Arena Careers

Civic Nation seeks a part-time City Cohort Lead in Memphis, TN to support the Change Collective, a national leadership network for rising local leaders who are passionate about solving issues in their communities and combating social isolation, political polarization, and civic disengagement.. The City Cohort Lead is responsible for facilitating the learning curriculum that supports in-person and online learning experiences for participants during the Change Collective’s 6-month fellowship program. When possible, they will also identify and cultivate partner relationships on the ground to strengthen the initiative’s work.

This is a temporary position starting in February 2027 and ending in November 2027, with a potential to continue for future short-term cohorts in 2028 and beyond.

ABOUT CHANGE COLLECTIVE

In 2023, Civic Nation launched the Change Collective, a new civic leadership initiative that will built to become a national community of local changemakers. This leadership initiativeaspires to reinvent civic life for the 21st century by cultivating the next generation of local leaders working to increase civic collaboration and engagement in their communities. The formation of the initiative is founded in the belief that leadership development is the most catalytic thing we can do to affect long term change. By investing in leadership development, this program will create a network of community leaders who bring people together and demonstrate impact around important community priorities, while also building up and investing in other leaders around them.

ABOUT CIVIC NATION

Civic Nation is an impact hub for the ideas, leaders, and initiatives that strengthen civic culture, civic power, and civic participation. We shift culture, systems, and policy by bringing together individuals, grassroots organizers, industry leaders, and influencers to tackle our nation’s most pressing social challenges. Five initiatives are a part of Civic Nation: ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Change Collective, It’s On Us, We The Action, and When We All Vote.

YOUR IMPACT

• In partnership with the Learning & Program team, facilitate the learning curriculum that both supports in-person and online learning experiences for participants.
• Build a strong culture with the assigned city cohort.
• Support the recruitment and onboarding process for the fellowship cohort of participants, read and vet applications and/or nominations, and assist with the interview and acceptance process.
• Coordinate communication with the city’s fellowship cohort of participants.
• Address conflict if it arises in the fellowship cohort and work with the Learning & Program team to come to a resolution.
• Share feedback, assess needs, analyze curriculum application and recommend changes to improve the participant experience with the Learning & Program team.
• Provide technological or logistics support during the fellowship’s in-person and virtual training sessions.
• Develop ongoing relationships and partnerships with the anchor community including outreach to new partners and potential guest speakers.

YOUR EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrated experience in training and learning development work, including leading and facilitating trainings.
• Understanding and experience of learning models, curriculum design and implementation, and facilitation techniques, as well as evaluative measures of program experience.
• Proven experience in facilitating both online and in-person learning and community-building experiences.
• Relevant background in non-profit, education, and/or civic engagement settings including volunteer management.
• Deep knowledge of social, political, environmental and/or economic landscape and issues in the designated cities.

YOUR COMPETENCIES

• Candidate must reside in the Memphis, TN area.
• A strong commitment to Civic Nation’s mission, including a commitment to the importance of building strong civic infrastructure in communities.
• Ability to independently lead dynamic trainings and programming, while balancing day-of event operations.
• Ability to work with diverse communities and individuals with varying perspectives.
• Outstanding attention to detail and ability to keep your materials organized, including organized, thoughtful and professional communication to external partners.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems independently, effectively, and creatively.
• Ability to work independently and in a remote team environment.
• Must be available to lead in-person facilitations one Saturday per month and travel to one national convening at the end of the employment term.

SALARY & BENEFITS

This is a temporary position commencing February 2027 and ending November 2027. City Cohort leads will be compensated at $115.00 per hour for 5 hours per week, on average, totaling 20 hours a month at the maximum. This includes support in cohort management, dry-runs and facilitation prep, and facilitation of monthly weekend training and learning experiences.

PROCESS TIMELINE

Candidates can expect the following hiring process and timeline (please note that this timeline may be subject to change):

• October 26th - November 6th – First Round Interviews: Introductory Call
• December 1st - 10th — Second Round Panel Interviews: Leadership & Assessment
• Week of December 15th – Hiring Decision announced

All candidates will be notified via email of the status of their application on or before the completion of the search.

TO APPLY

To apply, submit a cover letter and resume below. The cover letter, addressed to Kinzie Mabon, should be concise, compelling, and include why you would like to work for Civic Nation. Applications will be accepted until November 28, 2026.

Driven by our values, Civic Nation aims to recruit candidates representative of the communities and populations we serve. Towards that goal, we know that a diverse workforce allows us to see issues facing our democracy in more nuanced ways, creating the thought leadership needed to fulfill our mission and reach our goals. Civic Nation is an equal-opportunity employer and welcomes people from all backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives to apply.