Do you believe that open data can be harnessed to advance social justice and make government more responsive? The Participatory Budgeting Project is hiring a Community Data Manager to do just that!

PBP’s Work

The Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP) is a nonprofit whose mission is to empower people to decide together how to spend public money. We create and support participatory budgeting processes that deepen democracy, build stronger communities, and make public budgets more equitable and effective. Through our work with partners in over 17 cities, we have engaged over 300,000 people in deciding how to spend $240 million.

About this position

Our ideal candidate is as passionate about digital technology as about community engagement, and is equally comfortable working with software developers and explaining how data and tech work to non-technologist community members.

PBP is extending our work using open data generated by and relevant to Participatory Budgeting (PB). Gathering and making available data on community needs and public spending trends will transform both PBP and PB participants’ ability to communicate impacts as well as increase the value of existing civic data accessible to non-profits, advocates, and city residents.

This position is part of PBP’s Participation Lab, where the overall mission is to strengthen and streamline PB by developing innovative tools and resources for practitioners and organizers.

This position is full-time, starting around Nov. 1, 2017 and continuing at least through December 2018 with possible continuation pending funding.

Responsibilities

• Compile and visualize civic data.
• Empower volunteers, city staff, and advocates to use relevant data.
• Enable city staff and community leaders to track and document implementation of projects funded through participatory budgeting.
• Develop and own the project roadmap, in collaboration with stakeholders and with internal team support.
• Collaborate with PBP staff, partner organizations and individual developers and designers to build and test tools.
• Develop written guides and deliver trainings for government employees, community members, and organizations.

Qualifications

You should be excited about the universe of tech tools that can enhance data-informed decision-making, but are also good at recognizing when a low/no-tech solution is better than another new app.

We’re looking for an early to mid-career technologist with at least three years work in map and dashboard creation, or database management, or data set creation, or archiving or library science, or other work focused on making data more legible to people, including demonstration of the following skills:

• Attention to detail, and ability to organize, prioritize, and process large volumes of work.
• Solid project management skills, including familiarity working on product development with contractors (could be experience working as a contractor).
• Data management or information management. Experience with the New York City Open Data portal, or a Socrata-based system desired, but not required.
• Ability to synthesize and make information relatable to various community members and stakeholders, and turn non-technical user research insights into concrete revisions or updates to tools and materials.
• Experience engaging diverse users and communities in equity-driven projects, either professional or volunteer/personal.
• Conversational and written Spanish desired, but not required.  

Values and Benefits

Our organizational practices embody the values of transparency, collaboration, capacity building and fun that drive our mission.  We invest in the professional growth and personal care of our people, including strong benefits:

• 4 weeks annual paid vacation and a slew of paid holidays
• Full coverage for health insurance (and dental, vision), flexible spending account
• Retirement plan with 2% employer match
• Generous sick day and family leave policy
• Short term disability and term life insurance
• Professional development resources, including semi-annual staff retreats (may involve travel nationally)
• Schedule and work site flexibility to accommodate your life, including families, continuing education, and community leadership.

We understand that there are a wide variety of paths towards the skills necessary for any position. As such, PBP positions have no formal educational requirements, as long as the applicant can demonstrate mastery of the desired skills. We do, however, value experience gained through educational programs, including credits completed in related subjects.

Compensation and Location
This position is based in New York City in PBP’s Brooklyn office. Typical schedule is 10am-6pm, with very occasional evening and weekend worktimes for user testing in the community.

Salary Range: $50,000 – $60,000 annually.

How to Apply

Please email applications to jobs@participatorybudgeting.org, with position title in the subject line.

Applications should include the following, preferably compiled into a single pdf:

1. Cover letter explaining your relevant experience and interest in the position;
2. Resume;
3. Relevant work samples (GitHub links or URLs suffice for interactive work; screenshots or project documentation are also acceptable);
4. List of three professional references with contact information.

Please indicate specific softwares or technologies you are familiar with in your application. Exposure to the following fields or skills are desirable, but not required: Statistical analysis, Data visualization, Open data and open source software, and/or CRMs.

No calls, please.

PBP is an Equal Opportunity Employer, strongly committed to building a staff that represents the diversity of communities we work in.

We strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, and LGBTQ individuals. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to applications received before October 6, 2017.

For more information, visit www.participatorybudgeting.org