but is not limited to economic and workforce development, payment reform, etc.
• Analyze both quantitative and qualitative data for trends and other important data points that may be useful for policy advocacy efforts.
• Collaborate with students and faculty to release research publications and other knowledge products.
• Develop, maintain, and build policy and research collaborations with community-based organizations, labor unions, legislators, and other stakeholders within CoLab’s extended networks.

Communications & Coordination

• Monitor and communicate state and federal policy developments related to health and workforce development.
• Write short and long-form publications based on research and policy analysis, including internal memos, fact sheets, and opinion articles.
• Develop infographics that communicate compelling narratives about CoLab’s work.
• Build supportive, trusting relationships with partners and to cultivate a diverse network of relationships from which to solicit information, feedback and support.

Additional tasks may arise from the JUE Director and/or the leadership team.

Some travel is required, primarily local travel in and around New York City; and occasional travel to MIT campus and other places.

Ideal candidate qualifications

3 years of significant relevant experience and skills in:

• Understanding of Medicaid, Medicare, and healthcare regulations with knowledge of federal legislative and/or regulatory process
• Working knowledge of legal aspects and economic conditions affecting policies
• Knowledge of how New York government operates, and political savvy is a plus
• Knowledge of economic development-related fields such as economic incentives (loans, grants, tax credits), workforce development, public-private partnerships, research and development, commercialization and business marketing
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate complex ideas in a concise manner
• High organizational and time-management skills
• A good sense of humor and enjoys working as a team and building relationships

Education: Bachelors degree or two years equivalent experience.

This is a full-time position. The candidate must be based in the New York City area or must be willing to relocate.
MIT CoLab is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

This position is a full-time, one-year appointment that is renewable annually (contingent upon funding).

Application Process 

In order to be considered for this position, a cover letter and resume/CV must be submitted.
Application materials should be submitted to the MIT Portal  MIT job site