Online Technology Manager | Progressive States Network

Online Technology Manager
Goal: PSN is seeking an experienced, resourceful, responsible, detail-oriented, and creative Online Technology Manager to oversee our use of web-based technologies and databases. This includes maintaining and improving our existing infrastructure as well as working with our communications and outreach staff to develop innovate new online tools to support the organization’s mission.

A top priority in coming months will be the design and implementation of a new interactive online system to facilitate communication between our network of thousands of state legislators, state-based advocates, national think tanks, and online media activists in order to push multi-state legislative campaigns that impact the national political debate and build the infrastructure of the progressive movement.

The goal is to expand the PSN website into a dynamically updated and definitive hub of news, policy analysis, and resources relating to state government. We want our site to be the authoritative “first stop shop” to which people go to find, post, and discuss the best progressive state policy ideas and strategize about the best way to deploy those ideas in successful legislative and advocacy campaigns. Moreover, we want the site to function seamlessly within the context of an integrated communications campaign that deploys sophisticated database analysis, email outreach, and traditional earned media in order to maximize the impact of our work on both the state and national level.

It is an ambitious undertaking, the implementation of which will require as much political savvy and social imagination as it will technical prowess. Candidates should bear these unique requirements in mind as they apply. While a strong technical skill set – particularly experience with Drupal, PHP, and database design – is desired, preference will be given to those candidates with demonstrated practical experience using technology as a tool for galvanizing dynamic change in issue advocacy or political campaign settings.

Job Description:

* Development and maintenance of our website (based on Drupal), including upgrading its capabilities to dynamically present existing information, promote allies providing content, and encourage user-generated content production and interactivity.
* Management and support for PSN’s contact management system (currently use Democracy in Action), including supporting organization-wide use of effective email blasts and managing online payment and donation pages
* Maintaining and improving database infrastructure (currently in Salesforce) that manages PSN information on state legislators, organizational allies, and donor information, including working with policy and outreach staff to most effectively access and deploy the data for outreach
* Innovation of new online technologies and social media tools to promote participatory, “Web 2.0” interaction on our website.  

All job areas will involve regular interaction with PSN’s policy, outreach, communication and development staff to ensure that they are properly trained in the use of online tools and that the tools themselves are custom-tailored to optimize intuitive and frequent use by the staff.

Qualifications: First and foremost, any candidate regardless of experience must demonstrate an ability to use technology in innovative ways. They should have a familiarity and commitment to new technologies and methods used in progressive political organizing, including new media tools.

An ideal candidate will have experience with the key technologies PSN currently uses, including Drupal, Salsa / Democracy in Action, and Salesforce. At the minimum, she or he should have experience developing interactive web applications using PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, or similar tools.

In special circumstances, PSN will consider hiring candidates with minimal experience with the above languages and applications and compensating them for training in relevant skills. In such situations, lack of knowledge of our specific tools must be compensated for by extensive experience as a “super user” of the same or similar tools and a general comfort with basic levels of computer coding in some language. Applicants with absolutely no coding experience will not be considered.

Any candidate must have a deep passion for and knowledge of progressive politics, excel at balancing simultaneous ongoing projects, work efficiently under tight deadlines, and collaborate well with non-technical members of the staff as well as allies outside the organization.

Progressive States Network is an equal employment opportunity employer and encourages minorities, women and people from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply.

Location: Position based in PSN’s national office in New York, NY. Occasional travel required.

Salary and Benefits: Salary will fall somewhere in the range of $40,000 to $60,000 depending on the qualifications and experience of the candidate. Health, dental, and retirement plan benefits will be provided along with salary.

How to Apply: Email a resume, cover letter and portfolio of online work if available to onlinemanagerjob@progressivestates.org