91ÖÆƬ³§

Organizations of every size influence the environment through their operations, facilities, transportation, and everything in between. Many of these organizations must accommodate car traffic, heating and air conditioning, waste disposal, and more, so they hire sustainability managers.

Best program fit: Master's in Community Development (MCD), Master's in Public Policy (MPP)

What does a sustainability manager do?

. Their responsibilities often include:

• Evaluating environmental impact and sustainability performance
• Managing energy use, waste reduction, and transportation initiatives
• Ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations
• Developing long-term sustainability strategies and reporting

Where do sustainability managers work?

Sustainability managers work across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including:

• Corporations and businesses
• Colleges and universities
• City and state governments
• Nonprofit organizations

Skills needed for a career in sustainability management

Successful sustainability managers often have skills in:

• Environmental policy and regulation
• Data analysis and reporting
• Strategic planning
• Policy communication and implementation
• Project management

Why this work matters

The work of a sustainability manager benefits their organization and the public. Their work can:

• Lower costs
• Reduce harmful environmental impact
• Improve public trust and organizational reputation
• Project organizations from compliance issues
• Support healthier, cleaner communities

Public policy is heavily controlled by governments. At the end of the day, whether it's the city council or Congress, those governing bodies are going to determine which policies become law and how those laws are enforced. That means that .

Best program fit: Master's in Public Policy (MPP), Master's of Public Administration (MPA)

What does a government relations coordinator do?

Government relations coordinators can work in all kinds of different focuses depending on the organization that hires them, so the meaningfulness of their work can be tied to the work of that organization. However, the expertise of the position is not to be taken lightly.

Coordinators often:

• Build and maintain relationships with officials and legislators
• Track and analyze policy developments
• Communicate priorities to government stakeholders
• Prepare briefings and policy updates for leadership

Where do government relations coordinators work?

Government relations coordinators work across sectors, in organizations such as:

• Nonprofits
• Advocacy groups
• Colleges and universities
• Healthcare organizations
• Corporations and private companies

Skills needed for a career in government relations

Successful government relations coordinators often have skills in:

• Public policy and government processes
• Communication and relationship building
• Research and policy analysis
• Strategic advocacy

Why this work matters

Government relations coordinators help their organizations:

• Build relationships with policymakers and legislators
• Advocate for policy priorities
• Stay informed on legislation and regulatory changes
• Contribute to local, state, and federal policy discussions

Some cities and counties don't elect a mayor. Instead, they hire a city or county manager via an elected council. The city manager holds similar executive power to a mayor, meaning their decisions will have a considerable impact on the residents of that city and on the relations with businesses, neighboring cities, and suburbs.

Best program fit: Master's of Public Administration (MPA)

What does a city or county manager do?

The responsibilities of a city or county manager often include:

• Overseeing the daily operations of local government departments
• Implementing policies
• Managing budgets, staffing, and resources
• Addressing community needs and emergencies

Where do city or county managers work?

They work in local government settings, including:

• City governments
• County governments
• Town municipalities
• Regional agencies

Skills needed for a career in city or county management

A city manager must be equipped to enact the public policy decisions of the council with consideration for all the stakeholders and moving parts relevant to that policy. They typically have a large staff to help them with that mission, but the importance of a deep understanding of policy is undeniable. With the whole city relying on their abilities, a city manager's work is certainly impactful.

Successful city and county managers often have skills in:

• Public administration and policy implementation
• Leadership and organizational management
• Budgeting and strategic planning
• Community engagement and communication

Why this work matters

City and county managers help communities:

• Implement local policies and government initiatives
• Manage public services and operations
• Coordinate budget, staff, and community resources
• Respond to challenges and emergencies

Of course, everything relies on access to funding. Any NGO that wants to impact public policy is going to need funding for its efforts, which is especially an issue for nonprofit organizations without a steady income. These organizations must hire someone to fundraise if they want to continue to function.

Best program fit: Master's of Public Administration (MPA), Master's in Community Development (MCD)

What does a development and fundraising officer do?

A development and fundraising officer leads the effort to fund the work of an organization, often a nonprofit seeking grants or gifts. They are responsible for ensuring that the organization's current efforts continue, as well as enabling new projects by implementing a development plan. Again, it is a position where the meaningfulness is directly tied to the rest of the work of the organization. Development and fundraising support the organization's efforts:

• Developing and executing fundraising strategies
• Writing and managing grant proposals
• Building and maintaining donor relationships
• Tracking fund performance and financial planning

Where do development and fundraising officers work?

Development and fundraising needs reach across sections and industries, including:

• Nonprofit organizations
• Advocacy and policy organizations
• Colleges and universities
• Healthcare and community organizations
• Foundations and charitable institutions

Skills needed for a career in development and fundraising

Successful developers and fundraisers often have skills in:

• Donor relations
• Grant writing and communications
• Strategic planning
• Event and campaign management
• Relationship building

Why this work matters

Development and fundraising officers help organizations:

• Secure funding for programs and operations
• Build relationships with donors and community partners
• Support long-term organizational growth and sustainability
• Expand the reach and impact of mission-driven work

It's one thing to design a good policy; it's another to put that policy into action. Executive agencies need staff to oversee the implementation of public policies to ensure they actually happen. Those staff require an in-depth understanding of the policy they are implementing, but they also need to know a large amount of context to make critical decisions throughout the process. Even a simple decision to build a bridge requires management of funds, overseeing contractors, implementing safety tests and standards, and more.

Best program fit: Master's of Public Administration (MPA)

What does a government administrator do?

Government administrators exist at all levels of government to see that policies are enacted promptly and as intended. Their work can range across various departments or specializations, but always has the same goal: to get a bird's-eye view of a project and see that it is finished without miscommunication or unnecessary complications.

This often looks like:

• Implementing policies and programs
• Coordinating across departments
• Managing budgets, contracts, and timelines
• Ensuring compliance

Where do government administrators work?

Government administrators work across all levels of government, including:

• Federal agencies
• State government departments
• City and county governments
• Public commissions
• Transportation, health, and public works

Skills needed for a career in public administration

Successful government administrators often have skills in:

• Policy implementation
• Organizational leadership
• Budgeting
• Communications and problem-solving
• Strategic planning

Why this work matters

Government administrators help agencies:

• Implement policies and programs
• Coordinate across departments
• Manage public relations and budgets
• Ensure projects meet regulatory and safety standards

An organization involved in public policy also needs to be involved with the public.

Best program fit: Master's in Public Policy (MPP), Master's in Community Development (MCD)

What does a public affairs coordinator do?

Government and nonprofit organizations alike need to stay engaged with the public, but for many nonprofits and advocates, publicity is particularly important. Policy advocates rely on engaging with the public to attract supporters to their cause and pressure elected officials to enact good policy. Nonprofits engage with the public to crowdfund their work and educate about an issue, but also to learn from communities to understand the issues that need attention. Public affairs coordinators are crucial communicators who bridge the gap between policy and those impacted by it.

They often:

• Manage organizational communications across media and social platforms
• Build relationships with journalists
• Develop public messaging strategies
• Coordinate campaigns to increase public awareness and engagement

Where do public affairs coordinators work?

Public affairs coordinators can be found in:

• Nonprofits and advocacy organizations
• Government agencies
• Colleges and universities
• Healthcare and community organizations
• Communication firms

Skills needed for a career in public affairs

Successful public affairs coordinators often have skills in:

• Strategic communication and public relations
• Social media and digital marketing
• Writing
• Community engagement and public speaking
• Campaign outreach and planning

Why this work matters

Public affairs coordinators help organizations:

• Build community engagement and awareness
• Communicate policy priorities and initiatives
• Strengthen relationships with the media
• Support advocacy, fundraising, and public education efforts

Just as a public affairs coordinator reaches out to the general public, a community engagement coordinator focuses on a specific community – typically those most affected by the policy of concern to the organization. Their job is equally as important, but is more focused and often involves developing a direct relationship with a given community.

Best program fit: Master's in Community Development (MCD)

What does a community engagement coordinator do?

They develop an in-depth understanding of a community and use it to guide policymaking. For example, a nonprofit looking to build and maintain homeless shelters needs to do two things: First, they must speak with the people they are trying to help to learn what is actually helpful. What makes a shelter safe? What kind of resources are needed? Second, they need to get the word out about their service to those who need it, to ensure that people know to come get assistance. These tasks both fall under the domain of community engagement.

Other responsibilities may include:

• Conducting outreach to community members and stakeholders
• Facilitating meetings and public forums
• Gathering and analyzing feedback
• Building community trust
• Connecting individuals to services and resources

Where do community engagement coordinators work?

Community engagement coordinators work across the nonprofit and public sectors, including:

• Nonprofit and advocacy organizations
• Community development organizations
• Government agencies
• Healthcare and social services
• Colleges and universities

In 2021, he received a Platinum Sustainability Award from the 91ÖÆƬ³§.

Skills needed for a career in community engagement

Successful community engagement coordinators often have skills in:

• Community outreach and relationship building
• Public speaking
• Event planning
• Facilitation
• Problem-solving

Why this work matters

Engagement coordinators help organizations:

• Build trust within communities
• Understand community needs
• Improve programs and services
• Connect people with resources
• Strengthen community participation

An in-depth understanding of policy is especially important when working across countries. Any company looking to do business outside the United States needs to ensure they are compliant with U.S. and non-U.S. regulations – regulations that can sometimes be at odds with each other. The same applies to non-profits looking to offer foreign aid and to the U.S. government itself.

Best program fit: Master's of Global Conflict & Human Security (GCHS), Master's in Public Policy (MPP)

What does an international development coordinator do?

An international development coordinator is responsible for keeping track of policy across nations. Whether they are trying to comply with or influence those policies, they must have the research skills to work through complex legal interactions. Without someone to overcome differences in law, culture, and language, organizations would struggle to accomplish anything internationally.

Their responsibilities often include:

• Planning and delivering programs
• Coordinating with global partners, NGOs, and local governments
• Monitoring project performance and impact
• Assisting with funding proposals and grant compliance
• Ensuring program alignment with community goals and needs

Where do international development coordinators work?

International development coordinators work across a range of global and mission-driven organizations, including:

• International nonprofits
• Foreign aid agencies
• Multinational corporations
• Government agencies
• Global health and humanitarian organizations

Skills needed for a career in international development

Successful international development coordinators often have skills in:

• International policy analysis
• Cross-cultural communication
• Legal and compliance awareness
• Global partnership management

Why this work matters

International development coordinators help organizations:

• Navigate complex international regulations
• Ensure compliance with legal requriements
• Support the delivery of international aid
• Facilitate collaboration across cultures

It is important to be able to consider many possible courses of action and predict their outcome. With public policy having such an impact from small communities all the way to international relations—often simultaneously—analysis is necessary before any policy can be implemented. Governments need to predict the consequences of their actions. At the same time, stakeholders of policy need to consider how to respond to it.

Best program fit: Master's in Public Policy (MPP)

What does a policy analyst do?

A policy analyst examines the impact of current policy and potential changes. They assemble lists of options for addressing a given issue, with elaboration on the possible consequences of those options and comparison to the status quo. Which policies will have a positive, sustainable impact on the communities, economies, or environment they affect, and which ones might be damaging or unreliable?

Their responsibilities often include:

• Researching policies and public issues
• Evaluating the impact of policy changes
• Collecting and analyzing data
• Comparing policy options and identifying outcomes
• Preparing reports and briefs for decision-makers
• Supporting strategic planning

Where do policy analysts work?

Policy analysts are needed in every sector and are often found in:

• Government agencies
• Research institutions and think tanks
• Nonprofits
• Healthcare and education organizations
• Consulting firms

now serves as a senior analyst at Bellwether.

Skills needed for a career in policy analysis

Successful policy analysts often have skills in:

• Research and data analysis
• Public policy evaluation
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Writing and presenting
• Strategic planning
• Quantitative analysis

Why this work matters

Policy analysts help organizations:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of policies
• Predict the outcome of policy changes
• Identify data-driven solutions
• Support informed decision-making
• Promote sustainable policy

Just as any large organization will inevitably have an impact on its environment, so too will it have an impact on its society. Any large organization needs to be concerned about how its presence impacts its workers, their families, and the surrounding communities because the impact can often be significant.

Best program fit: Master's in Public Policy (MPP), Master's in Community Development (MCD)

What does a social impact analyst do?

These analysts are responsible for:

• Assessing the social impact of policies and initiatives
• Researching how programs affect communities and stakeholders
• Analyzing data related to equity, quality of life, and community outcomes
• Identify potential social risks
• Developing reports and recommendations
• Supporting sustainability and equity strategies

Where do social impact analysts work?

Working across sectors, social impact analysts can be found in:

• Nonprofits
• Government agencies
• Foundations and philanthropic organizations
• Corporations
• Research institutions

Skills needed for a career in social impact analysis

Successful social impact analysts often have skills in:

• Research and data analysis
• Program and policy evaluation
• Critical thinking
• Community engagement
• Strategic communication

Why this work matters

The importance of social impact is obvious for nonprofits looking to achieve specific societal goals, such as human rights, equity, or poverty reduction. However, even a for-profit corporation must be careful about its impact or risk potentially doing harm. The importance of protecting individuals and communities is self-explanatory, and even the most selfish of corporations should still worry about their public image.

Social impact analysts help:

• Understand the effects of policies
• Improve outcomes for workers, families, and the community
• Identify and reduce social harm
• Strengthen public trust
• Support long-term sustainability

Communities around the world are facing increased threats from natural disasters and environmental change. Climate resilience specialists are crucial to helping organizations prepare and navigate these challenges.

Best program fit: Master's in Community Development (MCD), Master's in Public Policy (MPP), Master's of Global Conflict & Human Security (GCHS)

What does a climate resilience specialist do?

Climate resilience specialists are responsible for:

• Assessing environmental and climate-related risks
• Developing disaster preparedness strategies
• Coordinating with government agencies, nonprofits, and community stakeholders
• Analyzing data related to climate impacts

Where do climate resilience specialists work?

Climate resilience specialists can be found in every sector, including:

• Government and emergency management agencies
• Environmental and sustainability organizations
• Community development nonprofits
• Consulting and engineering firms

Skills needed for a career in climate resilience

Successful climate resilience specialists have skills in:

• Environmental policy and climate analysis
• Risk assessment
• Research and data interpretation
• Community engagement
• Project management

Why this work matters

Climate resilience specialists help organizations and communities:

• Prepare for climate-related emergencies
• Reduce infrastructure risk
• Protect vulnerable long-term planning
• Strengthen community resilience

AI is rapidly changing industries, governments, and everyday life. Analysts focused on AI policy are critical to understanding the risks, opportunities, and ethical considerations surrounding AI technologies while developing policies.

Best program fit: Master's in Public Policy (MPP)

What does an AI policy analyst do?

AI policy analysts are responsible for:

• Researching emerging technologies and regulatory developments
• Evaluating social, ethical, economic, and legal impacts
• Analyzing proposed legislation
• Developing policy recommendations
• Supporting organizations in navigating AI regulations

Where do policy analysts work?

AI policy analysts can be found in:

• Government and regulatory agencies
• Technology startups
• Research institutions and think tanks
• Nonprofits
• Consulting firms

Skills needed for a career in AI policy analysis

Successful AI policy analysts often have skills in:

• Public policy and regulatory analysis
• Research and critical thinking
• Technology and AI literacy
• Ethics and risk assessment
• Strategic communication

Why this work matters

This role helps organizations and the government:

• Develop ethical AI policies
• Balance innovation with public safety and accountability
• Improve transparency and trust
• Prepare for the societal and economic impacts of emerging technologies