Program Associate - Political Reform Program

New America is seeking a program associate for its Political Reform program. The associate will provide vital organizational, communications, and research support for the program.

Political Reform is a program at New America, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that invests in new thinkers and new ideas to address the next generation of challenges facing the United States. We engage in longer-term research, policy development, and support explanatory and analytical journalism on key policy issues of the day.

Launched in 2014, New America’s Political Reform program seeks to develop new strategies and innovations to repair the dysfunction of government, restore citizen trust, and realize the potential of American democracy. This program produces research, papers, and journalism on reform of the role of civic engagement, voting and election systems, hyperpartisan polarization, diversity in the national security field, congressional capacity, and much more. In addition to advancing specific policy solutions, the program supports journalism, academic research, and convening in order to more accurately and persuasively define the nature of the problem, sharpen the proposed solutions, and bring new voices to the conversation. The program has a full-time staff of six, but works in close collaboration with other programs and individuals at New America, as well as organizations and researchers across the country.

PRIMARY FUNCTION:  This position will be a full-time position, including benefits. This position will largely involve administrative and communications support but there is room for growth and professional development within a small and highly collaborative team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

General organizational and administrative support:

• Assist with the creation of grant proposal and project budgets
• Assist with grant proposal and reporting processes to meet all requirements and deadlines

• Manage scheduling and note-taking during internal and external meetings

 Internal and External Communications:

• Assist with program communications strategy
• Manage overall social media (posting 1-2x a week day, sharing team publications, external articles, and promoting events)
• Track latest program work and update website regularly
• Work with the New America communications team and manage publication processes
• Copy edit wherever necessary, including handling report footnotes
• Manage seasonal newsletter, write first drafts, and collect links and articles from the team
• Help produce the Politics in Question podcast by scheduling guests, editing scripts, working with R Street and the Democracy Group podcast network, and contributing to overall podcast strategy

Events

• Research panelists and prepare bios for events
• Draft invitation text and agenda
• Coordinate schedule and prep calls with event participants
• Coordinate event set-up and logistics with the Events team

Research and Writing

• Assist with desk research and interviews for team projects, with an emphasis on topics such as civic engagement, collaborative governance, and structural reforms to US elections and institutions that aim to achieve a multi-racial, multi-ethnic democracy
• Assist with writing and editing drafts of op-eds and reports for team projects
• Write first drafts for grant reports

OTHER DUTIES:

• Other responsibilities and opportunities as required or as time allows, including opportunities to develop an individual research and writing portfolio

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree
• Excellent writing and critical thinking skills
• Demonstrated experience in research, writing, and editing support
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated interest in issues related to the political process, political reform, civic engagement, or inequality
• Experience (including volunteer experience) in non-profits, advocacy organizations, or political campaigns preferred
• Experience or interest in podcast production a plus, but not required

Compensation:

This is a full-time position with a budgeted salary of $50-55K annually, depending on experience, plus a generous benefits package.

Location: This position will be based in New America’s Washington, DC office.

How to apply:

To apply, please submit a resume, one-page cover letter, three references, and a brief (no more than three pages) writing sample. In your cover letter, please tell us about yourself, why you want to work for the Political Reform program, and why you are qualified for the role based on the job description. We will consider applications on a rolling basis; priority consideration will be given to those who submit their applications by May 5, 2023.

Operating Status and Vaccine Policy:  New America has made the safety of our staff and our surrounding community a top priority. As part of that commitment, New America staff are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. New America will require all staff to submit proof of complete vaccination against COVID-19 to be in the DC office.

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 mission, 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.