Posted on January 23, 2013

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Associate/Community Change

The Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), located in Washington, DC and New York City, is a nonprofit public policy and technical assistance organization. We work in partnership with federal, state and local governments and communities to shape new ideas for public policy and develop and support networks of innovators. All CSSP’s work centers on increasing the chances that vulnerable children and youth will thrive and have developmental supports, access to a quality education and other opportunities that lead to a brighter future, and on helping families experience the support and financial stability they need to rear healthy and successful children.

Job Description The associate position will support the work of CSSP’s Community Change team. The majority of this Associate’s time will be spent 1) supporting work to help neighborhoods build the capacity they need to develop and carry out strategies that improve results for families and their children and 2) supporting our efforts to ensure that constituents—neighborhood residents, families, young people, and community leaders—are authentically engaged in efforts to produce better outcomes.

General Duties

• Advancing CSSP’s neighborhood investment agenda by helping local stakeholders and their state and federal partners build community capacity and align investments and policies with what works at the neighborhood level to improve results for children and families.
• Creating case tools, case studies, and other web-based resources that advance our neighborhood investment and constituent engagement efforts.
• Participating in conferences and state and national meetings to provide information about CSSP’s system reform, policy and constituent engagement work.
• Conducting policy and program research.
• Providing results-based technical assistance to support policy and practice innovation.
• Writing analytical, policy and other reports.
• Representing CSSP to key constituents and partners, including designated coalitions and committees, foundations, policymakers, elected and appointed public officials, advocates, researchers, practitioners, and the public at-large.
• Other duties as assigned

Supporting the Building Neighborhood Capacity Program – a key part of the White House Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative – by helping to develop a national Building Neighborhood Capacity Resource Center. Tasks will include tracking fiscal and public policy developments at the federal, state and/or local levels that could impact neighborhood-based community change efforts; conducting research related to improving outcomes for children and families through innovative policy and financing strategies at the neighborhood level; developing tools, case studies, descriptions of best practices, and other web-based resources; and providing support as needed to the development of written content such as fact sheets, white papers, and blog content.

Supporting CSSP’s constituent engagement efforts, including our Customer Satisfaction and community decision-making work by documenting and analyzing the work of local partners; creating tools, case studies and descriptions of best practices; assisting with meetings and site visits; and helping to identify new partners for our work.

Supporting the provision of technical assistance to communities around the country that are developing comprehensive plans to create neighborhoods of opportunity, provide better support to families, and ensure that children and youth get a good start in life, succeed in school, college and careers.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of CSSP
• Substantial knowledge in one or more of the following areas: human services, education, early care and education, work and income support, youth development, family support, parent and resident engagement and/or community organizing
• Exceptional conceptual and analytical skills and ability to communicate orally and in written form
• Experience and comfort in writing website copy and blog posts. Familiarity with web editing software and use of third-party communications tools preferred.
• Understanding of and demonstrated use of social media applications
• Essential computer and data analysis skills – in particular, proficient in MS Word, Excel, Outlook and the Internet
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Ability to present policy, practice and research information to a variety of audiences, including federal, state and local government officials, policymakers, service providers, advocacy organizations, and community members
• Commitment to eradicating structural racism where it exists, interest in analyzing and addressing racial disparities and other inequities, and desire to participate in CSSP’s internal capacity building work on these issues
• Flexibility and an ability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Ability and willingness to travel
• Masters with at least two years of experience preferred; candidates with a Bachelor’s with a minimum of 4 years experience will be considered

Compensation and Benefits

Application Instructions

How to Apply
Qualified applicants should send resume, cover letter, salary requirements and a writing sample by February 11, 2013 to:

Denise Thompkins
CSSP
1575 Eye Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
ATT: Associate/Community Change
Denise.Thompkins@cssp.org

Position will remain open until filled.