Program Manager

Requisition #
2026-21696

Date Posted
1 week ago(4/21/2026 11:21 AM)

Department: Schl of Public & Int'l Affairs

Category: Academic Administration

Job Type: Full-Time

Overview

The School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) at Princeton University seeks to hire a Program Manager to support its Center in Washington D.C. and its Director. The ideal candidate would be able to take on a broad range of tasks, including event ideation, planning, and production, financial management, policy research, communications and marketing, external engagement, and calendar management. The Program Manager will work with program managers and staff to facilitate programs and events originating with one SPIA’s twenty centers and programs, and support the development, and implementation of domestic and international policy initiatives originating in the Princeton SPIA DC Center.

This is a one-year term position with the possibility of reappointment, and based in Washington DC.

Responsibilities

Policy Research:

• Conducts short and medium-term research tasks, at the direction of the Director, on a broad range of policy issues, trends, and developments, including: in Congress and the executive and judicial branches, at academic, partner, and peer institutions and think tanks, in support of the SPIA DC Center's objectives and new or ongoing initiatives.
• Assists the Director in monitoring and collating developments at SPIA and Princeton more broadly—new research, papers, events, appointments, and initiatives—and identifying opportunities that may be fitting to promote via SPIA DC Center engagement or initiatives.
• Assists director in communications and collaboration with SPIA communications, career development, alumni, IT, and other departments in support of SPIA DC Center objectives and operations.

Financial Management:

• Provides administrative, financial management, and logistical support to the Director and center more broadly, including managing SPIA finance software, supporting budget management and reporting, purchasing tickets, making reservations and bookings, paying vendors for services, reconciling expenses, etc., in coordination with the director and the SPIA department of finance.

Communications/Marketing:

• Supports outreach and engagement, attending events and taking notes/producing summaries, identifying target actors/partners, managing correspondence and scheduling, facilitating the work of the SPIA DC Center alumni advisory group, and liaising with the University's Office of Government Affairs team and other affiliated groups in Washington DC. Conducts SPIA DC Center marketing--including amplifying events and initiatives via social media, managing social media accounts (LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, etc.), developing event invitations in Mailchimp, designing program graphics in Canva, managing event calendars and announcements, as well as photography, in coordination with the director and SPIA communications.
• Assists in updating the SPIA DC Center website in coordination with SPIA communications team.
• Assists in building, managing, and updating SPIA DC Center contact databases.

Event Support

• Supports event planning at the SPIA DC Center, including through: event ideation and production/hosting, stakeholder engagement, as well as marketing campaigns, to include designing and disseminating invitations, tracking registration, drafting social media content, managing vendor payments, event-day and evening support, and other tasks in coordination with the SPIA DC Center Director and Events Manager;

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of related experience.
• Clearly demonstrated self-starting capabilities; professionalism and poise; proven and sincere commitment to strategic and operational hands-on problem solving. Familiarity with Washington D.C. and public policy communities.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; critical thinking; refined organizational and planning capacity; strong attention to detail; high degree of discretion, diplomacy, and tact.
• The ability to simultaneously manage and complete multiple projects and assignments with competing deadlines; proven ability to autonomously manage projects without regular oversight or direction; demonstrated personnel management skills and the ability to work well both independently and in a team environment.
• The ability to develop and manage relationships with a wide range of constituents and stakeholders, including distinguished guests and visitors; ability to interact with senior leaders at Princeton and the School of Public and International Affairs; a strong appreciation and respect for academic culture.
• Awareness of and sensitivity to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree and/or experience in Washington DC preferred, but not required.
• Technically savvy and willing to learn new skills, tools, and technologies.
• Familiarity and creativity with social media, communications to include Mailchimp, Canva, and other marketing software, event planning, and financial management tools.

THIS POSITION IS BASED IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WITH LIMITED TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS.

THE PROGRAM MANAGER WILL WORK PRIMARILY DURING BUSINESS HOURS; HOWEVER, SHE/HE MUST BE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT OCCASIONAL EVENING EVENTS AS NECESSARY.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's qualifications, work experience, education/training, key skills, market, collective bargaining agreements as applicable, and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The posted salary range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate for a full-time position; salaries for part-time positions are pro-rated accordingly.

Standard Weekly Hours
36.25

Eligible for Overtime
No

Benefits Eligible
Yes

Probationary Period
180 days

Salary Range
$79,000 to $92,000