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DesegregateCT Program Director

Organization and Position Description

DesegregateCT is a pro-homes coalition of neighbors and nonprofits advocating for more equitable, affordable, and environmentally-sustainable land use policies in Connecticut, with a focus on expanding the diversity and supply of homes. It is a program of the Regional Plan Association, a 100-year-old tri-state civic planning organization that conducts research, planning, and advocacy with offices in NYC, NJ, and CT. Our work is about first imagining and then enacting a new abundance vision for local and state land use policies that promote racial, economic, and climate justice.

The work of DesegregateCT focuses on three primary functions: educating the public through workshops, trainings, and issue briefs; researching current land use policies and measuring the positive impact of reforms; and organizing advocacy campaigns at the state and local levels, focusing on empowering local residents to speak for the kinds of changes they want to see.

DesegregateCT is seeking a Director to lead its next phase of growth. The DesegregateCT Director will be a full-time RPA staff member responsible for managing and executing the DesegregateCT campaign reporting to the Connecticut Director of RPA. Candidates should share our passion for fostering equitably, healthy, and sustainable cities and communities. The ideal candidate will be an entrepreneurial individual with extensive experience in land use policy, grassroots organizing, and program development. The Director will help develop and execute the coalition’s mission; scale its programming capacity; and enhance its advocacy efforts at the state and local levels.

The position will be 40+ hours a week with some evenings and weekends expected. The position will be based in Connecticut but operate remotely. This is a two-year, grant-funded position, with the potential for extension based upon fundraising. Ideally, the candidate will be able to start at the beginning of January 2025.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher.

  • 3-5+ years of experience in land use policy creation and advocacy or equivalent.

  • 2 years of experience with non-profit management and program development.

  • Passion for racial, economic, and climate justice, and for mentorship, training, and promoting young activists and voices from historically marginalized communities.

  • Experience with fundraising and grant writing, supervising staff and projects, and coalition building across multiple spaces and types of institutions.

  • Confidence in public speaking ability, writing capacity, and public relations.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Graduate-level degree in relevant fields (urban planning, public policy, environmental policy, law).

  • Experience in affordable housing, land use, transportation, and climate adaptation.

  • Experience in crafting educational workshops or courses for the general public.

  • Experience in creating communication assets including briefs, videos, and social media.

  • Experience developing legislative strategy and managing relationships with elected officials.

  • Experience in Connecticut policy and politics.

  • Spanish language proficiency

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Manage 6-8 staff, volunteers, interns, and any part-time staffers.

  • Expand membership base and coalition partnerships.

  • Develop and manage educational programming for residents, elected officials, and other stakeholders on land use reform.

  • Develop annual state-level legislative goals and manage lobbying strategies.

  • Develop comprehensive tracking of all city/town Planning & Zoning boards, meetings, and openings to monitor for opportunities to advocate for a pro-homes agenda.

  • Develop an organizing model that identifies, trains, and supports local residents to lobby local officials, speak at public meetings, and run for open board seats.

  • Develop research priorities to further advocacy efforts and legislative goals.

  • Manage and design all communications strategy, marketing, and promotional materials including digital channels.

  • Develop and execute a fundraising strategy in close collaboration with RPA.

  • Develop an annual budget and ensure accountability to funders.

  • Help project manage a pro-homes conference in New Haven.

Compensation

Salary: $70,000-$90,000, consummate with skills and experience

Benefits: Full-time position with retirement, health, vision, and dental benefits.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a resume, a brief (one page maximum) cover letter, three references and a writing sample