Principal, Inclusive Cities

About the role

The Principal will serve as the day-to-day project lead for public-sector, philanthropic, and quasi-public clients, ensuring work is grounded in political, fiscal, and operational realities. They will lead complex client engagements from scoping through delivery, manage budgets, timelines, and multidisciplinary teams to produce clear, actionable recommendations. They will translate policy goals into executable strategies, including program design, governance frameworks, capital strategies, and implementation roadmaps. They will oversee rigorous analysis and deliverable production, maintain high standards of clarity, accuracy, and usefulness for senior decision-makers. They will manage and mentor project teams, providing direction, feedback, and support while fostering a culture of rigor, inclusion, and respect. They will engage directly with senior public-sector and philanthropic leaders, supporting decision-making through developing structured options and implementation-focused guidance. They will actively support business development by cultivating client relationships, contributing to proposals, and identifying opportunities aligned with the Inclusive Cities practice.

The right candidate will also bring a desire to leverage their own networks and experiences to design new projects for new clients that address new challenges faced by cities and those who care about them. Principals are considered leaders within the practice and the firm, and are also expected to contribute to our collective knowledge, mentor younger staff, and embody the culture we seek to create in our cities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the day-to-day project lead for public-sector, philanthropic, and quasi-public clients, ensuring work is grounded in political, fiscal, and operational realities.
• Lead complex client engagements from scoping through delivery, managing budgets, timelines, and multidisciplinary teams to produce clear, actionable recommendations.
• Translate policy goals into executable strategies, including program design, governance frameworks, capital strategies, and implementation roadmaps.
• Oversight rigorous analysis and deliverable production, maintaining high standards of clarity, accuracy, and usefulness for senior decision-makers.
• Manage and mentor project teams, providing direction, feedback, and support while fostering a culture of rigor, inclusion, and respect.
• Engage directly with senior public-sector and philanthropic leaders, supporting decision-making through developing structured options and implementation-focused guidance.
• Actively support business development by cultivating client relationships, contributing to proposals, and identifying opportunities aligned with the Inclusive Cities practice.

Requirements

• 12+ years of relevant experience.
• Substantial experience working in or with NYC government or comparably complex city systems, with a strong understanding of city operations, budgets, and political dynamics.
• Deep expertise in one or more of the following areas: equitable economic development, workforce and education systems, housing and land use, public finance, criminal legal system reform, or governance innovation.
• Demonstrated credibility with public-sector leaders, philanthropy, community-based organizations, and civic institutions.
• Experience navigating political and stakeholder dynamics to move work from ambition to implementation.
• Strong analytical and problem-structuring skills, with the ability to evaluate trade-offs and design actionable strategies.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills, tailored to policymakers, funders, and institutional leaders.
• Experience engaging communities in trust-building, non-extractive ways.
• Comfort using emerging analytical and productivity tools to support research, analysis, and deliverable development.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice, collaborative leadership, and public service.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Urban Planning, Public Policy, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Master's degree in a relevant field preferred.
• Professional certifications in relevant fields such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), or similar.

Skills

• Project management and leadership skills.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant software.

Benefits

HR&A offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive compensation packages, based on qualifications and experience.
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) for long-term wealth-building.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Flexible work arrangements through a hybrid work policy.

Pay

The annual base salary range for this position is between $155,600 and $184,260. This role is also eligible for a discretionary year-end bonus. Where an offer falls inside this pay range is dependent on experience.

Schedule

This role is full-time and hybrid, requiring employees to work from the office at least three days a week.