Associate, Strategy & Growth, What Works Cities

Organization : Results for America

Role : Associate, Strategy & Growth, What Works Cities (WWC)

Location : Flexible, within the United States and/or Canada

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 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.

• Position Overview
• The Associate, Strategy & Growth, What Works Cities will play a key role in supporting the Strategy & Growth function by managing the operational backbone of city engagement while contributing to strategic insights that inform outreach and growth decisions. This role is designed for a highly organized and analytical professional who can effectively balance execution and strategy — ensuring strong pipeline management, high-quality data tracking, and actionable research that supports regional growth.

The Associate will work closely with the Associate Director and cross-functional teams to strengthen the city engagement pipeline, improve internal processes, and generate insights that help expand What Works Cities’ reach and impact.

Travel expected up to 30% annually will be required to support city visits and/or external convenings.

This is a full-time, exempt position, based in a home office anywhere within the U.S. or Canada

Position Reporting Relationship

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

Position Responsibilities

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

Experience, Competencies, and Qualifications

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

Experience & Qualifications:

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.

Competencies & Skills:

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