Project Manager, Engagement

US Ignite (us-ignite.org), a nonprofit public-private partnership based in Washington, DC, seeks a Project Manager to support a national network of communities, regional coalitions, and partner organizations. This role will help expand US Ignite’s place-based innovation work by strengthening partnerships, shaping implementation strategies, and building local capacity.

SURGE, Supporting U.S. Regional Growth and Entrepreneurship, is a National Science Foundation-funded initiative that supports regional economic development and innovation ecosystems working to strengthen partnerships, build capacity, and advance technology-based economic growth.

Salary range: $80,000 to $110,000, commensurate with experience, education, and other qualifications. US Ignite also offers a competitive benefits package.

Role Responsibilities

The Project Manager will support a portfolio of communities, regional coalitions, and ecosystem partners, with a strong focus on SURGE. This role requires someone who can build trust with partners, stay organized, track information carefully, and turn conversations into clear next steps.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Identify, engage, and support the onboarding of communities, regional coalitions, and partner organizations into SURGE
• Track prospects, enrollment status, intake materials, meeting notes, support needs, and follow-up actions in Salesforce, shared logs, and internal tracking systems
• Help standardize how community information is collected, documented, and shared across the team
• Support community intake by helping organize information about regional priorities, partner contacts, support needs, and next steps
• Translate discovery calls, intake materials, and partner conversations into clear internal summaries and action items
• Build and maintain relationships with communities, regional coalitions, economic development organizations, universities, nonprofits, industry stakeholders, and public sector leaders
• Support community-facing meetings, workshops, working groups, and convenings
• Help connect community leaders, peer communities, and subject matter experts in coordination with US Ignite partnership efforts
• Conduct basic research on regional needs, emerging opportunities, ecosystem gaps, and relevant practices to support program design and technical assistance
• Represent US Ignite in select external meetings, conferences, workshops, and public events

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in public policy, economic development, public administration, planning, community development, information technology, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• 3 to 5 years of project management experience in community engagement, place-based innovation, innovation ecosystem support, regional economic development, or related cross-sector partnership work
• Experience working directly with communities, regional coalitions, economic development organizations, universities, or cross-sector partners
• Understanding of regional economic development, innovation ecosystems, technology-led growth, or related community capacity-building work
• Experience using Salesforce, CRMs, project management tools, or shared tracking systems to manage contacts, workflows, notes, and follow-up
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to organize information, track deadlines, coordinate across teams, and move multiple workstreams forward
• Ability to translate conversations, meeting notes, and intake materials into clear summaries, action items, and next steps
• Strong interpersonal, writing, facilitation, and verbal communication skills
• Curiosity and comfort learning across different technology sectors, community contexts, and regional economic development needs
• Willingness to travel occasionally, up to 5 percent, for partner meetings, conferences, and community engagement activities

How to Apply

To be considered for this position, please send a cover letter and résumé to hiring@us-ignite.org before May 15th, 2026.

Notices:

We encourage thoughtful use of available tools, including AI, to polish and refine your résumé and cover letter. Ultimately, your submission should authentically represent your experience and thinking.

This is a hybrid position based in the Washington, DC area. The Project Manager is expected to work in the office on Wednesdays and may work the remaining four days of the week remotely. Please note that US Ignite does not provide relocation assistance for this role.

US Ignite is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a U.S. veteran. We welcome diversity and positive attitudes.