Project Lead (We Belong Here)

Our valued partners at Civic Commons are in search of a Project Lead to help spearhead We Belong Here (WBH) initiatives. This role will involve managing dynamic programs, coordinating thrilling events, and driving outreach activities throughout the Greater Seattle area and eventually across the entire state of Washington.

Position Highlights

• Target Hiring Range: $77,000 - $98,000; Full Salary Range: $67,000 - $108,000
• Type: Permanent; Full-Time, Salary/Exempt
• Location: Hybrid Work Model; Offices located downtown Seattle, WA
• Submission Requirements:
• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Excellent PTO Package: Enjoy 3 weeks of vacation, 2 weeks of sick leave, 4 wellness days, and 13 holidays.

Who Are We?

Civic Commons, fiscally sponsored by Seattle Foundation, launched to take action on our region’s biggest economic and social challenges. By elevating community voices and uniting different sectors around mutually agreed goals, Civic Commons aims to build the infrastructure and collective muscle needed to address the root causes of inequity in King County. The networks of people and approaches that make up Civic Commons will become the foundation of real change in everyone’s quality of life.  

What’s the Opportunity?

Belonging is more than merely a “welcoming” stance for current and new residents. When you belong, you hear more than just “come on in.” Someone remembers your life and asks how your mother’s operation went, or whether your roof is still leaking. Belonging means you’ve got a key to the house, a regular order at the restaurant, a seat on the board. You have a network that trusts, recruits you, and supports you. They sit with you at the hospital and help you find the right roofer. It speaks to the strength of the local economy, the state of diversity and inclusion, as well as the level of social cohesion and social capital in a community.

Civic Commons views Belonging as a vital condition and capacity for improving outcomes in a community. To build a more equitable, thriving future, everyone must be included and have the ability and agency to shape their community’s future. Belonging and civic muscle provide a way for people with different and divergent interests to work together around common values.

At an important moment in the organization’s journey, the We Belong Here Project Lead will lead efforts that develop, expand and cultivate the body of work that will impact belonging and civic muscle.

“We Belong Here” is about placing our region on a path where:

• We work with intention across sectors, institutions, and communities to apply our region’s assets and untapped capacities to create a more inclusive future;
• We co-create lasting solutions to our toughest regional challenges by tackling the underlying problems rather than just focusing on the symptoms;
• Our region progresses in a way that reflects our values:  We become a place where everyone has a sense of belonging and can contribute their best.

 The We Belong Here (WBH) Project Lead (PM) will lead the creation of WBH programming, events, and outreach across the Greater Seattle region and increasingly, across Washington state. This role will develop WBH learning and training materials, facilitate and lead workshops, maintain current WBH partnerships, and recruit new WBH partners.

The Project Lead is a leadership role that reports to the Civic Architect of Civic Commons. The Project Lead is responsible for managing the initiative,, conducting outreach to key stakeholders throughout the community about the initiative and its work, coordinating with partners and consultants on data collection, analysis and presentation, providing communications support, and handling the myriad logistical and administrative details needed for the initiative to function smoothly.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Project management  

• Serve as primary liaison for We Belong Here
• Shape and manage the execution of programs 

• Conducting outreach with cross section of key community stakeholders  

• Hold conversations with players in existing initiatives to begin a conversation about aligning those initiatives and resources to achieve better equitable outcomes  

• Draft meeting agendas and oversee communication with external partners and consultants 

• Designing WBH programming and leveraging that for business development  

• Set deadlines and action items, and share them with colleagues and external partners  

• Support relationship development with other potential funders and lead reporting to  

• collaborating funders. 

• Work collaboratively with partners to conceptualize, define, and enhance innovative ideas in alignment with the initiative's priorities.  

 Community outreach  

• Represent Civic Commons/We Belong Here at public events, external meetings and other community engagement opportunities  

• Cultivate and develop relationships with an extended set of community partners and stakeholders across the state. 

• Work with the communications manager to develop public relations strategy that grows base of partners and donors  

• Work with the communications manager to track and measure the impact of this work   

 Event planning & Content Creation  

• Work with the communications manager and operations lead to plan belonging events hosted by Civic Commons  

• Oversee programming and project management, such as securing venue, soliciting and training speakers, and ensuring deadlines are met  

• Experience: Minimum of three years’ experience managing projects, specifically experience with planning, organizing and supporting efforts designed to engage community-based organizations and the general public around specific issues, projects, or strategies.
• Project Management: Able to manage all day-to-day operations and activities of the project, including driving to results, scheduling and coordinating meeting logistics (including agenda prep and follow-up).
• Collaboration: Encourages collaboration and effectively manage a large coalition of diverse stakeholders toward a common goal.
• Group Facilitation:  Able to design and co-facilitate large meetings of diverse audiences and coordinate collaborative efforts among all key stakeholders, while promoting common priorities and identifying concrete next steps.
• Relationship Building:  Engages with a wide variety of stakeholders to ensure community buy-in, support, and execution of the identified approaches.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred or on the job training with over three years of experience in a similar capacity required.
• Achieving Results: Successfully leading the development and implementation of collaborative efforts, effectively balancing the interests of a wide range of constituencies, while gaining support for collective priorities.
• Creativity: Open to new ideas and have the ability to challenge traditional thinking, while bringing unique insight to planning and brain-storming sessions.
• Effective Communication:  Brings the ability to speak to/with many audiences, and can effectively communicate while being both direct and diplomatic.
• Neutrality:  Can facilitate groups toward the desired goals, while maintaining neutrality to results. Skilled in managing teamwork processes and driving for results.

• 100% Paid by employer: medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, LTD. 403(b)

• Retirement matched at 5%; increasing to 10% over time, 100% immediate vesting.
• PTO: 3 weeks’ vacation, 2 weeks sick, 4 wellness days, 13 holidays,
• $1,200 annual remote work benefit, $750 annual wellness benefit, $1,200 annual transit benefit; Professional development stipend, optional Flex plan and dependent coverage.
• The hiring range reflects Civic Commons' objective to hire at approximately the mid-range within the associated grade. Per Washington State law, Civic Commons discloses the full range of the associated grade for this position; this range is 100% of range and has not been adjusted. 

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

Flexible; can be fully in-person, or hybrid (remote and in-person). This position is expected to be in the office 1-2 times per week as needed for collaborative meetings. Office is located in downtown Seattle. Must live in WA state. All positions require the capability of working at a PC for extended periods. Team efforts with event support may require periods of physical activity involving standing, walking, and moderate lifting. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary functions of the role

Safety and Health Requirements:

Civic Commons (Seattle Foundation) places the health and safety of its employees and the communities we serve as our highest priority. To support this priority, we require that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Waivers are available for accepted medical and religious exemptions.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

Civic Commons is committed to advancing racial equity using an intersectional lens, and integrate our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts into all that we do. We hold ourselves accountable to uphold our organizational values and strive to do better every day.