Interim Program Director, Remaking Local Economies

Interim Program Director, Remaking Local Economies

Position Overview: The Interim Program Director, Remaking Local Economies is a fixed-term leadership role on the Land and Communities team at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. The Director will lead the Remaking Local Economies (RLE) program — the Institute's primary vehicle for research, capacity-building, and field engagement on inclusive economic development, community wealth-building, and the revitalization of places experiencing population and economic decline.

What You Will Do

• Lead implementation of the FY27 Remaking Local Economies (RLE) program workplans, including the Legacy Cities Community of Practice and Remaking Economic Development Policy and Practice projects
• Manage and develop existing RLE projects, including managing budgets and securing contracted support where deemed necessary to ensure and maximize project execution
• Manage and conduct research that generates content advancing debates and practices in inclusive economic development, community wealth-building, and the well-being of places experiencing population or economic decline
• Inspire and manage the RLE program team, ensuring alignment with team goals and identifying opportunities for professional growth
• Lead existing collaborations between RLE and other programs within Land and Communities as well as across the Lincoln Institute, and identify opportunities and strategies for new and deepened collaboration
• Maintain and strengthen the Lincoln Institute's existing relationships with practitioners, community members, local leaders, and partners and build new relationships with external partners for the RLE program
• Manage grants and funder relations related to the RLE program, in consultation and collaboration with Land and Communities leadership and the Partnerships team
• Identify and support execution of RLE communications and publications in collaboration with PCLDUX, guiding content creation and audience identification, including representing the Remaking Local Economies work with external audiences
• Author or co-author publications that advance RLE's goals, including policy reports, working papers, op-eds and/or blog posts
• Support development of RLE programming and budget for FY28 in collaboration with Land and Communities leadership and program colleagues
• Represent the RLE program internally, as a standing member of the Land and Communities leadership team and in other internal fora as required
• Contribute to creating and maintaining an organizational culture that is collaborative, respectful, values learning, and promotes equity and opportunity

Qualifications

What You Will Need

• 12+ years of experience in a role that demonstrates transferable skills (including 5+ years of managerial experience)
• Expert-level subject matter expertise in the relationship between land policy and economic development, as well as the field of community development
• Strong willingness to learn
• Superior communication, leadership, and presentation skills to act as the public face of the Remaking Local Economies program
• Demonstrated ability and interest in training policymakers, their advisors, and staff
• Demonstrated ability and interest in initiating and negotiating collaborative work with relevant institutions working in the fields of planning, economic development, housing, and poverty reduction
• Established management experience and track record leading project teams to successful completion of work
• Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion and judgement
• Proficiency in basic office software (e.g., Microsoft Office)

You Will Be Preferred With:

• PhD, or Terminal degree

Compensation & Work Details

• Salary Range: $150,000.00 - $170,000.00
• Level: Management
• Position Type: Regular Full Time
• Education Level: Graduate Degree
• Travel Percentage: Up to 35%
• Category: Strategy - Planning
• End Date: 06/14/2026
• Location: Cambridge, MA 02138

Benefits

Include but are not limited to: (a) 3x employer contribution towards retirement matching your employee contribution up to 15%, (b) health insurance, (c) dental insurance, (d) vision insurance, (e) 100% reimbursement of the health care deductible through a health reimbursement account, (f) short-term disability coverage, (g) long term disability coverage, (h) paid parental leave, (i) voluntary insurances such as accident insurance, (j) health care flexible spending, (k) dependent care flexible spending, (l) paid time off for holidays, vacation, personal, sick, bereavement, and jury duty, (m) office closure between December 24 – Jan 1 each calendar year, (n) flexible schedule and option for a compressed 4 day workweek, (o) tuition and staff development reimbursement, (p) pet insurance, and (q) Employee Assistance Program.