Policy Expert

Position: Policy Expert 

Location: New York City preferred (on site) or Colombia/Mexico (remote) 

Status: Full-time fixed term for 12 months with possibility to extend  

Compensation: $100,000 - $120,000/annum, commensurate with qualifications

BACKGROUND

The Mayors Migration Council (MMC) is a mayor-led coalition that accelerates ambitious global action on migration and displacement. With most of the world’s migrants and displaced people living in cities, our mission is to use the power of city-led diplomacy and action to create a world where urban migrants, displaced people, and receiving communities can thrive.   

To achieve our mission, we provide mayors with advocacy, coordination, and communications support to influence policy decisions at the national and international level, and connect city governments to the knowledge, technical, and financial resources they need to accelerate and scale local solutions.  

Created by mayors for mayors, we are a nimble team of political advisors and urban practitioners guided by a Leadership Board of global city leaders, including the Mayors of Amman, Bogotá, Denver, Freetown, Kampala, Kuala Lumpur, Milan, Montréal, and Zürich. As a Sponsored Project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, our work is made possible by philanthropic and government funders.  

To learn more visit www.mayorsmigrationcouncil.org or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook.  

CITY DIPLOMACY PROGRAM  

Our City Diplomacy program supports mayors to influence policy decisions at the national and international level to ensure they reflect and address the realities in cities where most migrants live. We elevate mayors and their local actions to global stages, deliver joint city advocacy campaigns, and create bridges for cities to influence national and global changemakers. 

In a challenging political climate resistant to mayors supporting migrants and refugees, the City Diplomacy program believes in targeted advocacy towards critical sectors at the nexus with migration, such as climate, economy, and housing. To achieve this, we build mayor-led advocacy coalitions such as our Global Mayors Task Force on Climate and Migration and Mayors of the Americas Task Force on Migration; deliver advocacy tools for mayors such as evidence-based messaging and policy papers; and broker connections between cities and national governments and global leaders to drive impact. 

THE POSITION 

The MMC is seeking a Policy Expert to build evidence-based analysis and advocacy that drives global policy change for migrant and refugee inclusion. The successful candidate will be an experienced migrant or refugee policy expert with excellent analysis, writing, and partnership management skills and an ability to clearly synthesize information and create compelling knowledge products and advocacy messages for mayors and city leaders. The ideal candidate will have the ability to jump into multiple topics with rigor and thoughtfulness, providing policy leadership on key high-need, high-impact priority areas, particularly economic inclusion, migration pathways, and climate migration. This is a global role that requires navigating diverse regional contexts. We strongly prefer candidates with expertise in the Americas, with the expectation that their portfolio will grow to include other regions over time. 

At the outset, the Policy Expert will play a leading role in two priority initiatives, with the opportunity to expand into additional policy areas and collaborative projects as the role and organizational needs evolve. First, the Mayors of the Americas Task Force on Migration, which unites major cities from across the Americas to create a city-led policy vision for migration cooperation in the region and to support city partnerships and projects that demonstrate city leadership in action and drive momentum. Second, the Inclusive Economies for Urban Migrants and Refugees initiative to enhance economic self-reliance and social inclusion of migrant and refugees in cities by providing mayors with comprehensive research and analysis, fostering mayoral coalitions to promote coordinated policy change, and directing financial and technical assistance to implement city-led actions. The Policy Expert may also support other thematic and collaborative initiatives, including the C40-MMC Global Mayors Task Force on Climate and Migration and the Local Coalition for Migrants and Refugees, delivered in partnership with IOM, UCLG, and UNHCR. 

The position will report to the Director of Policy and Advocacy and work closely with other program leads and team members, including the City Practice Lead, City Finance Lead, and Knowledge and Impact Manager.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Priority Initiative Management 

• Lead strategy, coordination, and execution of MMC’s flagship initiatives in close collaboration with partners—including the Mayors of the Americas Task Force on Migration and Inclusive Economies for Urban Migrants and Refugees—with flexibility to shape and expand the portfolio as priorities evolve. 

• Coordinate engagement with mayors and city officials, ensuring their leadership is central to initiative agendas, outputs, and global advocacy efforts. 

• Design and facilitate convenings (e.g., roundtables, bilateral meetings, public events) that elevate city voices and align with key global and regional policy opportunities. 

• Track progress and outcomes across initiatives, ensuring coherence with MMC’s broader strategy, impact objectives, and donor commitments. 

Policy Analysis & Knowledge Generation 

• Drive research and policy analysis to inform initiative goals, identify emerging opportunities, and ensure evidence-based, city-driven advocacy. 

• Lead and oversee the development of policy products—such as briefs, statements, and declarations—that articulate city positions on economic inclusion, migration pathways, climate migration, and related themes. 

• Provide real-time political analysis, strategic coordination, and rapid-response messaging to equip mayors with timely insights and key talking points for navigating unfolding political moments and advocacy opportunities. 

• Monitor and elevate changes to the political and policy landscape related to urban migration and displacement.  

Advocacy & Relationship Management  

• Develop tools, resources, or trainings to enhance city government’s advocacy capacity. 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with mayors and city officials to enhance their engagement in priority initiatives.  

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with national governments, city networks, and change makers to strengthen mayoral influence on national migration policies and mobilize support for emerging or urgent issues.  

• Convene city governments, national governments, and financing partners to foster collaboration and drive policy change for urban migrant and refugee inclusion. 

• Represent the MMC in global forums, working groups, and high-level convenings to elevate city leadership on migration and displacement. 

Special Projects & Executive Support 

• Lead special projects and events that advance the City Diplomacy portfolio and MMC’s overall mission, including supporting mayoral convenings and mobilizing mayors in international forums. 

• Support MMC leadership by preparing high-quality briefing materials for decision-making, media engagement, and global events. 

• Contribute to monitoring and evaluation efforts to measure MMC’s impact on global and national policy change.  

Requirements

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in international policy, diplomacy, and advocacy. Significant experience in migration and refugee policy and the Americas strongly preferred.  

• Post-graduate degree in migration or refugee studies, public administration, economics, international development, or a related field. 

• Proven relationship building and networking skills within the multilateral space. 

• Outstanding written, verbal, and analytical skills including editing, presentation development, and fast and effective research capabilities. 

• Proven ability to influence global, national, or local frameworks and advocate for city-led solutions. 

• Experience representing organizations in high-level forums, working groups, or governance platforms. 

• Demonstrated ability to design, manage, and implement programs and initiatives that deliver measurable outcomes. 

• Ability to influence and motivate others to achieve objectives and solve problems creatively. 

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. 

• Strong interpersonal skills and intercultural knowledge and appreciation. 

• Genuine passion for urban innovation and commitment to the protection, inclusion, and equity of migrants and displaced populations worldwide. 

• Ability to work independently with a decentralized team while maintaining a collegial, team- oriented working style. 

• Comfort managing simultaneous projects in fast-paced environments and a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

• Fluency in English required; fluency in Spanish strongly preferred. 

Benefits

Pay range: For New York City, the compensation is $100,000-$120,000 USD, with commensurate options for other global locations. The range listed is one component of the total compensation package for employees. 

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package including health coverage, retirement benefits, paid sick leave, vacation and holidays, and access to professional development resources. 

APPLICATION PROCESS 

To be considered, all applications must include a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume, and 1-2 examples of previous work (e.g. policy products, briefs, presentations) where the candidate was a lead writer or producer.  

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is an equal opportunity employer. 

Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors celebrates the uniqueness of our staff, our partners, and the communities we serve. We are committed to inclusion with the goal of cultivating a culture of belonging and acceptance. We strive to embed this value in our philanthropic work to advance a more just, equitable and sustainable world.