Program Associate
Applications will close on September 30, 2026 at 11:59pm ET
ABOUT TECHCONGRESS
TechCongress is a nonpartisan nonprofit that places technologists in Congress and state legislatures as fellows, building the technical expertise our democratic institutions need to govern AI, digital infrastructure, and emerging technology. Over eleven years, we have placed more than 146 fellows in top offices across both parties — including the offices of Speaker Pelosi, Senator Thune, and the Senate Intelligence Committee — with 31 hired into full-time congressional staff roles. We are now expanding that model to state legislatures across the country.
We have a small, high-trust team that operates with low ego, high accountability, and genuine commitment to public service. We believe that clear is kind, that everyone does everything, and that our fellows and staff deserve an organization that models the values it asks of them.
SUMMARY
The Program Associate will play a critical support role across all areas of the fellowship program, providing operational, logistical, and administrative assistance. Working closely with our Senior Outreach & Program Manager and Deputy Director, the Program Associate will ensure the smooth execution of tasks related to recruitment, selection, coalition building, fellow placement, orientation, internal and external events, and ongoing fellowship support. This position is ideal for someone highly organized, detail-oriented, and collaborative, with a passion for helping programs run effectively and efficiently and the ability to build documentation as they go.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Recruitment Support
Assist in preparing and publishing applications, managing communication with prospective applicants, and posting on job boards. Support recruitment outreach efforts by maintaining tracking systems, managing logistics for and attending recruitment events, and coordinating with partners. Provide data entry and organizational support for tracking application numbers and demographics.
Selections Support
Provide administrative support during the selection process by assisting with managing the Screendoor platform, coordinating interview schedules, and helping with reference checks. Support the recruitment and management of application readers.
Coalition Building, Outreach, and Partnerships Support
Collaborate on event strategy and lead on event planning. Organize logistics for conferences, recruitment events, and fellowship programming in collaboration with peer groups and external partners. Provide behind-the-scenes support for the TechCongress team's outreach and coalition-building efforts and ensure events are planned and well executed from beginning to end. This will include hours outside the 9 to 5 schedule, offset by flextime.
Placement Support
Help manage fellow placement logistics, including maintaining the office/committee outreach list, planning the Launch Event, and ensuring fellows are paired with alumni advisors. Support ongoing tracking of fellows’ placements and updates to program records.
Orientation Support
Assist in coordinating all aspects of orientation, from scheduling workshops and managing guest speakers to managing logistics such as room bookings, snacks, and AV setup. Help build and maintain the orientation calendar and ensure all materials are prepared in advance.
Fellowship Support
Support the fellowship program by helping manage post-fellowship planning, including coordinating with the career coach and tracking fellows’ accomplishments throughout the year. Act as a point of contact for day-to-day fellow inquiries, providing administrative assistance as needed.
Monitoring and Evaluation Support
Gather data for program evaluation for After-Action Reviews (AAR), analyze, make recommendations for, and implement program iterations. Provide support in tracking KPIs and organizational goals and help develop and implement data strategy throughout the fellowship journey.
Offboarding Support
Support the fellow offboarding process by coordinating exit interviews and ensuring all exit-related tasks are completed efficiently. Capture, organize, and implement insights gained from fellows as they transition out of the program.
LOCATION: Washington, D.C., hybrid
SALARY: $58,000 - $66,000 full-time annual salary
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience and 1 - 3 years of professional experience
Excellent organizational and communication skills
Detail-oriented, able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and some experience building documentation
Proficiency in tools such as ATS, Zoom, and spreadsheets
Comfortable providing support to senior team members and contributing to program operations
Some data analysis experience
Experience planning and executing events
BENEFITS
A platinum-level health care plan, plus vision and dental insurance.
Paid parental leave
Family planning benefits.
Generous PTO (20 days in year one; 30 days thereafter).
The office is closed for all federal holidays, including Juneteenth and Veterans Day, and the week off between Christmas and New Year's, and also has early closure on Fridays in the summer.
A 401(k) retirement plan with an automatic 9% contribution by TechCongress, no individual match required.
Very flexible remote work policies (currently two days/week in the office) including opportunities to work outside of Washington.
$1,500 annually for professional development stipend; $500 wellness benefit.
A convenient location in DC by the White House.
A sabbatical policy after 6 years with TechCongress
This role offers an opportunity to support the smooth operation of a dynamic fellowship program, providing behind-the-scenes assistance and ensuring the success of key processes across recruitment, selection, orientation, and fellow support.
Equal Employment Opportunity
TechCongress values an inclusive and diverse workplace. Diversity is one of our core values, and we continuously strive to improve through reflection, learning, and implementation of evidence-based best practices. Over the years, we’ve piloted a range of strategies to foster inclusive cohorts of Congressional Innovation Fellows, and we continually seek new ways to grow and evolve.
We also believe that ideological diversity is fundamental to our mission. As one of the few truly non-partisan organizations in Washington, we proudly work across the political spectrum with Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and everyone in between.
TechCongress is an equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse team at all levels of the organization. We are committed to cultivating a workplace culture that enables everyone to thrive, contribute fully, and make a meaningful impact. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law.
This policy applies to all aspects of employment and fellowship, including hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.
You can learn more about our efforts to build an inclusive fellowship, particularly through our work with veterans and underrepresented minorities, on our blog.