Government Works Weekly #79
Jobs, Events, and Remembering What Is Important
Welcome to your weekly roundup of opportunities, events, and information about how government works—and how government can work better—to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities.
If you find this newsletter useful, please consider sharing with friends or colleagues who might also benefit.
Scroll down all the way for 14 upcoming events and 131 jobs and opportunities to help government work…
EYES & EARS – readings, podcasts, and other good stuff
As I was considering what to write about today, I originally planned something hopeful to follow up on my last anniversary post by addressing two of my favorite themes in the newsletter, Zohran Mamdani and progressive taxation. Then, given the gravity of recent events, I thought of issuing a more pointed reflection on Republican power grabs in the United States.1
But since today is Memorial Day for the 90+ percent of Government Works readers that are up in the U.S., instead I will just take a second to think about all of the members of the military that gave their lives so that the United States could be a place of freedom and opportunity for all people, regardless of race, religion, and national origin. I hope we can preserve what they fought and sacrificed for.
EVENT HORIZON – webinars, conferences, and other human things
Featured Upcoming Events
4 JUNE: 2026 Data Summit: Public Data As Strategic Infrastructure [Data Foundation]
“Public data is strategic infrastructure, and on Thursday, June 4, 2026 in Washington, D.C., the Data Foundation is bringing together researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and data practitioners for a full-day convening with two complementary programs that will explore the role of public data in driving informed decision-making across American society.
4 JUNE: Human Rights and Local Resistance: From Criminalization of Civic Spaces to Action [Bringing Human Rights Home Lawyers Network + the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School]
“On behalf of the Bringing Human Rights Home Lawyers Network (BHRH), with support from Northeastern University School of Law, Center for Global Law and Justice, and the Gittis Legal Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, you are invited to join Human Rights and Local Resistance: From Criminalization of Civic Spaces to Action on Thursday, June 4 at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.”
Events This Week: 25-30 MAY 2026
26 MAY: Reversing the Gaze: Global Workshops on Democratic Innovation (Eastern Europe & Balkans) [ScaleDem]
26 MAY: Participatory Technology Assessments for Democratic AI Governance [UNDP]
27 MAY: Forum on Restoring Public Finances [OECD]
27 MAY: Election Protection Lawyer Mobilization [Not Above The Law]
27 MAY: Energy x Data Centers: Why Are Ratepayer Protections Not Enough? [AI Now]
28 MAY: Deep Roots of Belonging: Lessons from Rural and Southern Cultural Leadership [Forecast Public Art]
28 MAY: Project-based carbon credits: Regulatory and market reforms [Brookings]
28 MAY: Rethinking Federal Place‑Based Policy: What Comes Next? [Urban Institute]
28 MAY: After America: Oil, War, and the New World Order [Equator]
28-30 MAY: 2026 Social Equity Leadership Conference: “Leading and Learning Toward a Future for All” [National Academy of Public Administration]
29 MAY: Nicaragua Under Repression: Human Rights, Accountability, and Exile [CSIS]
29 MAY: How State and Local Governments Can Help Build Employee Wealth [Urban Institute]
APPLY YOURSELF – jobs, internships, and other ways to get involved
FEATURED JOBS
My take on where you can apply your time and skills to make the greatest impact right now.
Vice President, States Initiatives, Recoding America Fund
“RAF aims to restore the core capabilities of government… This role owns both the strategy and the operations of RAF’s state-level work”
Director, Development & Partnerships, Partners for Public Good
“a fast-growing nonprofit dedicated to helping state and local governments harness core operational functions… PPG seeks a strategic and entrepreneurial leader to design and drive the organization’s revenue strategy”
Senior Program Officer, Democracy Fund
“The Reimagine and Rebuild program supports the people and projects who are building the vision and the pathway towards the democracy we need”
Kendall Fellow for the Science of Fair Representation, Union of Concerned Scientists
“...develop and undertake a two-year research portfolio leading a body of work to advance state and local policy and advocacy efforts around proportional representation”
Senior Director, Global Policy and Solutions, International Rescue Committee
“This role will be responsible for leading a team that will be developing scalable, high-impact and pragmatic solutions”
THE FULL LIST
All 131 jobs and opportunities to build government that works for all…
POLICY + PROGRAM
Senior Program Officer, Democracy Fund [D.C.]
Federal Government Affairs Manager/Director, Recoding America Fund [D.C.]
Policy and Legislative Tracking Director, Voting Rights Lab
Lead Fightback Campaigner, Popular Democracy [Remote]
Advocacy Campaign Strategist, Elections and Government Program and Program Associate, Democracy Initiatives and More, Brennan Center for Justice
Vice President, Advocacy and More, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Director, Election Protection Hub and More, Public Rights Project
Program Assistant, Democracy Program, Carter Center [Atlanta]
Program Director, U.S. Democracy, Hewlett Foundation
Manager, Public Service Leadership Institute and More, Partnership for Public Service
Policy Analyst, American Economic Liberties Project
Senior Manager, Programs and Delivery, Civic Strength Partners [Remote]
Sr. Manager, Advocacy and More, Share Our Strength [D.C.]
Senior Policy Analyst (Program on the ACA), KFF [D.C. / Remote]
Partnership Engagement Specialist, P-5 Federal Policy Network, ZERO TO THREE [Remote]
D.C. Director, MoveOn [deadline 5 June]
Senior Program Strategy Manager, Political Engagement, Pivotal Ventures
Deputy Assistant Director and Specialist (Government and Finance Division), Congressional Research Service [deadline 22 June]
Congressional Affairs Specialist, National Endowment for the Humanities [deadline 1 June]
Director of Government Affairs and Partnerships, Rebuild Local News [Remote]
Associate Counsel, Whistleblower Aid [Hybrid / D.C.]
Legislative Affairs Specialist, Federal Government Affairs, AFSCME [D.C.]
STATE + LOCAL
Vice President, States Initiatives, Recoding America Fund [Remote / D.C. preferred]
Political Partnerships Manager and More, Democratic Attorneys General Association [D.C.]
Multiple Positions, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee [D.C. + States]
Resume Banks, Democratic Governors Association
Chief of Staff, Office of Operations and More, NYC Mayor’s Office
Chief Innovation Officer (Mayor’s Office), City of San Jose [CA]
Senior Program Manager, Multi-State Field Program, Movement Labs
State Legislative Manager, Giffords
Southwest Reporter and More, ProPublica
California State Manager, Rebuild Local News
Research Associate, Ballotpedia
Senior Manager, State Government Relations and More, Share Our Strength [D.C.]
Deputy Director, Policy & Research, Fines and Fees Justice Center
Manager, State Advocacy & Engagement, American Psychological Association [D.C.]
COMMS + OPS
Director, Development & Partnerships, Partners for Public Good [Remote]
Philanthropic Partnerships Associate or Manager, Recoding America Fund [D.C.]
Communications Director, Progressive Change Campaign Committee [Remote / D.C. preferred]
Associate Speechwriter, NYC Mayor’s Office
Executive Communications Strategist and Senior Digital Campaign Associate, Brennan Center for Justice [NYC]
Temporary Social Media Coordinator, MoveOn [Remote / deadline 27 May]
Program Manager, Digital Campaigns & Innovation, Movement Labs
Earned Media Strategist (Term-Limited) and More, ACLU
Manager, Media Relations and Director, Content, Arnold Ventures [Houston / D.C.]
Managing Director of Narrative & Communications, The Solutions Project
Director, Media Relations & Editorial and More, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Media Relations Specialist (Energy & Climate), Environmental Law & Policy Center [Chicago]
Digital Coordinator, Civic Nation
Writer, The Ink [Remote / part-time]
Managing Editor, In Development [Remote]
Multiple Roles, Lever News
Social Media Producer, National and More, Courier Newsroom
Comms and Ops Roles (x3), AI Now Institute [deadline 25 May]
Senior Director of People and Culture, Democracy Forward [D.C.]
Operations Associate, Data Foundation
Senior People & Culture Associate and More, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Director of Strategy and Special Projects, Freedom Forum
Director of Digital Fundraising & Advocacy and More, Earthjustice
PTON Network Coordinator, Purpose Trust Ownership Network [Remote]
Operations Associate, Advocacy & Partnerships, Vera Institute [Brooklyn]
Director, HR Operations & Systems and More, Earthjustice
Head of People, Lead Exposure Elimination Project
ACADEMIA
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cities and Communities and More, School of Government and Policy [Johns Hopkins University]
Social Media and Digital Storytelling Strategist, Bloomberg Center for Cities [Harvard]
Assistant Professor in Public Policy, Claremont McKenna College [via APPAM]
Associate Director, Eagleton Institute of Politics [Rutgers]
Research Scientist, Wheelock Educational Policy Center [Boston University]
Research Data Analyst, Latino Policy & Politics Institute [UCLA]
Program and Research Manager, Center for International Development [Harvard]
GRI Communications Specialist, Global Research Institute [William & Mary]
Policy and Communications Associate, Blueprint Labs [MIT]
Policy Officer, What Works Hub for Global Education [Blavatnik School of Government / deadline 28 May]
Head of Product and Data, Center for Community Media, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism [CUNY / deadline 3 June]
Visiting Policy Fellows Program, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment [deadline 31 May]
Arctic Initiative Project Director, Kennedy School of Government [Harvard University]
TECH + DATA + DESIGN
Managing Director, Civic Innovation and AI, Rockefeller Foundation
Data and Targeting Specialist, AFSCME [D.C.]
Analytics Manager: Artificial Intelligence Policy and Research and More, Blue Rose Research [Remote]
democracyFIRST Data Deputy Director, Progressive Turnout Project [Remote]
Data Engineering Director, Courier Newsroom [Remote]
AI Governance Manager, DoIT State Chief of Information Technology [Maryland / deadline 4 June]
Research Analyst, Everybody Votes Campaign [Remote]
Data Scientist, Library of Congress [deadline 3 June]
Information Security Manager, Obama Presidential Center [Chicago]
Data Engineer, Energy and Policy Institute [Remote]
Chief Research Officer, Good Power [Remote]
Senior Director, Information Technology & Digital Security, Committee to Protect Journalists [NYC or Remote / deadline 3 June]
Senior Data Scientist, Election & News Products, Thomson Reuters [deadline 1 June]
Technology Director, Center for Constitutional Rights [deadline 8 June]
Manager, Reporting & Analytics and More, Share Our Strength [D.C.]
IT Associates and Senior IT Associate, Coefficient Giving [Global Remote]
Grant Associate, Data and Analytics, Open Society [Rio / Bogota / Mexico City]
INTERNATIONAL
Senior Director, Global Policy and Solutions, International Rescue Committee [NYC]
Policy Analysts, Directorate for Public Governance, OECD [Paris / deadline 8 June]
Director NRC United States, Norwegian Refugee Council [D.C.]
Senior Program Officer, Global Policy & Advocacy, Digital Public Infrastructure & Inclusive Financial Systems, Gates Foundation [Singapore]
Country Director Malaysia, Westminster Foundation for Democracy [deadline 31 May]
Senior Specialist, Financial Investigations (Indonesia), Basel Institute on Governance [deadline 24 June]
Associate Director, Policy and Communications, J-PAL South Asia [India]
Senior Policy and Project Development Associate, Innovations for Poverty Action [Philippines]
Deputy Director for Global Leadership Programs, Asia-Pacific Lead, Obama Foundation [deadline 2 June]
(Senior) Manager, Right-Fit Evidence, Innovations for Poverty Action [Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, or Uganda]
Manager, National Poverty Lab, IPA Nigeria
Policy and Research Associate, J-PAL Europe [France]
EU Policy and Advocacy Advisor and More, Concern Worldwide [Ireland]
Policy Manager, J-PAL LAC [Guatemala]
Senior Manager, Ocean Policy, Conservation International [Americas]
External Affairs and Advocacy Lead, Global Project Against Hate and Extremism [Remote U.S.]
Reporter, Latin America Advisor, Inter-American Dialogue
Multiple Positions and Consultancies (Ukraine), Basel Institute on Governance
INTERNSHIPS + FELLOWSHIPS
Kendall Fellow for the Science of Fair Representation, Union of Concerned Scientists [Remote]
Student Assistant, Communications & CRM, Power for Democracies [Berlin]
Partnership Internship Program, Partnership for Public Service [deadline 13 June]
Internship (Graduate or Masters Associate), Open Society [deadline 28 May]
Fall 2026 Internship Program, Niskanen Center [deadline 12 July]
Project Assistant, Connecting Europe Project, European Policy Centre [deadline 4 June]
Summer 2026 Advocacy and Government Relations Intern and More, Share Our Strength [D.C.]
Civic Science Fellow in Science, Engineering, and Technology, American Academy of Arts & Sciences [priority deadline 30 June]
Summer 2026 Data Science Intern, Research Central, Vera Institute [Brooklyn]
Intern, Communications 2026-27, Center for Effective Global Action
CONSULTANCIES + OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Junior Research Consultants (x2), United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance [deadline 28 May]
Research Consultant: Technology & Conflict Podcast, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue [deadline 31 May]
Consultant, EU Defence Procurement, Basel Institute on Governance [deadline 31 May]
Consultancies (Multiple): Michigan Nonpartisan Election Observation Program, Carter Center
Call for Submissions: Special Issue: Artificial Intelligence in Evaluation: Emerging Tools, Methods, and Policy, New Directions in Evaluation + Data Foundation [abstract deadline 1 June]
Board Member, Democracy Reporting International [deadline 4 June]
Request for Quotations: Digital Democracy - EU SEE Expert for technical support, Democracy Reporting International [deadline 26 May]
Call for Proposals: 2027 AmericasBarometer Survey Questions, LAPOP Lab at Vanderbilt’s Center for Global Democracy + the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame [deadline 25 May]
For even more jobs: Check out the last newsletter (Government Works Weekly #78) and be sure to follow the Government Works LinkedIn Page.
Perhaps a signal to save writing for power for another day, the electricity keeps going out this afternoon here in Panama. So I will send this out now while I have still have internet and revisit these themes later.