*This position is a one-year appointment*

The Planning Advisory Council (PAC) was created by Mayor Michelle Wu in January 2023 to guide a shared vision for a greener, growing, and more family-friendly Boston. Chaired by the Chief of Planning, the Council functions as the City’s “built environment Cabinet”, bringing together Cabinet Chiefs from departments like Housing, Streets, Arts & Culture, Climate, Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, Operations, Equity and Inclusion, Finance, and more to coordinate major planning and investment decisions across the city.

PAC staff form a small, cross-functional division, situated within the City’s Planning Department, that helps Boston move its priorities forward – connecting departments, supporting shared initiatives, and shaping policies and programs that affect how people live, work, and move around Boston. 

We’re looking for an entrepreneurial and self-directed Policy Advisor to join our team. This is a full-time, 12-month appointment, ideal for someone who’s curious, creative, and excited to work across topic areas – from housing stability and anti-displacement to transportation, climate, and economic development. You’ll help shape some of the City’s most important work, collaborating with departments and stakeholders to positively impact the lives of Boston residents. This is a nimble role on a small team, well suited to someone who is eager to tackle special priorities as they arise and gain exposure to wide ranging departments and expertise.

The Policy Advisor will:

• Serve as a ‘policy entrepreneur’ helping to develop, drive, or guide new initiatives that have emerged as priorities in citywide plans, where a dedicated set of hands is key to building momentum and coordinating across Cabinets. Projects may be aligned with the City’s recently approved comprehensive neighborhood plans, Boston’s first Anti-Displacement Action Plan, the Franklin Park Action Plan, the Community Safety/Plan to End Violence, or other key planning initiatives. 
• Build relationships with staff across departments like Housing, Planning, Streets, Small Business, Arts & Culture, Climate, and Economic Opportunity & Inclusion.
• Help coordinate workshops, events, or other engagement opportunities with City staff, community partners, and residents. One key priority will be convening quarterly sessions with a newly formed cross-departmental Anti-Displacement Working Group to ensure alignment throughout plan implementation.
• Develop public-facing materials that help to improve constituent access to and understanding of city initiatives. 
• Ensure the PAC’s work draws from internal expertise, community input, and best practices from other cities.
• Help shape the direction of the PAC’s work by participating in internal strategy and reflection.
• Pitch in as needed – this is a nimble team responsive to City and community priorities.

What you’ll bring/who you are:

• Three or more years of experience in relevant fields, such as housing, health, climate, transportation, economic development, planning, policy, or other areas that afford an understanding of the built environment.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field required. 
• Excellent communication skills, including experience authoring public-facing reports or other public materials, and an ability to distill complex information into easy-to-understand terms.
• Community engagement experience preferred, but not required, with attention to inclusive engagement practices.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Human-centered, respectful of expertise in all its forms, and adept at building and maintaining strong relationships at all levels within large organizations.
• Detail-oriented doer - highly organized, self-directed, and focused on outputs and outcomes. 
• Nimble and adaptive. 

Boston residency is required. This is a one-year appointment. 

Terms:
Union/Salary/Grade: Non-Union/$87,500
Hours per week: 35