Job Description
POLICY DIRECTOR
Full-time position
Greenbelt Alliance, the San Francisco Bay Area’s advocate for open spaces and vibrant places, seeks an experienced candidate for the position of Policy Director.
Position Summary
The Policy Director role combines research, public policy analysis, coalition building, team leadership, and advocacy. The Policy Director will be an integral part of Greenbelt Alliance’s Program Department Leadership.
Examples of projects that will be the responsibility of the Policy Director could include:
• Developing policy positions and building a regional coalition for the open space conservation aspect of the Bay Area’s Sustainable Communities Strategy
• Managing the 2011 update of At Risk: The Bay Area’s Greenbelt
• Providing political and policy analysis for Urban Growth Boundary campaigns in Sonoma County
• Managing a collaborative research effort to identify and begin winning support for the next generation of local and regional agricultural protection strategies
The Policy Director will be based in San Francisco, report to the Director of Programs and work closely with the other Policy Director and the entire Greenbelt Alliance team. See www.greenbelt.org to learn more about our work.
Key Responsibilities:
Policy Analysis: The Policy Director will conduct analysis of land-use and public policy issues and decision-making institutions in order to inform Greenbelt Alliance’s positions and better conduct organizing and advocacy activities. This could include development of a policy platform on agriculture and position papers on issues such the impact of water supply challenges
on land-use planning.
Regional and State Advocacy: The Policy Director will play a leadership role in regional campaigns to make the Bay Area a better place to live. This could include efforts to build coalitions with a broad range of constituencies around regional conservation, farming, open space protection and/or other relevant policy issues. The Policy Director will also serve as an advocate on state issues related to smart growth and open space protection in the Bay Area. Specific issue areas could include making sure that state spending incorporates smart growth principles.
Research: The Policy Director will coordinate and manage the 2011 update of At Risk: The Bay Area’s Greenbelt, a map-based project to identify lands at risk of poorly planned development. The Policy Director also supports research projects such as the Agricultural Gems project, designed to identify local and regional strategies for revitalizing key agricultural areas in the
region. Additionally, the Policy Director will provide mapping services for Greenbelt Alliance campaigns, in part by managing Greenbelt Alliance’s library of map data.
Local Advocacy: The Policy Director will engage in advocacy work in support of strategic policies and programs that further our Grow Smart Bay Area goal related to fostering vibrant communities, protecting open space and providing transportation choices. This work may involve developing advocacy positions in support of key policy directions, identifying advocacy
opportunities, and effectively lobbying decision-makers. It will occur as part of Greenbelt Alliance staff teams, in close collaboration with Greenbelt Alliance field staff throughout the region.
Qualifications:
The ideal Policy Director candidate will be a proven and effective researcher and advocate, with a bachelor’s degree plus five years experience – or relevant master’s plus three years experience -- and the following qualifications:
• Strong policy advocacy experience
• Demonstrated research abilities
• Project management skills
• Outstanding writing and communications skills
• Familiarity with mapping software
• Knowledge of land-use policies, including both open space protection and infill development land-use policies
• Ability to work effectively in teams and in collaboration with others
• Experience in coalitions and ability to coordinate efforts with a wide range of participants in projects
• Commitment to sustainable community development, environmental protection, and an inclusive working environment
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people and constituencies
• Experience and skill in managing multiple projects simultaneously
• Openness to working on a wide variety of issues
Also helpful would be:
• Awareness of state-level processes influencing regional planning efforts
• Staff management
• Political strategy development
• Public speaking before citizen organizations and elected bodies
Access to a car and flexible schedule also required.
Most importantly, the Policy Director will be committed to promoting vibrant places and protecting the Bay Area’s greenbelt for this and future generations.
Salary and Benefits
Salary depends on experience. Medical and dental insurance provided as well as short-term disability, flexible spending, and 403(b) accounts. Generous vacation package.
To Apply
Send a resume and cover letter to jobs@greenbelt.org.
Applications can also be sent via postal mail to:
Greenbelt Alliance
Attn: Policy Director Search
631 Howard Street, Suite 510
San Francisco, CA 94105
Applications will be accepted until January 9, 2010
About Greenbelt Alliance
Greenbelt Alliance is the San Francisco Bay Area’s advocate for vibrant places and open spaces. Founded in 1958, we work to make the Bay Area a better place to live by protecting the region’s greenbelt and improving the region’s cities and towns. We have helped protect over 1.1 million acres of farmlands, parks, watersheds, and other open space. Greenbelt Alliance is also a leading
advocate for creating livable communities: walkable neighborhoods near transit, shops, and jobs, with homes people can afford.
With a committed staff of 23, Greenbelt Alliance has a strong team spirit and sense of fun. We are headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in San Jose, Santa Rosa, Walnut Creek, and San Rafael.
Greenbelt Alliance values a diverse workplace and is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to engaging the skills and leadership of people of color, LGBT persons, and other people from diverse backgrounds. People from these and other traditionally marginalized backgrounds and communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
