Associate Program Director

Role Overview

• Serve as the primary project lead for assigned projects, accountable for successful delivery across scope, timeline, budget, and outcomes.
• Shape and steward project-level strategy in partnership with the Program Director and other cross-functional leads, translating program priorities into clear delivery plans and success measures.
• Own project planning from kickoff through close-out, ensuring roles, decision rights, and expectations are clear for internal teams and external partners.
• Lead cross-disciplinary teams through ambiguity by setting direction, facilitating decision-making, and maintaining momentum toward outcomes.
• Make informed delivery tradeoffs when constraints arise (e.g., scope, timeline, staffing), clearly articulating options, risks, and recommendations.
• Monitor progress against goals and adjust plans as needed in response to delivery realities, partner needs, or shifting constraints.
• Ensure project work remains aligned with Code for America’s values, user-centered principles, and impact goals throughout execution.
• Elevate insights from project delivery — including risks, opportunities, and learnings — to inform Program Director decision-making and portfolio-level understanding.
• Lead the end-to-end project management lifecycle for key initiatives, driving scope definition, strategic planning, cross-functional execution, and reporting
• Translate program goals into clear scopes, milestones, and realistic workplans across disciplines
• Coordinate project timelines, dependencies, and task execution with cross-functional teams
• Support smooth cross-functional collaboration (e.g., between Programs, Product, Design, Engineering, Research)
• Proactively surface delivery risks early and work with the Program Director to resolve issues before they escalate.
• Surface project-level staffing and resource needs, including skill gaps, capacity risks, or upcoming transitions that could impact delivery.
• Use tools and norms (e.g., trackers, templates, standups) that improve teamwide delivery practices.
• Ensure delivery decisions are grounded in feasibility, capacity, and partner context.
• Ensure what we deliver is on time, on budget, and aligned with our values and impact goals
• Apply Code for America’s program delivery standards through a strong project management framework across projects, including:
• Facilitating clear project kickoffs and a shared understanding of goals and roles
• Ongoing risk and opportunity management
• Demonstrating consistent partner communication and accountability
• Upholding clear documentation and knowledge sharing
• Facilitating retrospectives and continuous improvement practices.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience leading complex projects in civic tech, consulting, government, or adjacent environments, with demonstrated accountability for delivery outcomes
• Strong understanding of public benefits implementation and administration, particularly SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, EITC, CTC, or other anti-poverty programs.
• Proven track record of cross-sector stakeholder engagement (public, nonprofit, private), ideally including product development, data usage, policy, and collaborative implementation.
• Problem solver and strategic thinker who is comfortable using frameworks and data to help structure the team's thinking and solve multi-faceted problems.
• A compelling oral and written communicator with a can-do attitude, who is able to clearly explain concerns, reasoning, and decisions to internal teams and external partners.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment, gravitates towards continuous change, and is able to change their mind based on new information or constructive feedback.
• Natural collaborator who values honesty and openness, builds relationships, seeks input, does not shy away from conflict, and facilitates decision-making.
• Passion for the Code for America mission and vision for digital service delivery, and strong and persuasive values for the role of user-centered technology in government.
• Deep commitment to transparency and fairness.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Passion for government service improvement.
• Ability to thrive in ambiguity and work on under-defined challenges.

Benefits

• Laptop provided
• A one-time $700 payment for remote environment setup; $200 stipend (in first paycheck) and up to $500 reimbursement, in accordance with our equipment policy
• Cell phone and/or internet reimbursement of $50 per month
• $500 annual (per calendar year) stipend towards professional development; prorated at time of hire
• Up to $500 of professional development funds can be rolled over each year, up to a maximum of $1000
• Training / guidance for staff required to utilize AI as part of their role, plus opportunities for employees to gain AI-related skills to support job and career growth
• Employees receive a 100% employer match on the first 3% of contributions.
• Employees with 3+ years of service receive an additional 50% match on contributions between 3% and 5%, for a maximum employer contribution of 5%
• At least one no cost health insurance option for full-time employees for employee-only coverage
• A minimum of 80% of the cost of dependent coverage
• Code for America employees may work remotely across the US
• Full-time employees work 40 hours per week, Monday
• Friday
• Collaborative working hours: we aim to hold all internal meetings between 10 AM
• 3 PM PT. We expect all Code for America staff to be available during these set working hours
• Open personal time off (subject to manager approval), a minimum of 14 paid holidays, and an org-wide closure from Christmas Day through New Year's Day
• Paid sick time; up to 96 hours annually
• 17 weeks of paid parental and family leave
• 3 weeks of paid sabbatical after 5 years of service