Why Join GovEx?

Working at GovEx means joining a dynamic team committed to improving the lives of people living in cities around the world through data-driven, innovative solutions. You’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with cities at the forefront of public sector innovation and be part of transformative projects that improve government performance and outcomes.

The Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University (GovEx or the Center) seeks to hire a City Relations Manager to join our team of government, data, and performance practice experts to support senior government leaders across the United States, Canada, and Latin America to use data to get better results for residents.

The City Relations Manager plays a critical role in our organization for cultivating and managing strong, productive relationships with city and government partners participating in our programs. In this role, the City Relations Manager works closely with city leadership, government officials, and other key stakeholders to ensure successful program participation and sustained engagement. The ideal City Relations Manager is skilled in navigating the complexities of local government and has a thorough understanding of the political, policy, and administrative landscape. The role will help drive impactful outcomes while also managing operational functions such as the GovEx CRM system to track and support effective management of relationships and city engagements.

In addition to external relationship management, the City Relations Manager will collaborate with internal teams to align and enhance program delivery with the evolving needs of city and government partners, acting as a vital conduit to enhance their experience throughout the partnership. This role will also require a deep understanding of other external partners and stakeholders who provide complementary services, fostering collaboration where beneficial to amplify the impact of GovEx's work in cities and local governments.

Since 2015, GovEx has supported over 10,000 public sector leaders in 37 countries, and over 568 cities, counties, and states by providing coaching and technical assistance; research and analytics; training and capacity building; and human resource support. GovEx is a recognized leader in the provision of public sector training to upskill employees and improve data practices through self-guided courses and instructor-facilitated learning.

GovEx is dedicated to supporting governments in leveraging the power of data to identify, understand, and dismantle legacies of structural and entrenched racism. We seek candidates who are committed to using data-driven approaches to promote equity and justice in communities. For more information about GovEx, please visit https://govex.jhu.edu/.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

City Relations

Maintain and Cultivate Relationships

• Build and sustain productive relationships with city leaders, elected officials, government staff, and other key stakeholders.

Support Senior Government Leaders

• Provide guidance to and/or connect resources with senior leaders in city governments to help them achieve better results through data-driven decision-making.

Public Sector Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and execute stakeholder outreach plans focused on recruiting and enlisting the participation and engagement of public sector leaders in GovEx programs and initiatives.
• Engage with public sector partners, including city governments across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America, to ensure their success across GovEx program initiatives.

Navigate Political Complexities

• Provide insight to GovEx subject-matter experts around managing complex political environments within local governments and assisting GovEx staff as needed to overcoming challenges that may arise.

Relationship Management

Conflict Resolution

• Manage diplomacy and facilitate conflict resolution between city and local government partners and GovEx.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Serve as the main point of contact between GovEx, local governments, and external stakeholders to ensure alignment and foster collaboration on public sector initiatives.

External Partnership Management

• Manage relationships with external service providers, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and other organizations to enhance the impact of GovEx's work in cities.

Operational and Organizational Excellence

CRM System Management

• Manage and use CRM and data management systems to track partner engagement, program progress, and performance metrics.

Project Management

• Oversee multiple, complex projects across different locations, ensuring timely execution and alignment with program objectives.

Program Execution

• Coordinate with internal teams to deliver programs that meet the evolving needs of government partners and align with GovEx’s mission.

Communication and Facilitation

Public Speaking and Workshops

• Facilitate workshops, meetings, and presentations for public sector audiences as needed.

Reporting and Documentation

• Draft reports, white papers, and public-facing documents that articulate program impacts and best practices.

Strategic Communications

• Communicate complex policy and technical issues in accessible terms to different audiences, from senior government officials to operational staff.

Special Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Experience working in and/or with local, state, or national governments particularly in the Americas.
• Knowledge of local or state government data and performance management practices is an asset.
• Successful experience in program and/or project management of complex initiatives from design to completion.
• Ability to collect and synthesize information.
• Strong professional writing, public speaking and training skills.
• Ability to manage complex relationships with program stakeholders and funders.

• Bachelor’s Degree.
  

• Ten or more years of experience in communications, public relations, and media relations in public policy, issues management, or public affairs.
  

• Additional related experience may substitute for required education and additional education may substitute for required experience, as permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

• At least eight (8) years of experience working in public policy, public administration, or a related field, particularly within local or state governments
• Masters degree in a related discipline
• Proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese is a plus.

Classified Title: Public Affairs Associate 
Job Posting Title (Working Title): City Relations Manager   
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PF  
Starting Salary Range: $85,500 - $149,800 Annually (Commensurate with experience) 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm 
Exempt Status: Exempt 
Location: Hybrid/Homewood Campus 
Department name: ​​​​​​​Ctrs for Govt Excellence & Public Innova  
Personnel area: Academic and Business Centers