Principal, Inclusive Cities

ABOUT US

HR&A Advisors is an employee‑owned advisory firm working at the intersection of government, philanthropy, and the built environment to advance equitable growth and quality of life in cities.

Over the past decade, HR&A has increasingly partnered with city governments, public authorities, and philanthropic institutions to address some of the most complex challenges facing urban communities—ranging from economic recovery and housing affordability to public finance, governance reform, and community wealth‑building. Our work helps public leaders translate policy goals into implementable strategies, align capital with public purpose, and deliver outcomes that matter in people’s daily lives.

Across the U.S. and internationally, we support public‑sector clients and their partners—community‑based organizations, anchor institutions, and mission‑aligned private capital—at moments of transition and opportunity. HR&A has offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Raleigh, Washington D.C., and the Bay Area. Our team includes former city officials, public‑sector executives, planners, economists, lawyers, and development professionals who bring lived experience inside the institutions we advise.

Learn more about careers at HR&A on our website here.

THE PRACTICE

HR&A’s Inclusive Cities practice works with cities, counties, philanthropies, and community partners to translate community priorities and political opportunity into durable systems change. Leveraging analytic rigor and meaningful community engagement, we work with partners inside and outside of government to disrupt traditional economic development processes, build greater political power for marginalized communities, increase public accountability, and institutionalize mechanisms for more just and equitable cities.

Our work spans equitable economic development and public investment strategies, housing and land use, workforce and education systems, public finance and community ownership models, and governance and transition planning. Across this work, we support visionary leaders and grassroots coalitions to move institutions from intention to implementation, embedding racial equity and economic justice into policies, budgets, and decision‑making structures.

THE ROLE

HR&A is seeking a Principal in our New York office to play a critical role in serving our clients in the Inclusive Cities practice. The Principal will:

• run complex projects for our clients inside and outside of government;
• help develop new areas of work leveraging their own background and expertise; and
• contribute to the firm’s overall culture and impact.

While the Principal’s scope varies based on focus areas, the expertise they bring, and business cycles, a Principal typically leads 4–8 concurrent projects; manages 2–10 staff and external subconsultants per engagement; works directly with organizational leaders, mayor’s offices, and agency leadership to guide strategic decision‑making; and leads or co‑leads proposals that generate new work and expand HR&A’s brand. Engagement examples include developing an in‑depth playbook for implementation of a network of municipal grocery stores on behalf of a non‑profit client, managing a transition process for a newly elected mayor of a major American city, directing a strategic refresh for a philanthropic client to “meet the moment,” creating a 10‑year vision plan for a major American city around a set of targeted moonshots to increase economic mobility, and staffing a newly created non‑profit organization to organize mayors and amplify their perspectives.

The right candidate will also bring a desire to leverage their own networks and experiences to design new projects for new clients that address new challenges faced by cities and those who care about them.

Principals are considered leaders within the practice and the firm, and are also expected to contribute to our collective knowledge, mentor younger staff, and embody the culture we seek to create in our cities.

This role is an opportunity to do career‑defining work for visionary clients inside and outside of government in one of the most complex urban environments in the world.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

• Serve as the day‑to‑day project lead for public‑sector, philanthropic, and quasi‑public clients, ensuring work is grounded in political, fiscal, and operational realities.
• Lead complex client engagements from scoping through delivery, managing budgets, timelines, and multidisciplinary teams to produce clear, actionable recommendations.
• Translate policy goals into executable strategies, including program design, governance frameworks, capital strategies, and implementation roadmaps.
• Oversee rigorous analysis and deliverable production, maintaining high standards of clarity, accuracy, and usefulness for senior decision‑makers.
• Manage and mentor project teams, providing direction, feedback, and support while fostering a culture of rigor, inclusion, and respect.
• Engage directly with senior public‑sector and philanthropic leaders, supporting decision‑making through developing structured options and implementation‑focused guidance.
• Actively support business development by cultivating client relationships, contributing to proposals, and identifying opportunities aligned with the Inclusive Cities practice.
• Help define the direction and priorities of the Inclusive Cities practice, including refining methodologies, strengthening public‑sector advisory capabilities, and supporting HR&A’s growth.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL BRING:

• 12+ years of relevant experience.
• Substantial experience working in or with NYC government or comparably complex city systems, with a strong understanding of city operations, budgets, and political dynamics.
• Deep expertise in one or more of the following areas: equitable economic development, workforce and education systems, housing and land use, public finance, criminal legal system reform, or governance innovation.
• Demonstrated credibility with public‑sector leaders, philanthropy, community‑based organizations, and civic institutions.
• Experience navigating political and stakeholder dynamics to move work from ambition to implementation.
• Strong analytical and problem‑structuring skills, with the ability to evaluate trade‑offs and design actionable strategies.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills, tailored to policymakers, funders, and institutional leaders.
• Experience engaging communities in trust‑building, non‑extractive ways.
• Comfort using emerging analytical and productivity tools to support research, analysis, and deliverable development.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice, collaborative leadership, and public service.

HYBRID WORK POLICY

HR&A fosters a collaborative and flexible work environment through our hybrid work policy. Employees work from the office at least three days a week, which allows individuals the freedom to balance their professional and personal lives while maintaining a strong connection to their teams.

COMPENSATION

The annual base salary range for this position is between $155,600 and $184,260. This role is also eligible for a discretionary year‑end bonus. Where an offer falls within this pay range is dependent on experience. We offer competitive compensation packages, based on qualifications and experience. We are an employee‑owned company, meaning you will have the opportunity to benefit from the firm’s growth over time through participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Each year, the firm will contribute funds to this long‑term wealth‑building account and may make contributions to other retirement accounts. We also provide a comprehensive benefits package that goes well beyond coverage of 90‑95% of healthcare premiums, including dental and vision coverage.