Senior Program Associate (Data & Talent Systems)

Title: Senior Program Associate (Data & Talent Systems)

Salary: $85,000-$110,000+ (incl. healthcare and retirement contributions)

Location: In-person, Washington, DC; visa sponsorship available

Job Type: Full-time

Application Deadline: May 22nd, 2025

The Horizon Institute for Public Service is seeking a full-time Senior Program Associate (Data & Talent Systems) to strengthen our data and talent systems. Our current data system stores over 15,000 records and enables us to connect with hiring managers and staff across over a hundred agencies, offices, and organizations in the DC area. This role will help us improve the backbone of our organizational infrastructure, allowing us to stay in touch with thousands of job seekers each year, conduct hundreds of advising calls across our team, and regularly stay up to date on the needs of dozens of hiring managers. You will also help our talent team improve the efficiency of key parts of our work. By managing our advisor network, talent referral processes, opportunity notification system, and strengthening our internal database, you'll amplify Horizon's ability to build the next generation of tech-savvy public servants. 

Competitive applicants will likely have completed at least a bachelor's degree and have some relevant experience analyzing data, building databases, or helping processes become more efficient. If you think the role is a great fit for your skills and interests, we encourage you to apply even if you don't have previous experience in this exact field. Our hiring process is designed to test for aptitudes and skills, not specific resume markers or experience. Previous experience in US policy or emerging technology is helpful, but not required.

Our mission

The Horizon Institute for Public Service is a non-profit that supports the next generation of public servants with expertise in emerging technologies.

Emerging technologies, like biotechnology and artificial intelligence, are rapidly reshaping our world. The US government plays an essential role in developing and governing new technologies, crafting policies to take advantage of their benefits and avert the risks they pose. But policymakers' ability to stay ahead of the curve depends on access to the requisite expertise. And right now, that expertise is sorely lacking.

Since our launch two years ago, we've helped hundreds of experts launch critically needed careers in public service. For example, through our fellowship program, we’ve helped 75+ subject-matter experts fill vital roles at top think tanks, congressional offices, and federal agencies. Our online emergingtechpolicy.org career resource has reached 70,000+ users. We’ve also helped more than 1,000 individuals through our online seminar series and 1-1 advising calls, and participated in the first-ever government AI hiring fair. You can read more about our work here.

About the role

As the Senior Program Associate (Data & Talent Systems) at Horizon, you will develop specialized expertise in emerging technology policy talent needs, data systems, product design, and improving operational efficiency while working as a key member of our tight-knit, high-performing team. You'll be managed by our Director of Talent, Ryan Remmel, while working closely with our Director of Talent Strategy, Abby Hoskin, and Senior Director for Programs & General Counsel, Zach Arnold. This position will strengthen your skills in program operations, relationship management, and data systems while building an extensive professional network among DC policy practitioners. It's an excellent platform for advancing to program management, data analysis, system design, or operations at high-impact nonprofits, think tanks, in government, or in industry.

Responsibilities

• Expand Support for Advisees (30%)

  • Support our advising team by making personalized introductions and connections with support services for the highest-potential advisees

  • Set up systems to better identify and track high-impact open roles in emerging technology policy

  • Help us expand our mentor network and connect more job seekers with mentors by regularly checking in with existing mentors, updating availability & mentor profiles, and routinely adding new mentors to our network 

  • Build out systems to better track top candidates’ job search criteria and progress

  • Improve systems to generate talent leads for policy work, including candidates who performed strongly in other policy organizations’ application processes

  • Create polished, professional profiles of top talent that effectively showcase candidate qualifications

• Expand Support for Hiring Managers (25%) 

  • Develop systems for regular, targeted outreach to high-impact organizations about their hiring needs, including about roles that are not publicly advertised

  • Recommend which roles should receive priority status and more in-depth support from our team to source candidates

  • Conduct background research to identify if candidates meet qualifications for a given role; develop processes to outsource or automate this process to increase efficiency

• Database Excellence & Expansion (30%)

  • Each year, we receive referrals of thousands of potential candidates whom we could support through our programs. Drive the integration of this data to help us find the right people and multiply the impact of Horizon’s other programs

  • Help us more efficiently and seamlessly work together as a team by building smooth Airtable workflows for application rounds, events, interest forms, and more by leveraging automations regularly 

  • Ensure that updates about our existing relationships with advisees and hiring managers are integrated across communication channels

• Network Strategy & Expansion (15%)

  • Enhance Horizon's organizational intelligence by maintaining our map of contacts across the US government and policy ecosystem

  • Map where we have gaps in our network to identify high-priority opportunities for expanding our contacts and impact 

  • Ensure we have up-to-date contact information for our key organizational partners

• Additional opportunities could include drafting career advice for our emergingtechpolicy.org website, conducting advising calls with high-impact advisees, supporting our events team, or providing other program support at Horizon. You can read more about our work here.

You may be a good fit if you

• Are conscientious and have strong attention to detail 

• Enjoy managing projects with multiple steps and coordinating projects that have interdependent deadlines

• Are adept at using and configuring data management systems, and ready to quickly master new tools (such as Airtable, Zapier, Notion, etc) 

• Are process-oriented; able to design and implement clear workflows for yourself and other team members

• Are excited to improve processes and efficiency, including by leveraging AI tools

• Communicate professionally in writing with diverse stakeholders

• Are entrepreneurial and a team player, adapting to new responsibilities as our growing organization’s needs may change over time

• Are motivated by Horizon’s mission and excited to join a public service-oriented, tight-knit, and collaborative team that’s always learning

• Can work in-person in Washington, DC

• Have a demonstrated interest in emerging technology policy (prior experience not required as long as you are excited to learn on the job)

Salary and benefits

The Senior Program Associate (Data & Talent Systems) will receive a salary of $85,000-$110,000+ based on experience and seniority. As a small non-profit, Horizon does not yet provide a traditional benefits package, such as health insurance or a retirement plan. Instead, we offer a competitive salary (as a W-2 employee), inclusive of a benefits-equivalent stipend, to empower our employees to tailor their benefits according to their individual needs.

Horizon additionally offers:

• Unlimited vacation

• 12 weeks of paid parental leave

• Up to $3,000 per year in professional development funding

• Flexible working hours

• A productive, collaborative office

We can provide visa sponsorship for qualified candidates.

As an additional benefit, employees with subject-matter expertise in emerging technology have the unique opportunity to utilize Horizon’s placement expertise to do a public interest rotation for up to 12 months after working at Horizon for 2 years. At least 6 months' notice must be given to redeem this benefit. 

Application process

Interested candidates should express initial interest by filling out an application (<10 minutes) by May 22nd, 2025. The application process will involve a paid short work test, a paid longer work test, a structured interview, reference checks, and a paid in-person work trial. We will acknowledge receipt of all applications and aim to get back to candidates within 10 days of the application deadline. Our ideal start date is July/August 2025, though flexibility is offered for exceptional candidates.

We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. Strong candidates may not always fulfill all our required or desired criteria. Studies show that individuals from underrepresented groups may underestimate their qualifications. Therefore, we urge you not to self-disqualify prematurely. If you are excited about this work, we strongly encourage you to apply.