Participatory Budgeting (PB) Programs Analyst

Position Description

Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve. Hiring Range: $80,000 - $90,000 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 Participatory Budgeting (PB) Program Analyst manages the day-to-day implementation of the City's Participatory Budgeting program, leading all phases from community idea collection through proposal development, voting, and project implementation.

This is a highly community-facing position that requires a strong background in community engagement, relationship-building, and public participation. The Analyst is responsible for designing and implementing engagement strategies that ensure residents—particularly those from historically underserved communities—have meaningful opportunities to participate in decision-making. This includes building relationships with residents, community organizations, schools, neighborhood groups, and other stakeholders while serving as an ambassador for the Participatory Budgeting program throughout Durham.

A central responsibility of this role is leading the proposal development phase, including coordinating and guiding teams of resident volunteers (Budget Delegates) through the project vetting process. This includes organizing workflows, facilitating meetings, supporting feasibility reviews, and ensuring proposals are accurate and aligned with City requirements. This work requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to use data to track progress and ensure accuracy.

The Analyst also serves as the primary coordinator for the Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee (PBSC) and works closely with City departments, technical staff, and community partners to move projects from concept to implementation. Responsibilities include tracking project timelines, budgets, deliverables, and community commitments to ensure successful outcomes.

This position operates in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment with multiple concurrent projects and firm deadlines tied to public processes. The ideal candidate is a dependable self-starter with experience in community engagement, public participation, or community-based program management. Candidates should be comfortable working directly in neighborhoods, facilitating meetings and discussions, engaging diverse audiences, and building trust with residents from all backgrounds. Strong communication, relationship-building, and organizational skills are essential, as is the ability to manage competing priorities, work effectively under pressure, and see projects through to completion.

Duties/Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all phases of the Participatory Budgeting process
• Coordinate with internal departments to assess project feasibility, scope, and cost
• Support residents and stakeholders in developing project proposals
• Oversee implementation of funded projects, ensuring timelines, budgets, and deliverables are met

Community Engagement & PBSC Coordination

• Design and implement outreach and engagement strategies to ensure broad and equitable participation
• Serve as the primary liaison to the Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee (PBSC), including meeting coordination, facilitation, and ongoing support
• Build and maintain strong relationships with residents, community organizations, and stakeholders

Program Operations & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and maintain program policies, procedures, and performance measures
• Monitor program outcomes and implement process improvements to strengthen effectiveness
• Manage program communications and ensure timely updates to stakeholders and the public

Data, Reporting & Communications

• Track and analyze program data, participation, and outcomes
• Prepare reports, presentations, and City Council agenda materials
• Develop training and presentation materials for residents, staff, and stakeholders

Core Skills & Competencies

• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with tight timelines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience developing reports, presentations, and training materials
• Experience with community engagement and building relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Ability to analyze data and support program evaluation and improvement
• Proficiency with technology and digital tools for program management, communication, and data tracking

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Planning, or a related field.
• Two years of professional program administration and/or analytical experience in area of assignment.

Additional Preferred Skills

• Master's degree (MPA, MPP, or related).
• Experience with Participatory Budgeting, community planning, or other civic engagement processes.
• Experience working in or with local government and navigating cross-departmental coordination.
• Experience facilitating groups, trainings, or working with volunteer teams.
• Experience supporting project implementation, including tracking timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
• Strong data management and analysis skills, including experience using data to inform decisions and improve programs.
• Experience developing reports, presentations, and public-facing materials.

Benefits

• 12-13 paid holidays per year
• 13 standard work days of vacation per year
• 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement
• 2 weeks paid military leave per year
• Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans
• State and City retirement plans
• Short and long term disability plans
• Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions
• City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System
• Paid funeral leave
• Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling
• Paid life insurance equal to annual salary
• 48 hours for volunteer work each year*
• 4 hours parental leave each year
• Workman's Compensation Insurance
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plans