Research Associate, Government Renewal Project

The Government Renewal Project is an initiative focused on building the government Americans want, deserve, and need. Our mission is to provide the next U.S. president with a first-year blueprint for building and enhancing federal government capacity to deliver results for the American people, while laying the groundwork for long-term government revitalization and transformation. Through operational, institutional, and workforce fixes and reform, the Government Renewal Project aims to bridge the gap between policy aspirations and governmental capacity while rebuilding public trust in American institutions.

Organization Overview 

Digital Harbor Foundation is the fiscal sponsor of the Government Renewal Project. Digital Harbor Foundation is dedicated to digital equity for everyone, increasing diversity in the technology sector, and advancing technology innovation for the public good. Driven by our sincere belief that access to opportunity is a basic right, we take bold yet practical actions to support making a better future now. Through a portfolio of projects focused on developing leadership within communities, we support those closest to challenges to take deliberate actions based on a design thinking approach, backed by data analysis, grounded in a practice of collective impact, and driven by a commitment to racial equity.

Role

The Research Associate plays a crucial supporting role within the Government Renewal Project’s Programs and Research function. Working closely with the Director of Programs and Research and the Director of Strategic Initiatives, the Research Associate will gather, review, analyze, organize, and synthesize ideas, evidence, and inputs that will shape the Project’s public and stakeholder-facing products and deliverables related to federal government capacity and operational reforms. This role is ideal for someone who is highly organized, curious, and collaborative — someone who enjoys moving between research and analysis tasks, project coordination, and supporting day-to-day execution across multiple workstreams.

The Research Associate will support program and research operations by: drafting and updating project plans; tracking deliverables and external contributions; preparing and editing briefing materials; attending and/or helping to organize virtual and in-person discussions, sessions, and workshops, and capturing takeaways; conducting literature reviews and summarizing key insights; and helping ensure smooth coordination among partners and internal teams. This role requires excellent writing and analytical skills, strong attention to administrative details, and comfort working in a fast-paced environment with many moving parts.

Required Experience

  • 2–4 years of experience in program support, research, policy analysis, project coordination, or related roles.
  • Strong research skills, including the ability to gather and summarize information from diverse sources.
  • Strong organizational, administrative, and project-tracking capabilities.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication, with strong interpersonal and presentation skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to support cross-team collaboration and coordinate multiple workstreams.
  • Ability to work independently and proactively while maintaining alignment with team goals.

Preferred Experience

  • Experience in federal government, think tanks, research organizations, or policy-focused environments.
  • Familiarity with federal operations, public administration, or issues related to government capacity and operational and institutional reforms.
  • Experience supporting stakeholder coordination or external partnerships.
  • Experience drafting and editing memos, briefs, or synthesis documents for senior audiences.
  • Experience in management consulting.

Additional Notes

This position is fully remote, but will require in-person attendance to support in-person meetings and convenings in DC and other U.S. locations on an as-needed basis.

Role and Responsibilities

Program and Project Coordination

  • Support the Director of Programs and Research in managing workflows, timelines, and milestones across multiple projects
  • Maintain systems and project plans that track internal and external deliverables
  • Help prepare agendas, discussion documents, notes, and follow-up materials for internal and external meetings
  • Identify and implement process improvements that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Program and Research team and the Project as a whole

Research and Analysis

  • Conduct literature reviews, landscape analysis, and background research on topics related to federal government capacity, management, and reform
  • Synthesize research into concise summaries, memos, slide decks and briefing materials for leadership
  • Track new research, activities, and developments across the government reform ecosystem

Stakeholder and Partner Support

  • Assist in communicating expectations, timelines, and deliverables among external contributors
  • Help organize inputs from partners, consultants, and working groups to ensure smooth integration into project outputs
  • Prepare briefing packets and materials for partner engagement meetings
  • Help foster collaborative relationships across the Project’s network of experts, practitioners, and aligned initiatives

Integration and Synthesis

  • Help compile and organize external contributions into consistent and valuable work products
  • Assist in synthesizing insights into draft recommendations, options, and issue briefs
  • Support quality control to ensure materials align with the project’s guiding principles and strategic direction
  • Identify gaps in research or expertise and flag them for further exploration

Other Duties

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Compensation

Compensation for this full-time position is $80,000 - $90,000 annually, commensurate with experience. 

Digital Harbor and Government Renewal Project provide a best-in-class comprehensive set of benefits to support the team. All regular, full-time employees are eligible to receive:

Health Benefits & Insurance

  • Carefirst Blue Cross Blue Shield - Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance (100% of the premium paid for employees and 85% of dependents)
  • Pre-Tax Health Savings Account (HSA) (with $365 monthly employer contributions)
  • Pre-Tax Flexible Savings Account (FSA)
  • Paid Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
  • Paid Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Paid Basic Life Insurance
  • Supplemental Voluntary Life Insurance (Employee, Spouse & Dependent Children)
  • Total Pet Plan and Supplemental Wishbone Pet Insurance
  • Employee Opportunity Program (EAP) - Health and Wellness
  • Wellness Reimbursement Program 

Retirement

  • 401k Retirement Plan (with 6% matching)

Paid Time Off

  • 15 Days Paid Time Off Per Year
  • 20 Days Paid Time Off Per Year (after 3rd Anniversary)
  • 25 Days Paid Time Off Per Year (after 6th Anniversary)
  • 16 Paid Holidays (14 common plus 2 flexible holidays, including Dec 25 - Jan 1)
  • Paid Bereavement Leave
  • Paid Parental Leave for Moms and Dads (two weeks after first year)

If our mission and vision align with your personal values, please apply!

A cover letter outlining your qualifications for the position along with your resume is required. Interviews will be conducted virtually.

Digital Harbor and Government Renewal Project are equal opportunity employers.

Back to blog

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...