Program Manager (Part-Time Contractor)

About the Initiative: “Imagining the Future of Government” is a joint research and convening initiative between New America’s Political Reform Program and the Foundation for American Innovation (FAI) focused on strengthening the institutional foundations of American governance. This initiative brings together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers across ideological perspectives to examine how governing institutions can regain legitimacy and effectiveness. The project combines research, policy development, publications, and convenings across four core research tracks (Legislatures & Legitimacy; Regulatory Participation Reform; Service Delivery; and State Innovation in Pennsylvania) to generate practical reforms and public-facing insights.

Position Overview
The Program Manager (PM) will lead operations and execution and provide strategic support for this joint and cross-ideological initiative. Working closely with program leadership at both New America and FAI, the PM will ensure the initiative remains organized, on schedule, and positioned to deliver its research outputs, convenings, and grant commitments. The ideal candidate is a highly-organized, results-oriented project manager who can translate complex intellectual projects into structured workflows and help teams execute research and policy initiatives. The role may also include research assistance on specific topic areas.

This is a part‑time contract role expected to average approximately 20 hours per week.

Key Responsibilities
Program Strategy & Project Management

Co‑develop and maintain the initiative’s master workplan, deliverables tracker, collaborator CRM, and publication pipeline.

Track milestones, responsibilities, and deadlines across four research tracks.

Monitor progress toward grant deliverables and flag timeline issues to leadership.

Maintain and organize documentation of program decisions, updates, and deliverables.

Research assistance on specific policy areas to support the team.

Team Coordination & Convenings / Events Execution

Organize weekly team meetings across the joint New America–FAI program team.

Prepare agendas, circulate materials in advance, and capture action items and decisions.

Track follow-up tasks and ensure meeting outputs translate into project progress.

Maintain communication across researchers, program leaders, and external partners.

Support planning and execution of program convenings, workshops, and roundtables.

Coordinate logistics, scheduling, materials preparation, and participant communication.

Assist with post‑event summaries and internal synthesis of key insights.

Research & Publication Coordination

Track the program’s publication pipeline (working papers, memos, blog posts, and op‑eds).

Coordinate drafting timelines, internal review processes, and publication logistics.

Assist with formatting, submission coordination, and document preparation.

Qualifications

Experience in public policy, political science, public administration, or related field (particular experience in federal or state government preferred).

5+ years of experience in project management or nonprofit program coordination

Exceptional organizational and project management skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.

Ability to work independently while coordinating across distributed teams.

Experience supporting policy research publications or reports.

Experience organizing policy convenings, workshops, or research roundtables.

Ability to synthesize complex information and maintain clear project documentation.

Technical Skills

Proficiency with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive).

Experience using project management or task tracking tools (Airtable, etc)

Familiarity with collaboration platforms such as Slack.

Compensation & Contract Details

Type:

Contract, Part‑Time

Hours:

20 hours per week

Contract Term:

An initial term of 6 months with the potential to extend up to 18 months based on project needs.

Estimated Compensation Range:

$100–$125 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.

New America is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce at all levels of the organization thereby creating a culture that allows us to better serve our clientele, our employees, and our communities. We value and encourage the contributions of our employees and strive to create an environment where everyone can reach their full potential and drive outstanding results. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. This policy applies with regard to all aspects of one’s employment, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits, and termination.

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