Best Of

To be considered for this position, please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your demonstrated leadership in policy advocacy and research, and in driving positive outcomes for your community.


About Our Organization:    

For over 60 years, the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga has strengthened the community by transforming generosity into lasting change.  It exists to connect donors’ passions - their values - with purpose, so that they can have a meaningful impact on the community.  The mission of the Community Foundation is to transform generosity into lasting change toward a more just and prosperous Chattanooga where all residents can reach their full potential. The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga is a trusted community partner, serving at the intersection between ideas and action, needs and resources, donors, and non-profits.  The Community Foundation currently has assets under management of almost $260M. The Foundation distributes over $28M a year in grants annually.

Job Summary: 

The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga recognizes that in order to achieve our mission of transforming generosity into lasting change toward a prosperous and just Chattanooga where all can thrive and achieve their full potential, we must expand our capacity to engage in public policy initiatives, advance data-driven research, and strategically evaluate our programs and strategies. In partnership with the leadership of the Foundation, the Director of Policy and Research will advance these goals by facilitating the policy, advocacy, and research efforts of the Foundation. This individual must be adept at cultivating strong partnerships with diverse stakeholders, have a clear understanding of local, state and national policymaking processes, and have a proven ability to coordinate partnerships around policy initiatives. Having primary accountability for the Foundation’s research and data analysis efforts, this position will work closely with Foundation staff to develop and disseminate relevant research, as well as build and manage our data infrastructure to track progress, inform decision-making, and report out outcomes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

Policy & Advocacy

• Review, evaluate, and coordinate engagement strategies for legislation and regulations that affect the Foundation’s business model and mission, ensuring they align with its public policy agenda and primary impact areas. Facilitate issue identification, development of accountability measures and strategies, and execution of activities at the Local, State, and Federal level.
• Work with the Board of Directors and senior leadership to develop and articulate the Foundation’s approach to systems change through policy and advocacy, including short and long-term public policy agendas to advance the Foundation’s mission and strategic initiatives.
• Develop and implement project plans for public policy agendas to achieve local and state-level policy change, including coalition-building and working with state and local legislative officials and community/government leaders.
• Partner with colleagues to create, execute, and track policy work plans for key initiatives and provide guidance in support of public affairs activities. Develop the capacity of staff to engage in policy and advocacy work.
• Periodically serve as representative or spokesperson for the Foundation on select advocacy issues.

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships

• Build and deepen coalitions and relationships with internal and external stakeholders including government officials, community leaders, and directly affected constituents, nurturing these relationships over time with the Foundation board and staff.
• Plan and facilitate convenings with community stakeholders and partners to cultivate learning, deepen connections, identify shared perspectives and goals, and work to mobilize collective action.
• Understand the ecosystem of nonprofits, businesses, and government actors in our community and across Tennessee, and the various roles that organizations and partners play.

Data, Research & Impact Measurement

• Develop the Foundation’s data collection and analysis capacity, including the ability to track impact over time, and develop and manage data systems with appropriate protocols.
• Collaborate with the senior leadership as well as Community Investment Manager to identify data opportunities related to grantmaking, and work with grantees to collect and report data related to their work.
• Conduct research/literature reviews and scans to identify best practices, benchmarks, outcome measures, and model programs. Work with team to utilize this research to refine current and future grantmaking goals and identify new impact opportunities.
• Facilitate the Foundation’s research efforts for ongoing initiatives and high-impact issues, conducting research and synthesizing complex data into reports and presentations to serve as stakeholder education, program development, policy advocacy, and strategic leadership.
• Work with The Foundation’s communications department to disseminate research and effectively educate the public to expand understanding of how the public policy and other strategic programs and grantmaking of the Foundation advance its mission.
• Coordination with partners in academic, nonprofits, business and other sectors to facilitate community-wide research and data collection for the benefit of our region.

Strategic Support & Expanding Impact

• Aid in the development and review of internal and external materials that outline program information, advocacy efforts, and research.
• Serve as a resource to internal and external constituents of the Foundation who are interested in learning more about public policy and advocacy work to advance primary impact area(s).
• Identify ways to communicate participation in the Foundation’s initiatives as investment opportunities for other funders, thereby increasing the resources available to support our core strategies and programs.

Work Activities:

• Confer with organizational members to accomplish work activities.
• Analyze datasets and research to inform work activities.
• Synthesize complex data into reports and presentations.
• Establish interpersonal community relationships to facilitate work activities.
• Evaluate program effectiveness.
• Liaise between departments or other groups to drive outcomes.
• Monitor external affairs or events affecting operations.
• Prepare proposal documents.
  

Work Conditions: 

• Ability to complete tasks with reasonable accommodations.
• Ability to remain at work station for long periods of time.
• Operate a computer and other office machinery such as copy machine and printer.
• Move about the office regularly to access files, office machinery, etc.
• Ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Occasionally works in outdoor weather conditions.
• May infrequently need to lift, carry or otherwise move and position objects weighing up to 25 pounds
  

Qualifications: 

• Minimum of 5 years facilitating public policy initiatives with a successful track record of effectively identifying, researching and prioritizing policy focus and landscape for an organization.
• Experience with research, data management and analysis required.
• Community organizing and / or philanthropy experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent. No formal degree required.

Salary and Benefits: 
Salary Range Starting at $65,490 - $95,000 

Excellent benefits including paid medical, dental and life insurance; 403b and generous leave time. 

To be considered for this position, please submit resume with cover letter outlining your demonstrated leadership in policy advocacy and research, and in driving positive outcomes for your community. Submissions without a cover letter will not be considered. 

Apply through our Careers Site by visiting this application link - https://cfgch.bamboohr.com/careers/26?source=aWQ9MjY%3D

No phone calls or emails, please. 

The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga (CFGC) is committed to the perspective of all voices and encourages diversity of applicants and within our organization. CFGC is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.