Project Director - Technology and Democracy

New America is seeking a Project Director for our Technology and Democracy programs. The Project Director will focus on operationalizing the technology and democracy cluster. In collaboration with the Vice President, the director will contribute to scoping and managing new initiatives, supporting collaborative efforts across existing programs and managing relationships with public sector, non-profit and funding partners.

New America’s Technology and Democracy programs include experts on a range of technology policy issues, including net neutrality, broadband access and adoption, consumer privacy and security, platform accountability, encryption, government surveillance, internet governance, freedom of expression online, digital public infrastructure and wireless broadband and spectrum. These programs consist of:

• Open Technology Institute: works at the intersection of technology and policy to ensure that every community has equitable access to digital technology and its benefits. Issue areas include surveillance, consumer privacy and security, freedom of expression online, platform accountability, transparency, net neutrality, broadband access, and more.
• Digital Impact and Governance Initiative: works to advance understanding and replication of digital public infrastructure by governments and change-leaders.
• Public Interest Technology: works with partners — including government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, advocacy groups, universities, policymakers, and other mission-driven organizations — to develop the public interest technology ecosystem, with a focus on expanding the pipeline to ensure that technologists reflect the diversity of the country they serve.
• Planetary Politics: building a new approach to foreign policy that includes helping to catalyze the creation of a trusted, neutral global entity to develop agreed definitions and measurements of the digital harms and goods that constitute the planetary digital commons.
• Wireless Future Project: develops and advocates policies to promote universal, fast and affordable wireless broadband connectivity, including the reallocation of prime spectrum for shared public access and community networks in marginalized areas.
• Future Frontlines: uses open-source investigative tools, data mining techniques, and journalistic methods to explore how the digital revolution is reshaping global conflict, competition and influence.

 RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop, refine and implement major gifts strategy for New America in line with the organizational strategy, including engaging and building out existing donor pipelines.
• Collaborate with the Cluster’s VP and senior leadership team on the strategic vision and selected project management.
• Oversee the short-term and quarterly goals and key performance indicators for ongoing projects and partnerships.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to disseminate the outcomes and impact of New America’s technology and democracy programs.
• Identify, propose, and close on new funding opportunities to support further expansion of this work.
• Support oversight of grants work and project budgets..

QUALIFICATIONS

• A kind and self-directed leader and team player with excellent analytical, writing, and research and project management capacity.
• Demonstrated experience in public interest technology efforts and applying modern approaches to data science, service delivery, and design.
• Strong project management and execution skills with a passion for how policies and programs reach those they are designed for.
• Superior policy research and writing.
• Proven ability to effectively communicate with internal/external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to coordinate and inspire the work of others.

Benefits: New America offers a highly competitive benefits package that includes health care, dental, and vision coverage; a generous retirement plan with an employer contribution of 7% eligible after the first year of service, and dollar-for-dollar match of up to 3% of the employee’s salary eligible immediately; 20 days of paid time off (combined vacation and sick days) in your first year of employment and 30 days of paid time off in subsequent years; 12 weeks of paid parental leave; 10 paid Federal holidays; and an office-wide closure between Christmas and New Year.

Location: Washington, DC-based candidates are preferred, but fully remote situations will be considered for the right candidate.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter

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.