Associate Director of Policy
About the role
The Center for Rural Affairs is seeking an Associate Director of Policy to join the Policy team. This role involves driving Nebraska policy initiatives, supporting a talented team, managing grant-funded projects, and cultivating relationships with stakeholders and advocates.
Responsibilities
Leading and supporting Nebraska policy initiatives that advance the Center’s mission and strategic goals.
Supervise, mentor, and develop policy team members while helping manage the day-to-day program operations.
Build and maintain strong relationships with advocates, coalition partners, funders, and other key stakeholders.
Research policy issues and contribute to reports, grant proposals, media communications, and advocacy materials.
Manage grant-funded projects and ensure successful execution of initiative, deliverables, and reporting requirements.
Requirements
To be successful in this role, you will excel in five areas:
Relationship building: You know how to talk with people to learn what needs they have through conversation and inquiry. You are able to build networks, as well as alliances, and find points of collaboration even when there are competing interests on your time.
Drive to achieve results: You know how to work to your strengths to achieve your own ambitious goals, and you anticipate hurdles as merely a momentary inconvenience. You possess a competitive drive and have the ability to set a high bar and meet it because you think three (or 30) steps ahead to come up with pragmatic, yet innovative, solutions.
Inclusive leadership and management: You approach leadership in your work with a mindset of “power with” rather than “power over” and regularly include others with lived experience and/or expertise in decision-making.
Setting and managing priorities: You have experience managing multiple projects and keeping tasks from slipping through the cracks. You use resources wisely and can provide clear direction to leverage time and resources for impact.
Commitment to social justice: You recognize the role of race, income, age, immigration status, and other identities in addressing barriers. You recognize how your own identities show up in the work, and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about difference to overcome barriers.
Qualifications
Experience developing and implementing policy, advocacy, or public affairs strategies that advance organizational goals and drive measurable impact.
Experience building and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders, including community partners, advocates, funders, policymakers, and coalition members.
Experience leading, coaching, and developing teams while fostering collaboration, accountability, and a strong sense of belonging.
Experience researching, analyzing, and communicating complex policy or legislative issues through reports, presentations, grant proposals, and public-facing communications.
Experience managing multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment while adapting to changing circumstances and emerging opportunities.
Experience securing and managing grant-funded initiatives, including proposal development, reporting, stakeholder engagement, and project oversight.
Experience navigating complex organizational, political, and community dynamics while using sound judgment, strategic thinking, and effective communication to build support and achieve results.
Skills
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Benefits
This position offers a competitive salary range of $70,000 - $76,000 with top-notch benefits that have a cash value of $10,000 to $29,500, depending on family status and tenure with the Center. Benefits include a 97% employer-paid family health insurance that includes a contribution to a Health Savings Account, retirement options, a fantastic Employee Assistance Program, 12 paid holidays plus paid time off between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day, Friday Summer Hours, and vacation and sick pay.
Pay
This position has a salary range of $70,000 - $76,000.
Schedule
This is a full-time exempt position requiring regular travel to the Nebraska state capital and other locations, including both overnight and out-of-state travel on occasion.