Job Opportunities

Position Summary

The Sycamore Institute equips Tennessee’s civic leaders with data-driven resources to identify, understand, and solve big challenges. The Community Engagement Manager is a critical member of Sycamore’s bipartisan staff, assisting with planning, executing, and growing our public and community relations. This position is ideal for someone passionate about public policy, communications, and event planning.

This collaborative but entrepreneurial role engages diverse stakeholders in Sycamore’s work. This in-person position reports to the Director of External Relations and is based in Nashville, Tennessee.

 Key Responsibilities

Communications

• Creates, schedules, and monitors posts across all social media channels to enhance engagement and grow Sycamore’s audience.
• Provides general communications support to the Director of External Relations—which may include assisting with media relations, writing, editing, email marketing, website management, and video/podcast production.
• Creates brand-consistent flyers, graphics, handouts, photos, and other promotional materials for communications channels.
• Tracks and updates surveys, media lists, Google Ads, and other communications metrics, assisting with collection, management, and tracking.
• Promptly responds to public inquiries via phone, email, and social media.
• Tracks KPIs and creates quarterly communications reports.

Community Engagement & Events

• Develops, plans, organizes, and promotes events, webinars, and other ways to engage with and grow Sycamore’s audience.
• Hosts and manages Zoom events and webinars, from creation to follow-up.
• Serves as point of contact for event speakers, from invitation to hosting, whether virtually or in person.
• Works in coordination with relevant staff for events, including communications support
• Seeks opportunities for Sycamore to engage with and speak at community events related to Sycamore’s research priorities.
• Coordinates Sycamore’s formal community engagement networks, such as our community council and our criminal justice fee and fine policy network—which includes growing, nurturing, and convening groups of diverse stakeholders from across the state and coordinating communication.

Other Responsibilities

• Participates in internal staff meetings, trainings, and efforts to improve individual and team performance.
• Occasional travel may be required for meetings and events within Tennessee.
• Performs other duties as assigned related to Sycamore’s mission.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum two years of experience in communications or a related field preferably in a nonprofit context.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills
• Demonstrated interest in public policy at the local, state, or federal level.
• Encourages the expression of opinions and actively listens to diverse viewpoints.
• Productive independently and as a small team member, and maintains performance and self-control under pressure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or 4+ years of relevant work experience) in marketing, public relations, political science, history, English, or a related field.
• Experience with Photoshop, Canva, or other image/graphics editing software.
• Experience with WordPress.
• History of running Zoom meetings and/or webinars.
• Knowledge and history of running successful Google Ads campaigns.

Working at Sycamore

As a member of the Sycamore team, you can expect to have an impact on policy areas you care about and work with great colleagues who are fun, smart, and mission-driven. Our internal culture is essential to this work: we embrace collaboration, complexity, intellectual honesty, empathy, and disagreement. We reward skill, innovation, and hard work and provide ample flexibility and meaningful opportunities to learn and grow in ways that benefit both you and the organization.

The salary for the Community Engagement Manager will depend on skill and experience, with a potential range of $55,000-$60,000. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package that meets employees’ needs during the various stages of their life—including generous paid time off, employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, paid parental leave, and a 401(k) matching option.

About the Sycamore Institute

Founded in 2015, the Sycamore Institute is an independent, nonpartisan public policy research center for Tennessee. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit with leadership and staff from across the political spectrum, our mission is to provide accessible, reliable data and research in pursuit of sound, sustainable policies that improve the lives of all Tennesseans. For more information, visit sycamoretn.org.

To Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and a writing sample of 1,000 words or less through this form.  Writing samples should be of the applicant’s work and not that of an AI tool. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No calls or in-person application submissions please.

The Sycamore Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes qualified candidates from all backgrounds and experience to apply for this position.

The Policy Intern works primarily with the Deputy Director and Policy Analyst and typically writes a brief or report related to Tennessee state-policy and may help with other research projects, as needed. Duties include carrying out relevant research, analysis, and writing. Original research ideas consistent with Sycamore’s mission and research agenda are welcome. Current or recent undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in state criminal justice, social, health, and/or fiscal policy issues and those with training in statistics and data analysis are encouraged to apply.

We offer internship opportunities each summer, and on a case-by-case basis during the fall and spring semesters. Availability depends on the needs of our projects and organizational capacity at the time. Due to the volume of applications, we are unable to respond to each applicant individually. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

College credit is optional, and not required. We will provide appropriate documentation if necessary. Interns commit to spending a minimum of 10 hours a week in our downtown Nashville office.

Program Dates

Late May – Early August

Apply by 5:00 p.m. CT on January 31, 2025

About the Sycamore Institute

Founded in 2015, The Sycamore Institute is an independent, nonpartisan public policy center whose mission is to provide accessible, reliable data and research in pursuit of sound, sustainable policies that improve the lives of all Tennesseans.

To Apply:

Please fill out this form expressing your interest. No calls or in-person application submissions please.

The Administration & Communications Intern works primarily with the Executive Director and communications and engagement staff. Duties may include assisting with operations, scheduling, public relations, and event planning. Current or recent undergraduate and graduate students with strong writing skills and an interest in nonprofit management and communications are encouraged to apply.

We offer internship opportunities each summer, and on a case-by-case basis during the fall and spring semesters.. Availability depends on the needs of our projects and organizational capacity at the time. Due to the volume of applications, we are unable to respond to each applicant individually. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

College credit is optional, and not required. We will provide appropriate documentation if necessary. Interns commit to spending a minimum of 10 hours a week in our downtown Nashville office.

Program Dates

Summer: Late May – Early August

Apply by 5:00 p.m. CT on January 31, 2025

About the Sycamore Institute

Founded in 2015, The Sycamore Institute is an independent, nonpartisan public policy center whose mission is to provide accessible, reliable data and research in pursuit of sound, sustainable policies that improve the lives of all Tennesseans.

To Apply:

Please fill out this form expressing your interest. No calls or in-person application submissions please.