Program & Research Coordinator

Nov 14

Location: Flexible / Remote within the US (HQ in NYC); Limited travel expected
Type: Full Time W-2 Employee
Reports To: Chief Program Officer
Start Date: January 2026

OVERVIEW

Work for America is a nonpartisan nonprofit working to solve the government staffing crisis by helping state and local governments recruit, hire, and inspire the people they need to deliver for their communities. We believe that public service should be a desirable, accessible, and stable career path for Americans from all walks of life.

From launching Civic Match, a national platform connecting mission-driven talent with government jobs, to helping cities modernize hiring systems and tell a more compelling story about public sector work, Work for America is making it easier for great people to serve, and for communities to thrive. Our work has been recognized by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and TIME for its innovative approach to rebuilding the public workforce. Read more here.

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ROLE SUMMARY

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the Program and Research Coordinator supports Work for America’s program strategy and learning agenda, helping advance our mission to build the next generation of public servants. This person will coordinate key partnerships with state and local government partners and peer organizations, manage research and publication workflows, and strengthen internal knowledge-sharing systems that power WFA’s programs.

This is a cross-functional coordination role that blends strategic thinking, strong writing, and disciplined execution. The ideal candidate is a proactive, detail-oriented contributor who thrives on actioning ideas – helping translate insights, data, and partnerships into tangible progress toward a stronger, more effective public workforce.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Partnership Support

Serve as the day-to-day project manager for Spotlight Cities, WFA’s core city partnership, ensuring coordination and communication across WFA teams and excellent support for partner cities.
Coordinate with external programmatic partners and peer organizations to ensure consistent and effective partnership delivery.
Support the Chief Program Officer, Executive Director, and WFA leadership team in tracking, applying to, and preparing for convenings, conferences, and external meetings.
Track progress on partnership goals and maintain up-to-date records of partnerships, including deliverables, key contacts, and milestones.

Research and Publications

Support the Chief Program Officer in executing WFA’s Learning Agenda by coordinating ongoing research projects, including with external collaborators.
Collaborate with WFA’s Data Coordinator to compile and analyze qualitative and quantitative data for internal learning and external reporting.
Track key program metrics, milestones, and outcomes using tools such as Airtable, Notion, and Google Sheets.
Draft and support the development of WFA publications, including case studies, impact reports, resource guides, and tools for public sector leaders.
Manage publication processes for the Programs team — including internal reviews, copyediting, design coordination, and final approvals — to ensure timely, high-quality outputs.
Work with the Communications and Events teams to translate research and program insights into accessible, audience-specific content.

Internal Knowledge Sharing

Support internal learning opportunities for staff guest speaker sessions and cross-program sharing opportunities.
Identify and organize external opportunities for WFA staff to learn from peer organizations, researchers, or government partners.
Help document and disseminate learnings from programs and partnerships for internal use.

General Program & Research Support

Assist with special projects, such as programmatic strategic planning or proposal writing or editing.
Help create and maintain shared systems for document management, resource tracking, and planning.

QUALIFICATIONS

1–3 years of experience in research, program coordination, writing, or public sector–focused work, ideally in a nonprofit, government, or mission-driven organization.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, concise, and engaging content for diverse audiences.
Excellent organizational and project management skills, including managing timelines, coordinating stakeholders, and tracking details across multiple workstreams.
Familiarity with data tracking tools such as Google Sheets, Notion, Airtable, or similar platforms; comfort analyzing and synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data.
Self-starter with a proactive mindset; comfortable navigating ambiguity and taking ownership of tasks from start to finish.
Deep interest in public service, civic innovation, and supporting effective government.

WHY JOIN US?

Be part of a mission-driven organization tackling some of the most pressing challenges in public service today.
Gain hands-on experience working in a fast-paced, high-impact startup environment.
Work closely with experienced leaders in government, communications, and nonprofit management.
Have the opportunity to shape the internal systems and processes of a growing national nonprofit.
Join a collaborative and supportive team committed to making a difference in communities nationwide.