Associate, Strategy & Growth, What Works Cities

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. 

At Results for America, one of our flagship local initiatives is What Works Cities (WWC), a Bloomberg Philanthropies-funded initiative that helps city governments across the country 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 Certification, the first-ever international standard of excellence for data-driven, well-managed local government.

What Works Cities Certification 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 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. 

Now in its 11th year, What Works Cities is entering an exciting new phase. The initiative will continue scaling across North, Central, and South America, surpassing the 100 Certified cities milestone while also exploring other regional markets. WWC is also developing innovative ways for cities to engage and build capacity from those just beginning their Certification journey to those deepening their work as Certified cities. 

The Associate, Strategy & Growth, What Works Cities reports to the Associate Director, Strategy & Growth, What Works Cities. 

The responsibilities of the Associate include, but are not limited to: 

• →Outreach & Operational Support (40%)
• →Support the execution of outreach campaigns and engagement initiatives
• →Support outreach and recruitment efforts to engage cities in the WWC Initiative, including drafting emails, preparing outreach materials, and assisting with information sessions
• →Coordinate scheduling, follow-ups, and communications with city representatives
• →Maintain organized records of outreach activities and engagement history
• →Assist in preparing materials for city meetings, webinars, and briefings
• →Attend conferences to meet with city practitioners and staff to promote the What Works Cities initiative and support recruitment efforts
• →Ensure smooth operational flow across outreach activities

• →Research & Market Intelligence (30%)
• →Conduct research on cities, regional ecosystems, and public sector innovation trends
• →Support the identification of target cities, including identifying readiness factors and documenting findings to inform outreach prioritization
• →Maintain and update databases of cities, partners, and ecosystem actors
• →Monitor relevant policy, innovation, and governance developments in the region
• →Contribute to research briefs and strategic insights for internal use

• →Pipeline Operations and Continuous Improvement (30%)
  • →Pipeline & CRM Management
    • →Maintain and update the city engagement pipeline in CRM (e.g., Salesforce)
    • →Track city progression across all stages (awareness → engagement → Data Snapshot → Assessment → Certification)
    • →Ensure data accuracy, completeness, and consistency across pipeline records
    • →Support pipeline reporting and internal tracking systems
    • →Identify gaps, inconsistencies, and opportunities to improve pipeline visibility
  • →Performance Tracking & Insights
    • →Support the development and maintenance of growth dashboards and reports
    • →Analyze engagement data and pipeline trends
    • →Identify patterns in city engagement and conversion
    • →Provide insights to improve outreach strategies and targeting
    • →Contribute to periodic performance reviews and strategic discussions
  • →Process Improvement 
    • →Identify opportunities to improve internal workflows and coordination
    • →Help standardize outreach and pipeline management processes
    • →Support the development of tools, templates, and documentation
    • →Contribute to building scalable systems for growth

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

• 3-6 years of general professional experience and a college degree (or equivalent practical work experience).
  • 2–4 years of relevant experience in marketing, consulting, public sector, or related fields
• Experience working with local government, a knowledge of their structures and constraints, and a commitment to driving innovation and improvements in the effectiveness of local governments.
• Experience working with Canadian municipalities or within Canada’s local government ecosystem valued
• Experience with research and analysis, customer service, and relationship management.
• Demonstrated track record of successful project completion and results from production even in ambiguous environments, taking initiative to solve problems, and cultivating strong, mutually beneficial partnerships.
• Experience in successfully managing relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience working in the nonprofit/philanthropic sector is a plus
• Tech stack: Salesforce, Tableau, Google Suite, MS Office, Asana, Slack, WhatsApp 
• A commitment to Results for America’s mission and vision.
• Respect for Results for America’s organizational values, including diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Strong organizational and project management skills, with demonstrated ability to prioritize and independently manage multiple workstreams, meet deadlines, and drive work forward with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to coordinate across internal and external stakeholders, support city-facing outreach, and communicate clearly and professionally in a fast-paced environment.
• Analytical mindset, with the ability to interpret data, identify patterns, conduct structured research, and generate insights to support prioritization, decision-making, and continuous improvement.
• Stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to support relationship-building with cities, partners, and ecosystem actors through strong follow-through, responsiveness, and effective coordination.
• CRM and operational management skills, with the ability to maintain accurate pipeline data, support tracking and reporting, and ensure consistency across outreach and engagement processes.

• To apply for this position, please complete and submit all information in the application/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 and/or Canada.