Senior Associate – Workforce Development; Equitable Economies

Estolano Advisors (EA) is an award-winning urban planning and public policy firm that provides clients with equity-focused solutions to create thriving, healthy, vibrant communities. We use an interdisciplinary approach to advising our clients in nonprofits, philanthropy, and government on policies, programs, and actions that benefit communities most affected by racial, economic, and environmental injustice. We are a Latina-owned small business headquartered in Downtown Los Angeles, with staff in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest. This is a hybrid position (two days per week in office).

What we do

▪Community Planning

▪Childcare Policy and Planning

▪Equitable Economic Development Strategy

▪Financing Strategies

▪Grantmaking Program Design

▪Housing Policy

▪Implementation & Action Plans

▪Meeting Facilitation; Multi-Stakeholder Process Management

▪Non-Profit & Joint Powers Authority Management Services

▪Organizational development

▪Philanthropic Advisement

▪Policy Education & Training

▪Policy Research & Analysis

▪Real Estate Advisory Services

▪Spatial Analysis

▪Strategic Planning

▪Structuring and Facilitating Community Benefits Agreement Negotiations

▪Technical Assistance & Grant Writing

▪Workforce Development Strategies

At EA, you'll help us grow our work with philanthropy, governments, and frontline communities to advance equitable outcomes across the Bay Area and beyond. We work on programs and policies to transition to a climate-ready workforce, create care-based and just economies, shape large-scale mobility and climate projects, and advance engagement strategies that move decision-making power closer to communities.

Senior Associates work closely with clients and Directors and Principals to shape project vision and direction throughout the life of a project. As a Senior Associate, you will manage a diverse range of projects and lead project teams to implement scopes of work, including delivering high quality services and work product. In addition, you will apply and expand your skills in writing for varied audiences, planning and facilitating stakeholder engagement, and developing pragmatic strategies and actionable recommendations for our clients. A Senior Associate will direct the work of Associates, Project Assistants, and Research Analysts and will be guided and supervised by Directors and Principals. You will work both independently and in collaboration with team members firm-wide to demonstrate how an interdisciplinary, strategic approach can create equitable, healthy, and sustainable communities.

The right person for this position will have demonstrated experience effectively managing multi-member teams, skillfully integrating research and data analysis into policy design, thoughtfully convening diverse stakeholder groups to advance shared goals, and working closely with clients. Our ideal candidate is a creative problem solver who can work collaboratively in a team to deliver results.

Specific duties for the Senior Associate position include:

•Manage multiple projects and ensure effective alignment with budgets, scopes, staffing, timelines, invoicing, and project delivery.

•Work with and manage clients, subcontractors, and related contracts, including managing client communications and expectations.

•Develop and maintain relationships with regional partners and advocates -- especially those working with low-income communities of color.

•Manage input gathering and guidance from project stakeholders, often including government, workforce, labor, industry and community stakeholders.

•Facilitation and meeting management.

• Work with and present to technical and policy staff from public agencies, non-profits, elected officials, and the public.

•Lead the preparation and compilation of reports, presentations, and proposals.

•Provide quality assurance / quality control on all work products.

•Support business development activities and proposal development

•Supervise and mentor assigned staff.

•Stay current on evolving trends in urban planning and other policy areas.

•Develop expertise in emerging policy areas.

•Administrative tasks, as needed.

Skills

Successful candidates must have outstanding project management skills, analytical and writing skills, creative problem-solving skills, excellent listening skills, a professional demeanor, and the ability to work well in a team setting. Demonstrated skills and proficiencies for this role include:

•Ability to effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously to achieve goals.

•Excellent writing and communication skills.

•Effective facilitation of groups with a variety of stakeholders.

•Ability to manage and create internal and external research products and materials.

•Ability to collaborate on research and analysis projects with a range of technical experts.

•Experience advancing racial equity policies and programs in affected communities through work with organizations that may include government agencies, non-profit and community organizations.

•Strong familiarity with progressive social change practices, particularly in racial justice and related fields (e.g., poverty, labor/employment, criminal justice, immigration, education, health care, food justice, reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ rights, etc.).

•Ability to translate high-level and technical concepts to a range of audiences in an accessible and productive way.

•Experience leading teams working on challenging, deadline- and budget-driven projects and a proven ability to complete projects on time and on budget.

Qualifications

Candidates also must have work experience and education in one or more of the following areas:

•Urban Planning and Land Use

•Real Estate Development

•Housing and Homelessness Policy

•Economic Development

•Climate and Environmental Policy

•Public Policy

•Transportation Planning

•Workforce Development

•Just Transition policy and planning

A Master’s Degree in any of these or related fields and at least three years of full-time relevant work experience is required, or a BA plus at least seven years of relevant work and management experience. Fluency in Spanish and cultural competency with communities of color are strongly preferred.