Project Manager for Democracy

MapLight, an innovative, award-winning nonprofit that builds software to improve democracy, is seeking an experienced Project Manager to join our team. This role is responsible for overseeing several of MapLight’s campaign finance, lobbying, and ethics disclosure software projects to ensure successful delivery within scope and budget. This position is full-time and remote within the U.S.

In this role you will:

• Develop comprehensive project plans for complex long-term software projects
• Oversee all phases of project execution, including progress tracking, risk management, and mitigation to ensure projects are delivered on time and within scope
• Contribute to and coordinate delivery of project plans
• Prepare regular project status reports and dashboards for internal and external reporting, highlighting key milestones, risks, and performance metrics
• Maintain engagement and clear communication with external government stakeholders
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including staff and contractors
• Monitor project budgets, ensuring efficient use of resources and adherence to financial constraints
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement best practices to enhance project management efficiency

Qualifications required:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in project management, with a strong track record of successfully delivering complex projects on time and within budget
• Minimum of 5 years of additional experience working in software development projects as a project manager, product manager, engineer, operations manager, or other software-project-related roles. Experience working with large government projects is strongly preferred.
• Highly organized with a high level of attention to detail and thorough documentation
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Active Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• Willingness to develop detailed expertise in campaign finance, lobbying, ethics, and other areas of MapLight’s work

Candidates who are a good fit for this position will be highly organized and enjoy planning and keeping track of details, documentation, and budgets.

This position requires occasional travel, currently estimated at two trips per year of one week each for staff get-togethers, plus an estimated two trips per year of two days each to client locations.

About MapLight

MapLight designs, builds, and operates software and data systems to improve democracy and advance policies in the public interest. We specialize in campaign finance, lobbying, and ethics disclosure for state and local governments. We believe that everyone deserves an equal voice in our democracy. We support reducing the influence of special interests on government, protecting and strengthening the institutions of democracy, and providing a just society, economy, and environment for everyone. We are nonprofit and nonpartisan.

MapLight is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and value a diversity of lived experiences and perspectives that will help further the democracy-oriented work we do. As such, MapLight is committed to an inclusive workplace in all aspects of employment operations; from recruiting, hiring, promoting, training and professional development, compensation, benefits, to discipline, and terms of employment. We know that research shows some applicants – more often underrepresented applicants – downplay their skills. If your experience doesn’t exactly match the qualifications listed but you can shine in this role, we want to hear from you. Please apply and tell us why you’re the right person for the job!

MapLight does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, country of origin, citizenship, ancestry, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, political affiliation, exercising one’s right to family care and medical leave, medical condition, including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions, or any other category protected by local, state, or federal laws. We are not offering U.S. visa sponsorship at this time. To comply with state requirements, we use E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new staff hires. All job offers are contingent upon applicants successfully completing a criminal background check as required by project contracts.