Associate, Operations & Planning, What Works Cities

Organization: Results for America

Role: Associate, Operations & Planning, What Works Cities

Location: Flexible, within the United States

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 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. 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 10th year, What Works Cities is entering an exciting new phase. The initiative will continue scaling across North, Central, and South America, surpassing the milestone of 100 Certified cities 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

Results for America is seeking a highly organized and proactive professional to join the What Works Cities team as an Associate, Operations & Planning. This role supports the Managing Director and Director of Operations & Planning in ensuring smooth day-to-day operations, coordination, and systems management across a fast-paced, dynamic initiative. The Associate will play a central role in maintaining operational efficiency across key functions, including contract and budget management, knowledge management, meeting coordination, and cross-team logistics. This is an exciting opportunity for an early-career professional eager to contribute to a mission-driven organization, learn in a collaborative environment, and provide detail-oriented, proactive support to a growing team.

Travel up to 20% annually may be required.

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

Position Reporting Relationship

The Associate will be embedded within the WWC Operations & Planning team and report jointly to the Managing Director of What Works Cities and the Director of Operations & Planning, who will provide oversight, guidance, and alignment with WWC’s operational and programmatic priorities.

Position Responsibilities

The Associate will be responsible for:

Managing Director Support (50%):

• Travel Arrangements & Expense Reports
• Coordinate travel for the Managing Director, including funder and partner meetings, site visits, and public events.
• Prepare detailed itineraries and travel memos outlining objectives, participants, and key background materials.
• Complete and submit routine and travel-based expense reports in a timely manner.

• Scheduling & Calendar Management
• Support schedule management in coordination with the Scheduler, ensuring meetings are well-prioritized and aligned with strategic goals.
• Manage the flow of internal and external meetings (virtual and in-person), including drafting agendas and ensuring appropriate materials are shared in advance.
• Anticipate short- and long-term scheduling needs to ensure sustainable pacing and alignment with organizational priorities.
  
  
• Develop presentations
• Draft and develop presentations for internal and external audiences.
  
  
• Meeting Preparation, Correspondence & Follow-Up
• Ensure the Managing Director is fully briefed for internal and external meetings by preparing background materials, talking points, presentations, and other supporting documents.
• Draft, proof, and edit correspondence and materials, including presentations, letters, memos, and reports on behalf of the Managing Director.
• Develop and coordinate presentations for internal and external audiences, ensuring timely and accurate input from team members and alignment with WWC and RFA messaging.
• Support post-meeting follow-up and coordination with team members and external partners as needed.

• Team & Special Projects
• Assist with the design and coordination of WWC team retreats and other internal events.
• Lead or support special projects assigned by the Managing Director to advance team priorities and operational goals.

Operations & Planning Support (50%)

Contracts and Budget Management

• Assist with contract tracking, renewals, and review processes.
• Support budget monitoring, invoice management, and expense processing.
• Manage and track What Works Cities team subscriptions in coordination with RFA’s tech and finance teams.

Meetings and Events

• Manage team calendars, meeting logistics, and forward-looking planning.
• Coordinate weekly team meetings, agendas, and follow-up.
• Support logistics and materials for all-team retreats, presentations, and events.
• Lead team-wide scheduling meetings with relevant stakeholders to ensure alignment.

Cross-Organizational Coordination

• Track and support WWC’s participation in RFA-wide initiatives (e.g., Opportunity for All, annual planning, performance review cycles, and all-staff updates), including preparing materials and presentations as needed.
• Coordinate translation and vendor requests as needed.

Knowledge & Systems Management

• Maintain WWC’s digital filing systems to ensure accurate documentation and easy access to key materials.
• Support the Salesforce new city user approval process in collaboration with the Salesforce Administrator.
• Serve as a point of contact for What Works Cities staff on operational systems and processes.

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.

Experiences:

• 3-6  years of relevant professional experience in operations, administration, or program support. 
• Government experience (federal, state, and/or county/city) is valued.
• Strong administrative skills, including professional email communication, note-taking, and calendar management.
• Demonstrated track record of successful project completion and taking initiative to anticipate and solve problems.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Experience supporting in-person and virtual events, including meeting coordination, managing trackers/databases, and supporting budgets or contracts.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive) and/or Microsoft Office Suite; experience with Salesforce is a plus.
• A commitment to Results for America’s mission and vision; 
• Respect for Results for America’s organizational values.

Competencies & Skills:

• Passion and excitement for administrative, operations, and team scheduling work.;
• Excellent organizational and project management skills with strong attention to detail and accuracy. 
• Interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships across teams.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, results-oriented workplace.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in record-keeping.
• High degree of flexibility and adaptability to a changing environment.
• Proactive and solutions-oriented, able to work both independently and collaboratively across multiple teams.
• Commitment to Results for America’s mission and values, including diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Preferred tools experience: Salesforce, Asana.

Salary and Benefits:

Results for America offers a compensation package that includes:

• A competitive base salary commensurate with relevant work experience; and
• A benefits package that includes choice in medical plans, dental/vision coverage, paid time off, and a 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution.

The salary range for this position is $72,353 - $84,023

New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and the midpoint, depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please complete and submit all information in the application link. 

Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to include their pronouns in their cover letter.

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.