Policy Director

Invest STL is expanding its team and hiring its first Policy Director. The position focuses on Invest STL’s policy piloting and advocacy agenda and leads our Policy Design + Activation Team, who convene thought leadership and identify, try, evaluate and facilitate innovative ideas as potential interventions for systemic issues facing predominantly Black neighborhoods. We are seeking an experienced leader in community and economic development-related applied research and model building to direct and steward the next phase of our policy work.

Applications will be accepted through October 18, 2026.

Invest STL facilitates investment in the power of people and their neighborhoods to create communities of justice and opportunity in places that continue to endure the legacy of systemic anti-Black racism. We seek to do this by generating trust-based, community-driven, neighborhood-based investments; investing in the regional community and economic development system; influencing policies and decision-making that advance equitable development; and reframing prevailing narratives in our region about predominantly Black neighborhoods and the people, power, challenges and dreams that they hold.

Catch a glimpse of who we are and how we work here.

Reporting to the CEO and serving as a member of our leadership team, the Policy Director will supervise Policy team staff members and will leverage a deep understanding of systemic community and economic development challenges affecting Black neighborhoods to drive our piloting and advocacy agendas and approaches. In coalition with relevant stakeholders—including leaders from grassroots, movement, public, academic, and capital sectors—the Policy Director will be responsible for leading ongoing initiatives and exploration of new models for place-based wealth- and power-building that can be scaled for system adoption to prevent displacement and support existing communities to flourish in place.

This is a great opportunity for a community leader who cares deeply about creating a just and thriving St. Louis and building precedence for similar communities around the country. You will have the opportunity to help expand the impact of a well-respected and growing organization; to develop and implement a bold policy strategy for systems change; and to cultivate and grow a team of dedicated professionals.

Policy Strategy and Leadership

• Collaborate with community and economic development and community partners to identify policy priorities and opportunities.

• Monitor and analyze local, regional, and national policy trends and developments that impact Invest STL’s work and intended outcomes.

• Develop and lead implementation of policy piloting and advocacy agendas and approaches that align with Invest STL’s mission and goals.

• Convene multi-stakeholder coalitions, direct research analysis, and guide strategic planning to help design new policy-related ideas and interventions.

• Lift up observations and learnings from investee partners to inform Invest STL's priorities and activities for regional policy recommendations and advocacy to advance equitable neighborhood development.

• Develop and maintain relationships with policymakers and influencers, community leaders, and advocacy organizations.

Policy/Practice Design, Piloting + Embedding

• Convene and work with local and national stakeholders to develop potential policy solutions that address systemic challenges to wealth, well-being, staying in place and power building in predominantly Black neighborhoods.

• Guide piloting staff from concept development through implementation and evaluation

• Oversee the selection and deliverables of third-party evaluators

• Oversee the production of research reports,…