Director, Rural & Small Cities Program

The Public Finance Initiative (PFI) (publicfinanceinitiative.com), a fiscally sponsored project of TSNE, works with communities and their stakeholders to develop research, education, and technical assistance programs that center the values of equity, sustainability, and inclusive growth in the domain of public finance.

TSNE (formerly Third Sector New England) (tsne.org) is a management support organization that partners every year with hundreds of nonprofits, foundations, community-based groups, and others working for social change. Our mission is to provide information and services to build the knowledge, power, and effectiveness of individuals, organizations, and groups that engage people in community and public life. The ultimate intention of TSNE’s work is to create a more just and democratic society.

The Director of Rural and Small Cities Initiatives will lead a key new program at the Public Finance Initiative (PFI) that promotes, supports and strengthens the ability of leaders who work in rural communities to shift patterns of disinvestment. Through the Rural Initiative, PFI is focused on several key areas including (1) building the capacity of Rural Initiative members to develop and implement comprehensive, place-based, and cross-sectoral approaches to capital planning and leveraging public finance to invest in critical infrastructure; (2) facilitating greater investment of capital resources in underserved rural areas by working with state and county partners who serve as channels of investment in rural cities; (3) expanding and enhancing the range of tools and resources available to Rural city leaders to build their capacity; and (4) promoting systems-level approaches that increase and deepen partnerships and investment in areas of rural persistent poverty.

Essential Functions

With support from the Executive Director of PFI, and team of analysts, associates/operations staff at PFI, the Director will lead the rural initiative and drive forward its goals with activities that include the following:

• Leading and convening an advisory council of experts and fellows to serve as a “kitchen-cabinet” to comment on our strategy, provide thought partnership, and amplify the work of the rural initiative

• Co-Designing and co-leading capacity building efforts and in-person convenings to support rural leaders, and supervising operations staff in the creation of site plans/agendas/run of shows and other materials to support smooth event operations in the 6 states selected for the program.

• Serving as a key liaison to build partnerships with partner organizations that work with rural cities in the states selected for the program (i.e. the Citizens Institute on Rural Design, the Vermont League of Cities, Invest Appalachia, etc.) and build partnerships that help us deliver programs that are attentive and responsive to local needs.

• Supporting strategic discussions with our funders – Robert Wood Johnson – and other philanthropists we bring into our funders collaborative to shape how the rural program can scale and grow in future years.
• Support strategic reporting on the grant that supports the initiative and help manage the grant budget.
• The Director is a mission-driven leader who serves as an advocate and voice for rural communities and will help shape a communications strategy (with an external communications firm) and participate as a speaker and voice in the field when we share learnings.

This position will be a strategic leader who collaborates with colleagues across various external organizations (GFOA, National League of Cities, etc.) to support and grow the field of rural investment.

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

Education: A bachelor’s degree is required; a graduate degree in a related field (e.g. public policy, urban planning, or nonprofit management, business) is preferred. Relevant experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

Experience: At least seven (5) years of professional experience working to promote comprehensive city and municipal strategies within rural or urban sectors. Direct experience working with cities is vital.

Licenses, Certifications: None specified

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Passion for and dedication to improving lives and strengthening communities across rural America and in small cities across American.
• Kindness and a sense of humor.

• Experience designing and implementing strategies aimed at advancing municipal initiatives at the local, regional and/or national level.

• Experience developing partnerships with diverse national, regional and local stakeholders to address critical issues facing cities.

• Familiarity with public finance and capital and financial resources that support the sustainability and growth of cities.

• Demonstrated project management experience, including independent management of project goals, budgets and timelines as well as coordinating with diverse groups of internal and external stakeholders to implement project plans.

• Experience developing operations plans for events in person.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience developing blogs, publications and presentations to promote new ideas and share best practices.
• A commitment to teamwork, integrity, effectiveness, and efficiency – including demonstrated leadership, ability to influence and bring about consensus, and to work independently.

• Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others and successfully interact with people at all management and support levels, as well as people of diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Handle, or feel objects, tools or controls;
• Reach; traverse; sit (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate;
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards;
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight;
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work will be primarily performed remote.

Compensation: The salary range for this position is $115,000 - $140,000/yr. and is commensurate with experience.

Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package including:

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): twelve paid holidays, three weeks of vacation, one week of personal holiday, and ability to accrue up to 487.5 hours of health leave time for benefited staff.
• 80% Employer-paid, offering some $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim along with several low-deductible plans;
• Low-cost Guardian Dental and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care.
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance.
• Employer-paid Pension and Employee-paid 403b plan through TIAA.
• ...and more!

TSNE/PFI strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/PFI prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/PFI celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/PFI's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.