Program Associate (Data Systems)

Title: Program Associate (Data Systems)

Salary: $100,000-$125,000+ (incl. healthcare and retirement contributions)

Location: In-person, Washington, DC; visa sponsorship available

Job Type: Full-time

Application Deadline:  Sunday, August 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET

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The Horizon Institute for Public Service is seeking a full-time Program Associate to support our data systems and technical infrastructure during a period of rapid organizational growth. Working with Horizon’s engineers and users across our staff, you’ll ensure the quality and reliability of the data and workflows that fuel Horizon’s impact. We’re looking for a user-focused, mission-driven self-starter who’s excited to improve critical systems in daily use across our organization.

This is a junior role suitable for recent graduates or for more experienced candidates pivoting into technical work. We expect competitive applicants will have some real-world background in data science, engineering, database administration, or related fields (for example, through internships, co-op placements, or other professional experience). However, if you think the role is a great fit for your skills and interests, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t have previous experience in this exact field. Our hiring process is designed to test for aptitudes and skills, not specific resume markers.

Our mission

Emerging technologies like AI are rapidly reshaping our world. The US government plays an essential role in developing and governing such technologies. But policymakers’ ability to stay ahead of the curve depends on access to the requisite expertise—and right now, that expertise is sorely lacking. Horizon exists to close this gap by supporting the next generation of emerging technology policy leaders.

Since our launch three years ago, we’ve helped hundreds of professionals explore and transition into public service careers. Through our fellowship program, we’ve helped 100+ subject-matter experts fill vital roles at top think tanks, in Congress, and in agencies across government. Our online career resources have reached 150,000+ users and we’ve supported over 1,000 individuals through events and advising and headhunting services. We participated in the first-ever government AI hiring fair and run the AI Policy Leadership Network. We plan to both scale these existing programs and launch several more exciting new projects this year. You can read more about our programs and impact in our 2025 year in review.

About the role

Horizon is raising its ambitions and expanding our programs. We’ve grown from a handful of staff in 2025 to over 20 in mid-2026, with a target of 30 or more by the end of the year. This year’s 35-person fellowship cohort (selected from well over 1,000 applicants) is our largest yet, and future cohorts will be even bigger. We’ve also launched several ambitious new programs in recent months.

As Horizon scales, we’re generating more and more data on the talent, organizations, and initiatives comprising the AI policy ecosystem. We’ve set an organizational goal to better harness this data, and we’re investing in data systems and infrastructure to supercharge our programs and advance our mission. Working as part of a nimble, highly empowered team, the Program Associate (Data Systems) will help ensure that this investment succeeds. You’ll become an authority on Horizon’s internal data holdings and workflows, mastering the ins and outs of systems in use across our organization. You’ll ensure that the data flowing through those systems is decision-ready; work with colleagues to identify and capitalize on opportunities to improve our data infrastructure; and use the latest AI tools and industry best practices to accelerate the organization’s work and improve results.

In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from senior colleagues and users across Horizon’s program areas, gaining real-world perspective on how technical work can drive mission impact. Success in this role will give you a foundation for future positions in data science, engineering, database administration, or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Expand, enrich, and maintain critical datasets. Own the day-to-day operational health of Horizon’s internal talent database: the system underpinning all our work including the fellowship, headhunting, and advising. Run recurring data ingestion processes end-to-end, process freeform information from diverse sources into structured, actionable data, and field and triage data-related requests from program teams.
• Improve our technical infrastructure. Implement new features and upgrades to our systems in consultation with Horizon’s technical leads. Build out documentation, create templates for recurring processes, and set up dashboards and reporting tools to make situational awareness seamless for the team.
• Automate the work. You’ll have an explicit mandate to automate recurring work (in collaboration with engineering staff). You’ll be expected to identify high-frequency, low-judgment data-related tasks and build automations to tackle them, leveraging LLM tools where appropriate to create flexible, accurate processes.
• Hone your technical skills and explore new ideas. All members of our technical staff reserve 10% of their time for skill-building and speculative projects, such as exploring new LLM tools or data techniques or tinkering with prototype ideas for Horizon’s tech stack.
• Flex as needed in support of Horizon’s mission. Horizon is a small, nimble, and fast-moving team in a rapidly evolving opportunity space, meaning staff often flex outside their formal roles and duties when our mission calls for it. As a member of Horizon’s technical team, you may sometimes be tapped to assist with other duties related to data systems, technical infrastructure, or process automation.

You may be a good fit for this role if you

• Are relentlessly user-focused. You understand that your colleagues’ success is your measure of success; technical elegance and sophistication are means to an end, not the main event.
• Have exceptional attention to detail and a passion for data quality.
• Are highly organized, with an ability to independently track, triage, and deliver on many different projects and requests over the course of a typical day or week.
• Are a communicative, transparent team player: you make sure to stay in sync with colleagues as you go about your work, checking in regularly on goals and tactics and iterating together toward the end result.
• Are motivated by enabling others’ success. You find satisfaction in behind-the-scenes work that keeps programs running smoothly and helps others achieve direct impact.
• Have some real-world experience in data science, engineering, database administration, or related fields (for example, through internships, co-op placements, or other professional experience).
• Are interested in public policy or emerging technology issues (prior experience not required so long as you are excited to learn on the job).

Additionally, Horizon has a strong team culture, and we expect you would fit well if you:

• Are entrepreneurial and a team player, adapting to new responsibilities as our fast-growing organization’s needs may change over time
• Are growth-minded and excited to give and receive feedback frequently in order to maximize performance and impact across our team 
• Are motivated by Horizon’s mission and excited to be part of a public service-oriented, user-focused, low-ego, and collaborative team
• Can work in-person in Washington, DC

Salary and benefits

The Program Associate (Data Systems) will receive a salary of $100,000–$125,000+ based on experience and seniority. Horizon currently offers a flexible, benefits-equivalent cash stipend (included in salary) rather than a fixed health insurance or retirement plan. The stipend can be used to purchase any of the two dozen health insurance plans on the DC public market (or just keep as an additional salary top-up if you already have health insurance coverage through a parent or spouse) and contribute to a retirement account of your choosing. Starting in late 2026/early 2027, Horizon plans to expand its benefits offerings to include 403(b) retirement accounts and employer-covered health insurance plans. 

Horizon also offers:

• Unlimited vacation, with a recommended minimum of 15 days per year 
• Remote work flexibility for up to 12 weeks/year, contingent on acceptable performance
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Up to $3,000+ per year in professional development funding
• Flexible working hours
• A productive, collaborative office with free snacks and meals 

We can provide visa sponsorship for qualified candidates.

Application process

Interested candidates should express initial interest by filling out an application by Sunday, August 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Please answer honestly and reflect on your responses, but do not spend too much time on your application: quick bullet points are fine, and answers do not need to be polished, as later stages will evaluate specific skills and knowledge in depth. 

The application process will involve paid work tests, a structured interview, reference checks, and a paid in-person work trial. We will acknowledge receipt of all applications and aim to get back to candidates by mid-September. Our ideal start date is November 2026, though flexibility is offered for exceptional candidates.

We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. Strong candidates may not always fulfill all our required or desired criteria. Studies show that individuals from underrepresented groups may underestimate their qualifications. Therefore, we urge you not to self-disqualify prematurely. If you are excited about this work, we strongly encourage you to apply.