Project Leader, Technology

Project Leader, Technology 

Location: Flexible within the U.S. but requires access to a major U.S. airport for travel.    
Position Type: Full-time   

About Us 
At Partners for Public Good (PPG), we believe that when government works, communities thrive. Launched in March 2025, we are a fast-growing nonprofit dedicated to helping state and local governments harness core operational functions – procurement, staffing, digital infrastructure, and budgeting – to drive public impact.     

Our journey began in 2011 at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Government Performance Lab, where we set out to transform public procurement. Since then, we’ve worked with hundreds of governments across the country to make their procurement systems more efficient, fair, results-driven, and strategic. In 2022, we launched the Procurement Excellence Network, putting our tools and strategies in the hands of over two thousand public servants.     

Today, our team of doers, coaches, and advisors partners with governments to create lasting, impactful change. Our vision is simple: every resident has a government they can count on, every day.   

Role & Organizational Impact 
Reporting to the Head of Public Sector Technology, PPG is seeking a Project Leader of Technology to oversee execution across a new suite of technology-related services and initiatives for state and local government. PPG is expanding our government transformation efforts to internal operations functions beyond procurement, including budgeting, human resources, and information technology (IT). The Project Leader of Technology will manage new efforts to support state and local IT team transformation and, more broadly, leverage technology to modernize all types of internal operations functions.  

At PPG, Project Leaders manage individuals or small teams responsible for the delivery of projects, stepping in to coach and support execution as needed. Project Leaders may attend conferences or other events to speak publicly about project work, and are encouraged to develop public-facing tools, templates, and publications about promising practices derived from projects.   

Responsibilities 
Service Design and Strategy 

• In partnership with the Head of Public Sector Technology, strategize the future of PPG’s Technology Portfolio with the goal of best serving the most pressing needs and promising opportunities for government’s internal operations functions modernization. 
• Translate initial program design into program scopes, timelines, specific roles/plans for team members and partners. 
• Design evaluation frameworks, metrics, and feedback mechanisms to measure the Technology Portfolio’s success and scalability. 

Execution and Project Leadership 

• Oversee the day-to-day execution of various projects, services, and programs, maintaining high quality deliverables and clear communication across staff. 
• Monitor resources, budget, time, external relationships, and risks throughout a project/product/pilot’s lifetime. 
• Track progress on work and elevate timely risks or challenges to leadership 
• Develop and manage high-quality project documentation for sustainability, replication, and external storytelling. 
• Manage ongoing relationships and performance of any contractor providing specialized support on projects. 

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Building 

• In partnership with the Head of Public Sector Technology, develop and execute a government partner engagement strategy for the Technology Portfolio. 
• Regularly produce outbound materials in the form of blogs, talks, webinars, etc. 
• Represent PPG at conferences and events, presenting insights from project work. 
• Build strong relationships with government leaders, nonprofit partners, government technology companies, entrepreneurs, and start-ups.  

People Management 

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of high-performing Associate(s), fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and professional growth.    
• Train team in core PPG capabilities, including analytical thinking, project management, stakeholder management, and communications.  
• Support staff in growing their procurement expertise by designing learning opportunities in the realm of government technology, staying abreast of new products, functionality, IT partnerships, innovative IT procurements, and creative IT staffing/operational choices in the field. 
• Positively shape organizational culture, promoting equity, transparency, and accountability across PPG operations.   

Who You Are 
We’re looking for candidates who are: 

• Goal-oriented, mission-driven manager. You have an intrinsic drive to forward the goals of PPG and the Technology Portfolio. You are eager to make big wins for your colleagues and clients. You know how to energize a diverse group of stakeholders toward a shared goal.  
• Entrepreneurial builder and innovator. You will help PPG prototype new services and projects. This calling requires an effective person who knows how to get things done and adapt to new conditions and feedback quickly.  
• IT generalist. While you might have a background that touches on a few categories of government IT operations (data analytics, generative AI, software modernization, product management, core IT service delivery, cybersecurity, etc.), you are ready to broaden your knowledge in this area. 
• Strong communication. You excel in verbal, written, and visual communication. You make technical or complex concepts accessible and engaging for a range of audiences. 
• Change manager. You recognize that true change requires culture shifts, capacity-building, and empowerment, in addition to better processes. You build trust and momentum, bringing stakeholders along with you while moving with urgency. You know how to lead groups through change effectively.  
• Adaptable. You thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment where every project is unique, and we often have to dive in and learn quickly.  
• Collaborative. You care for your colleagues and are quick to pitch in when someone needs help. You are comfortable giving and receiving direct feedback.  
• Mission aligned. You are motivated by the opportunity to help state and local governments harness core operational functions so that every resident has a government they can count on, every day. 

Qualifications 
Core Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree required. Equivalent years of professional experience will be considered in lieu of formal education. 
• Three or more years of government technology experience (in the public or private sector) or related work experience. 
• At least two years of people management experience – ideally leading multidisciplinary teams.  
• Excellent writing and editing skills, including the ability to produce compelling, well-written, and error-free work products. 
• Strong project management skills, with track record of independently managing projects and establishing priorities among multiple simultaneous deadlines. 
• Strong knowledge of or certifications in product management methods and practices. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, Visio) and the Power Automate Platform.  
• General comfort with Zoom, MailChimp, Miro and/or other outreach or virtual collaboration tools. 
• General comfort and willingness to learn new technology. 
• Comfort with using (and managing the performance of others that use) generative AI in day-to-day work and deliverable creation. 
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed at least six times per year.  

Experiential Qualifications: 
We believe a variety of experiences can equip individuals to excel in this role. While we expect applicants to bring many of the qualifications listed below, we encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. 

• Familiarity with or experience working in local, state, or federal government, information technology. 
• Understanding the unique capacity needs of public sector leaders and challenges public sector entities face in project delivery and operations. 
• Team-oriented with the ability to build strong relationships and develop trust with colleagues, external collaborators, and funders. 

Additional Information: 
Deadline to Apply: PPG will review applications on a rolling basis. All applications received by the deadline of Sunday, November 9, will be considered. 

Compensation: The salary for this role is $120,000 plus benefits. We offer a comprehensive, people-first benefits package to support the well-being of our team and their families. We offer medical, dental, and vision insurance, with multiple plan options to fit individual needs as well as access to health and flexible savings accounts. Paid time off includes: 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 3 personal days, 2 floating holidays, 12 paid holidays, and a winter recess. We also provide an employer match for retirement savings, paid parental leave, and access to backup care for caregiving needs. To support remote work, we offer work-from-home stipends or shared office space options.   

Start date: The desired start date for this role is January 2026. 

This position is grant-funded. Employment is contingent on continuation of funds and organizational needs, at PPG’s sole discretion. 

Physical Demands: This position requires sitting, talking, listening, reading, and writing for up to 8 hours per day. Certain situations may require lifting items up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job duties. 

Commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity 
Partners for Public Good is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 
 
Partners for Public Good is committed to the inclusion of all qualified individuals in the hiring process, including but not limited to those with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in the application or interview process, please contact info(at)partnersforpublicgood.org.