Associate Director of Policy - Eastern Nebraska

Do you have the appetite for advocacy, leadership, and creating lasting impact? The Center for Rural Affairs is seeking an Associate Director of Policy to be a key member of the Policy team.

Read on. We might be looking for you!

In this role, you’ll help drive Nebraska policy initiatives, support and develop a talented team, manage key grant funded projects, cultivate relationships with stakeholders and advocates, and advance a mission driven strategy that creates lasting impact across the state.

The Center for Rural Affairs is a dynamic, energetic non-profit organization working to build a better rural future for all. We’ve done this work for more than 50 years and we do it from rural places with a flexible work environment. The Center focuses on capital access, community capacity, and policy advocacy strategies with work in areas of food systems, community resources, small business support, and environment and resilience.

The Center’s work is rooted in our mission-aligned values. We believe that a diversity of people and ideas strengthens our work, our workplace, and our communities. We take equal opportunity seriously and we welcome applicants from a variety of backgrounds. Additional information can be found a.org.

The Associate Director of Policy reports to the Director of Policy and will work closely with the Policy team. The Associate Director of Policy is responsible for the following:

• 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.

To be successful in this job, 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. People trust you because you’re efficient with their time and have their best interests in mind. You’re able to build networks, as well as alliances, and find points of collaboration even when there are competing interests on your time. You develop and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders and can bring in allies and partners.
• 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. You take a strategic approach in your work and have an affinity for the details.
• 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. You use resources wisely and can provide clear direction to staff, partners, and contractors to leverage time and resources for impact.
• 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 talent for impact. You understand the importance of effective delegation and empower others by assigning responsibilities that align with their strengths to maximize efficiency and results.
• 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. You recognize that investment in communities, people, and…