Position Overview:
The Strategy Lead on the Community Impact team is responsible for supervising a team of System Improvement Advisors and providing support to them as they work with communities. Additionally, the Strategy Lead is responsible for driving forward multiple strategy and design initiatives that clear the path for Built for Zero communities on their journey towards ensuring homelessness is rare, brief, and nonrecurring. This position is accountable for translating the learning from these initiatives to actionable community-level models and coaching approaches. As learning emerges, strategies and structures change. This person is responsible for innovating in their role and adapting initiatives to develop viable solutions that incorporate a deeper understanding of the needs of people experiencing homelessness and community leaders. Additionally, this person is responsible for coordinating strategy across multiple teams focused on making homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring. They are expected to work flexibly on other Build for Zero / Community Impact projects and activities as needed.
About Community Solutions
Community Solutions is a non-profit organization that works to achieve a lasting end to homelessness that leaves no one behind. We envision a more equitable future where homelessness is never inevitable or a way of life, for anyone. Since 2015, we have led Built for Zero, a movement of more than 140 cities and counties using data to radically change how they work and the impact they can achieve — and proving that it is possible to make homelessness rare and brief. Nearly half of those communities have reduced homelessness in their communities, and 13 of those communities have ended veteran or chronic homelessness. In order to help communities equitably and sustainably end homelessness, we are also working to identify solutions that can address gaps in housing, disrupt inflow into homelessness, and produce more racially equitable systems.
Community Solutions seeks leaders at every level: extraordinary, mission-oriented people not satisfied with the status quo. We are a team of values driven innovators motivated by results. We eagerly seek and support diverse applicants. We provide generous benefits and opportunities for inspiring and transformational professional growth. We pride ourselves in developing an inclusive workplace culture that encourages staff to bring their whole selves to work every day.
Defining Success for This Position:
- Lead the development and implementation of community specific strategies and related work plans and weigh in on strategic decisions as needed
- Be accountable for milestones and outcomes of multiple projects at one time
- Communicate and collaborate with the Deputy Director, Community Impact; Director, Community Impact; Co-Strategy Leads, Community Impact; and Built for Zero Strategy Leads and Directors
- Manage relationships and on-going communication with community leaders and internal partners.
- Translate learnings into strategy
- Understand quickly and work to implement the vision of the Community Impact Principals, including advancing work plans, racial equity objectives and contributing to key decisions for the organization.
- Identify and evaluate the risks and solutions associated with initiatives.
- Lead a team of System Improvement Advisors to execute strategic initiatives.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead, design, manage work planning for multiple projects within the Community Impact team.
- Provide on-going professional development and supervision of direct reports.
- Perform direct project work from idea generation through implementation for projects within the Community Impact portfolio
- Lead co-design, will-building + coordination of work across other Built for Zero portfolios as appropriate.
- Apply Built for Zero’s methodology, including data quality, coaching, human-centered design, facilitation, and Quality Improvement (QI) framework in order to:
○ Collaborate across portfolios, communities
○ Co-design and perform an on-going iteration of coaching and measurement models
○ Translate community-level theories of change, data standards, and small-scale tests to achieve the outcome of ending homelessness
- Support development of Community Impact team structure as appropriate, including supporting Community Impact staff to develop proficiencies in BFZ framework and project level staff oversight and development as needed
- Support the management of faculty contract scoping and execution as required by projects in the Community Impact portfolio
- Using data analysis and data interpretation skills to recommend pivots to community level strategies project and Community Impact Projects as necessary
Professional Experience and Qualifications:
- Five to seven years of previous work experience in a professional or equivalent environment
- Experience and demonstrated skills in creating and managing projects from concept through implementation, including organizational skills and problem solving to manage multiple competing priorities
- Experience and demonstrated skills in managing people and facilitating groups
- Experience/commitment to advancing racial equity, working in diverse environments, and with people who have been historically marginalized, including individuals and families who have faced housing instability, homelessness and poverty
- Experience with systems improvement and understanding and using data
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent relationship management skills and great judgment when working with external partners, communities and clients
- Ability to see, and pivot between, multiple paths to the same goal
- High learning agility and an unusually high tolerance for ambiguity
- Ability to move projects forward in a shifting, often uncertain environment and handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced setting
- Incredibly self-motivated and curious in pursuing new projects that bring the best thinking from other sectors and disciplines to this work
- Strong strategic thinking function
- Strong, organized multitasker
- Non-traditional candidates are welcome. Community Solutions strives for representation and authentic inclusion of applicants and employees who have direct, first-hand experience with poverty, homelessness, and their root causes (including marginalization, discrimination, and inequity).
Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position supervises staff members including ongoing professional development.
Software/Apps Used:
- Microsoft Office
- Google Business Apps
- Asana
- Zoom
- Slack
- Social media software and applications
- Salesforce
Salary Range:
CS offers competitive salaries and benefits packages for every position. The salary range for this position is between $90,842-$120,572. The actual salary is commensurate with the
candidate's experience.
Work Environment:
This position can be located anywhere within a reasonable travel distance of partnership locations. Community Solutions neighborhood partnerships are presently located in New York City, Hartford, and Washington DC. Community Solutions has office space available for use in New York City. The position provides for the flexibility to work from a remote location without the standard support available at an office.
Travel Requirements:
Travel may be required to attend semi-annual team retreats, community visits, and other on-site training or convenings. Additional travel may be needed and will be negotiated on an individual basis pending availability.
Diversity and Inclusion:
We strive for inclusivity and diversity by attracting extraordinary people from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. We seek to employ an all-star team of people who vary by their race and ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, age, culture, religion, veteran status, physical and mental abilities. We promote equal opportunity in the recruitment, selection, training, compensation, promotion, and benefits of all employees. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate:
COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all Community Solutions staff—full-time, part-time, and contracted. Vaccination documentation must be provided to Community Solutions. Vaccination information is completely confidential between the staff member and HR.