Director, Strategy, Growth & Communications - What Work Cities

Organization: Results for America

Role: Director, Strategy, Growth & Communications - What Works Cities (WWC)
Location: Flexible, within the United States, Canada, and/or Latin America

Organization Overview

Results for America (RFA) is the leading, national nonprofit organization helping policymakers at all levels of government harness the power of evidence and data to solve the world’s greatest challenges. Our mission is to make investing in what works the “new normal,” so that, one day, all government leaders use rigorous evidence and quality data to inform important policy and funding decisions. We believe that data-driven and evidence-based policy decisions should be used to increase the impact of the over $2 trillion that governments spend annually to open opportunities and advance economic mobility. 

Team Overview

At Results for America, one of our flagship initiatives is What Works Cities (WWC), a Bloomberg Philanthropies-funded initiative that helps city governments across North, Central, and South America improve residents’ lives by using data and evidence effectively to tackle pressing challenges. To accomplish this, we work directly with city leaders and staff through coaching and implementation support, a range of online and in-person learning opportunities, and a growing professional network. This support is guided by What Works Cities Standard, the first-ever international standard of excellence for data-driven, well-managed local government.

What Works Cities Standard assesses cities based on their data-driven decision-making practices, such as whether they are using data to set goals and track progress, allocate funding, evaluate the effectiveness of programs, and achieve desired outcomes from contracts with outside vendors. The program also measures whether cities are publicly and transparently communicating about their use of data and evidence.

By aspiring toward What Works Cities Certification and implementing the best practices outlined in the program’s criteria, cities across the country are more effectively delivering results for residents. What Works Cities Certification also serves as an international recognition program, which celebrates and accelerates the use of data and evidence in local governments by rewarding achievements and providing a clear path to excellence. Since our launch in 2015, we have helped more than 300 cities make progress on their most pressing issues, from health and public safety to homelessness and blight. 

WWC is entering an exciting phase as it starts its second decade. The initiative is continuing to scale throughout North, Central, and South America while exploring opportunities to expand into new regions, including Europe and Africa. WWC is developing innovative ways for cities to engage with the initiative while elevating data-driven and evidence-based government practices globally.

Position Overview

The Director, Strategy, Growth & Communications is accountable for the development and execution of What Works Cities’ growth strategy, ensuring the initiative continues to expand its reach, influence, and impact across current and emerging markets.

This role leads WWC’s Strategy, Growth & Communications portfolio and is responsible for guiding expansion, outreach, and partnership development. The Director is accountable for identifying and cultivating pathways for cities to engage with WWC, expanding the initiative’s reach and brand influence while advancing opportunities to embed the What Works Cities Standard throughout the local government ecosystem. 

The Director also oversees  WWC’s Communications team, and is accountable for the development and  implementation of a  communications and marketing strategy that elevates WWC’s international brand and visibility. The Director will work to advance WWC’s mission and value proposition to further build the community of cities and government leaders that make up the WWC network.

This role will supervise two vertical leads in the related positions: Associate Director for Strategy & Growth and Associate Director for Strategic Communications. In order for this function to be successful, the individual in this position must work closely with the Senior Vice President & Managing Director, City Experience and the Operations & Planning teams to ensure growth strategies are aligned with organizational priorities, programmatic capacity, and market opportunities.

Skills paramount to success in this role requires strong strategic thinking and growth mindset; adaptive leadership; critical thinking; executive presence and inclusive team building.The ability to translate complex data driven strategies into actionable insights, strategies and storytelling to drive growth and impact. 

This is a full-time, exempt position, based in a home office anywhere within the United States, Canada, and/or Latin America.

International travel up to 40% annually may be required.

Position Reporting Relationship

The Director, Strategy, Growth & Communications reports to and works in close consultation with the Senior Vice President & Managing Director for What Works Cities.

Position Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Director include but are not limited to:

Portfolio Strategy & Growth (30%)

• Lead the development of and be accountable for the execution of WWC’s growth strategy across North, Central, and South America while evaluating future growth opportunities.
• Sets annual goals and KPIs aligned with WWC’s current and future growth.
• Lead the Strategy & Growth team to achieve annual targets by regularly monitoring performance goals and developing practices, models,  and initiatives to support successful implementation.
• Identify and translate trends, opportunities and risks across target markets and turn findings into strategic recommendations.
• Lead city segmentation, engagement pathways, and recruitment strategies that increase awareness, participation, and conversion throughout WWC’s pipeline. This includes ensuring potential opportunities for high-priority cities, regions, sectors, and institutional opportunities for engagement.
• Identify, cultivate, and maintain strategic relationships with senior government leaders, partners and key networks.

Strategic Communications (30%)

• Lead the development  and execution of a global communications and marketing strategy to ensure WWC’s standing as the preeminent international benchmark for data-driven government.
• Drive  external growth strategies to embed the What Works Cities Standard and criteria across partner institutions and regional networks.
• Set annual communications goals and KPIs aligned with WWC’s current and future communications and marketing needs.
• Ensure KPI metrics align with grant reporting, impact and evaluation deliverables,
• Lead cadence of performance management and reporting with the SVP & MD, WWC, and other leadership, as directed.
• Lead the development of the overarching WWC strategic communications plan by aligning messaging, tactics, brand governance, and thought leadership with organizational priorities.
• Manage editorial content to ensure brand consistency, tone, and strategy alignment to ensure WWC’s standing as the preeminent international benchmark for data-driven government. These efforts include the WWC Certification announcement, media pitches, press releases, editorial content, thought leadership events, etc. 
• Lead storytelling and narrative development across earned and owned platforms (blogs, op-eds, press releases, social media, reports) to highlight WWC and municipal government successes.
• Formulate the strategy and manage WWC’s presence at major conferences and activation events (e.g., panels, keynotes, workshops, sponsorships), ensuring strong presence and maximum brand exposure.
• Coordinate media relations and develop targeted PR campaigns to promote thought leadership and value promotion to attract strategic partnerships.

People Management & Team Development (30%)

• Lead the Strategy, Growth and Communications team to achieve ambitious annual and individual goals
• Building systems, processes, and operating norms that support effective team execution, collaboration, and accountability. 
• Lead, coach and develop a diverse team, modeling strong people-management skills and an inclusive, collaborative culture.
• Model and foster a team culture of innovation, continuous learning, and results-oriented performance.
• Generate actionable market insights that inform strategy development, outreach and partnership engagement.
• Support experimentation with new engagement models, partnerships, and growth initiatives. 
• Foster an environment of continuous learning by routinely capturing and sharing insights for key tactics and strategies. 
• Assist with managing communications agencies, PR firms, freelance writers, designers, and external vendors, ensuring on-time delivery and alignment with budget.

Operations & Cross Team Leadership (10%)

• Serve as a core member of the WWC leadership team, collaborating closely with Senior Vice President & Managing Director, City Experience, and Operations & Planning counterparts.
• Ensure Strategy, Growth & Communications workflows are integrated within WWC systems, processes and workflows.  Ensure alignment between outreach, engagement, and strategic communications objectives.
• Serve as a leader who champions RFA and WWC’s values, culture, and commitment to excellence.

Experience, Competencies, and Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications, as well as alignment with Results for America’s mission and organizational values:

Experience and Qualifications

• 12+ years of relevant work experience and a Bachelor’s degree.
• Required: Experience developing and leading growth, business development, partnership, or market expansion strategies.
• Required:  Demonstrated success developing and executing successful integrated marketing and communication strategies across digital and traditional platforms
• Required: At least 5-10 years of experience supervising multiple full-time staff and building multi-layer, high-performing teams.
• Preferred: Experience working within city or local government, public sector consulting, philanthropy, or government innovation organizations.
• Preferred:  Experience working across multiple countries, regions, or international markets.
• Preferred: Master’s degree (MPP, MPA, MBA, International Affairs, Public Policy, or related field).

• Prior experience managing annual budgets and strategic initiatives.
• Experience scaling a program and/or initiative with a preference for international experience. 
• Expertise in the communications and/or media sectors, with a particular focus on non-profit and philanthropic sectors
• Experience cultivating and managing senior-level partnerships and stakeholder relationships.
• A deep understanding of the current media and communications landscape, especially at the local government level.
• Strong media relations track record and experience; experience managing high-profile or sensitive issues.
• Tech stack: Salesforce, Google Suite, Asana, Slack, Zoom, Tableau; ChatGPT, Gemini & Claude. 

Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to set, lead and hold accountability for program or product efficacy and/or long-term projects with org-wide strategic impact. 
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to observe trends, risks and / or opportunities. 
• History of designing, developing, and investing a wide range of stakeholders in new or revised programs, products, and/or services 
• Proven ability to successfully set, collaborate on, and lead others to meet ambitious program or product goals and plans on a designated budget 
• Communicates confidently across diverse professional settings with a wide range of stakeholders and audiences, including executive-level leadership 
• Adaptive skill set; anticipates unplanned variables in completing projects, often in dynamic contexts 
• Models critical thinking; incorporates data, research, and feedback to drive decision-making at a program, product and/or service level 

Salary and Benefits

Results for America offers a compensation package that includes:   

• A competitive base salary commensurate with relevant work experience; and
• A benefits package that includes choice in medical plans; dental/vision coverage; paid time off; a 403b retirement plan with employer contribution.  

The salary range for this position is $147,041 - $191,386.

New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role.   

How to Apply

• To apply for this position, please complete and submit all information in the application link.
• RFA is an equal opportunity employer that values/celebrates diversity and that follows a policy of making all employment decisions and personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, partnership status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual offenses or stalking, military status, veteran status or any other category protected under federal, state or local law.
• Applicants for employment with RFA must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.