Strategic Engagement & Programs Analyst

Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham Advance in your career while making a realdifferencein the community you serve. Hiring Range:$80,000- $90,000 Annually Hours/Shift: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (some flexibility available) * This position is primarily in-person and based in the field/community; limited remote work may be available.Occasional evening and weekend work is required to support community meetings, events, and engagement activities. The City of Durham's Community Partnerships & Engagement Department leads inclusive, coordinated, and data-driven community engagement across all departments. By centralizing efforts, we streamline communication, maximize resources, and ensure consistent, high-quality outreach. Equity is at the core of our mission-centering the voices of historically marginalized communities through integrated Digital Inclusion, Language Access, and ADA programs. We serve as the hub for all engagement initiatives, helping the City connect more effectively with residents and make better, more inclusive decisions. The Strategic Engagement & Programs Analyst leads the development and implementation of strategic initiatives focused on supporting justice-involved residents and other priority populations. Working closely with department leadership, this position plays a key role in both designing and executing programs that expand access to resources, build skills, strengthen community connections, and support successful pathways to stability and reintegration. This is a unique opportunity to help shape a growing area of work from the ground up. During the initial phase, the Analyst will partner with leadership and community stakeholders to co-design new programs and initiatives, helping define goals, frameworks, and implementation strategies. Once designed, the Analyst will take primary responsibility for leading and implementing the work, managing day-to-day program operations, coordinating partners, and ensuring successful delivery of outcomes. As a new and evolving initiative area, the Analyst conducts research on emerging practices, identifies innovative models, and develops data-informed programs that are meaningful, responsive, and transformative. Responsibilities include creating program frameworks, implementation plans, training materials, performance measures, and evaluation strategies to support long-term success. This position is primarily focused on the development and implementation of justice-involved initiatives, with secondary responsibility for supporting the Participatory Budgeting (PB) program as needed. This is a hands-on role that requires strong analytical, organizational, project management, and communication skills. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who can build programs from concept to execution, effectively engage community stakeholders, manage multiple priorities, and successfully implement complex initiatives in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment. Experience working with justice-involved individuals, at-risk youth, or other underserved populations is highly desired KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Program Design & Development (Primary) * Lead the research, design, and development of programs supporting justice-involved and at-risk populations * Identify best practices and evidence-based models to inform program design * Develop program frameworks, implementation plans, and training materials that build skills and strengthen community capacity * Partner with leadership to define program goals, scope, and performance measures Program Implementation & Coordination * Lead implementation of new initiatives, ensuring alignment with timelines, goals, and intended outcomes * Coordinate with internal departments, community partners, and service providers to support program delivery * Monitor progress, troubleshoot challenges, and adjust strategies to improve effectiveness Community Engagement & Capacity Building * Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, service providers, and stakeholders * Support and facilitate trainings, workshops, and engagement activities that empower participants and strengthen community capacity * Ensure programs are accessible, responsive, and grounded in community needs Data, Evaluation & Reporting * Collect, track, and analyze data to measure program performance and impact * Support development of evaluation frameworks and continuous improvement strategies * Prepare reports, presentations, and materials for leadership and stakeholders Participatory Budgeting Support (Secondary) * Provide support to the Participatory Budgeting Program Analyst as needed Core Competencies * Strong program design and development skills, with the ability to translate research into actionable initiatives * Experience working with justice-involved or at-risk populations, with an understanding of barriers and support systems * Ability to design and deliver capacity-building programs that are practical, inclusive, and impactful * Strong analytical skills and ability to use data to inform decisions and evaluate outcomes * Strong written and verbal communication skills, including developing reports, presentations, and training materials * Bachelor's degree in Public Policy, Social Work, Criminal Justice, Community Development, or a related field. * Two years of professional program administration and/or analytical experience in area of assignment. * Master's degree (MPA, MPP, or related). * Experience designing and implementing programs that support justice-involved or at-risk populations. * Experience with capacity-building initiatives, workforce development, reentry programs, or community-based services. * Experience conducting research and applying best practices to program development. * Experience working in or with local government, nonprofits, or community-based organizations. * Strong data management and analysis skills. * Experience facilitating trainings, workshops, or group sessions. * Ability to create clear, engaging written materials and presentations.