Manager, Federal Data Policy

Washington DC, DC
Full Time
Manager/Supervisor
Manager, Federal Data Policy
Full-time, Washington, DC (Hybrid) 
Why FAS? 
Does FAS sound like an organization that you would be energized to join? Is it aligned to your values? 
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) takes quite seriously our role as a beacon and voice for the science community. 

FAS has a rich history: after the devastating bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, a group of atomic researchers – deeply concerned about the use of science for malice – created an organization committed to using science and technology to benefit humanity. 
The group they created – the Federation of Atomic Scientists – soon became the Federation of American Scientists in recognition of the hundreds of scientists across diverse disciplines who joined together to speak with one voice for the betterment of the world. 
Today, we are a group of entrepreneurial, intrepid changemakers, forging a better future for all through the nexus of science, technology and talent. We value equity, inclusion, and transparency. As a collective, we are building an organization focused on being impact-driven, customer-focused, and growth-oriented as a force for good in the world. 

Skills and Expertise: Must Haves 
What skills do you need to show proficiency (or higher) in order to be a strong candidate? 
  • 5+ years total relevant experience related to federal data and policy, including 1–3 years in the federal government, state or local government, or civil society.
  • Experience tracking, managing, analyzing, or working with different types of federal data and awareness of federal data across policy domains. 
  • Proven ability to execute a strategy and deliver results with minimal oversight. 
  • Policy entrepreneurship: turning ideas into action leveraging different policy levers and pathways (e.g., coalition building, public comments, strategic communications, etc.) for activating users of federal data; identifying novel ways to assess risk, monitor status, and mobilize public engagement for federal data; and designing for the future of federal data
  • Exceptional stakeholder management, collaboration with federal data watchers across domains, and coalition building across data stakeholders (e.g., data analysts / users, businesses reliant on federal data, state and local data leaders, academic researchers, congressional offices, etc.). 
  • Advanced communication skills: developing compelling data-informed narratives tailored to key audiences (e.g., public, decision makers, data users, etc.). 
  • Data skills: R and Python for data cleaning, analysis, visualization, web scraping, and monitoring.
  • Technical skills: GitHub for version control and collaborative workflows; ability to maintain and update website content.
  • Program management: coordinating across policy and functional teams, managing program deliverables and timelines, reporting annual and quarterly metrics, and managing vendors/contractors as needed.
  • Excellent organization and prioritization, able to manage time-sensitive efforts in a fast-moving environment. 
To Sum It Up… 
What’s the “elevator pitch” for the role? 
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) seeks a strategic and collaborative Manager of Federal Data Infrastructure & Innovation to advance our mission at the intersection of data, policy, and governance. In this pivotal role, you will help shape and execute FAS's federal data strategy across federal government, state and local government, civil society, industry, and academia to drive meaningful policy impact on critical federal data issues.

As Manager of Federal Data Policy, you will serve as a key connector, activator, and policy entrepreneur to build a more resilient federal data infrastructure. You will build coalitions and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders; activate the community to be effective storytellers and respond to the changing federal data landscape; and develop a pathway for the future of federal data. You'll work alongside subject matter experts, communications professionals, and strategists to mobilize support for federal data policies. This position offers the opportunity to flex both analytical and policy entrepreneurship skills, identifying emerging issues in the federal data landscape, advocating for federal data, and communicating the value of federal data.

The ideal candidate is an adept relationship-builder, an advocate who can adapt communication approaches to varied audiences, and a strategist with the ability to define a path forward to rebuild our federal data capacity and deliver more resilient data products. If you're passionate about data and policy and thrive in collaborative, mission-driven environments, this role offers meaningful impact during a critical moment. 
The Manager, Federal Data Policy executes on these responsibilities by: 
  • Building credibility and trust with external federal data stakeholders across federal, state, and local government, industry, academia, and civil society organizations and identifying opportunities for cross-organizational collaboration.
  • Establishing and continuously improving internal workflows and implementation processes to ensure the program operates efficiently, strategically, and at scale.
  • Advancing innovation in data monitoring, including exploring and applying emerging uses of AI and automation.
  • Providing program management, performance metrics, and content for grant proposals across a growing portfolio of federal data monitoring and policy initiatives.
  • Designing frameworks to evaluate the status of federal datasets, conducting technical research and analysis to inform data users and advocates.
  • Mobilizing allies and building coalitions to support federal data policy 
  • Develop and advance strategy for monitoring federal datasets, including tracking dataset changes and terminations, evaluating risks, and assessing policy impacts.
  • Developing narratives and stories to illustrate the benefits of federal data to everyday Americans
  • Adapting communication styles and methods (e.g., data, storytelling) to meet audiences where they are and advance progress around federal data policy goals, including social media and influencer campaigns
  • Planning and executing convenings to activate the civic data community around shared goals for building a future resilient federal data ecosystem
  • Mastering key aspects of the policy entrepreneurship toolkit to advance policies for identifying and protecting essential federal data
  • Building a community of civic data professionals, deploying strategies to bring data talent back into the federal government, and rebuilding agency data capacity
Work Environment 
This position will be a hybrid role. Meaning that both remote and in-person work can be accommodated, generally two to three days per week on-site, and two to three days per week remote depending on the needs of the organization. 
This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific terms and conditions of employment are subject to collective bargaining. 

Salary Range 
$70,000-$85,000 

Hiring Statement 
Don’t check off every box? Apply anyway! Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every listed qualification. At FAS we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and developing new voices. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway – you might just be the right candidate. 

The Federation of American Scientists is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. The Federation of American Scientists prohibits discriminating against employees and job applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose the compensation of the employee or applicant or another employee or applicant. Employment is contingent on successful verification of eligibility to work in the United States.



 
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