Principal Program Manager

WHO WE ARE

ActBlue is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating cutting-edge technology that fuels Democratic victories and enables progressive causes to thrive. 

Our vision is simple: building change through the power of people. Since our founding, we’ve been building innovative solutions to revolutionize grassroots fundraising – if you’ve donated to a Democratic campaign or a progressive organization online, you’ve probably used our platform! We believe in putting power in the hands of small-dollar donors by helping thousands of groups — from local candidates to national movements — mobilize their communities and create a lasting impact. Every member of our team is deeply committed to advancing our shared mission and core values. Together, we are shaping the future of democracy. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

ActBlue is seeking a Principal, Program Management to create and execute on a robust program management function for our Product & Engineering departments. This role is designed for a dynamic leader who will establish and carry out critical planning processes, drive data-informed decision-making, and coordinate large-scale initiatives across our organization. You will be the architect behind the systems and processes that ensure our quarterly, bi-annual, and ongoing programs are seamlessly executed, empowering our cross-functional teams to deliver impactful results that align with our strategic vision.

Successful candidates are those who are comfortable working independently and can not only excel at creating structured processes but also understand the nuances of team dynamics and stakeholder expectations. They possess a passion for operational excellence, continuous improvement, and driving impactful change across teams. This role isn’t just about tracking tasks—it’s about forging the connections that align strategy with execution, ensuring every initiative moves the organization forward. 

The Principal, Program Management is an integral member of ActBlue’s Product & Engineering teams, will act as a trusted advisor to leadership and will report to the Sr Director, Product Engineering.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Strategic Planning & Execution:

• Planning Processes (Quarterly, Annual, Bi-annual):
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive calendar for all planning events, ensuring alignment with the broader organizational planning cadences.
• Coordinate scheduling of planning meetings—including kickoffs, retrospectives, readouts—and adjust calendars to avoid conflicts with org-wide meetings or events.
• Create and iterate on presentation decks, Airtable views, retro boards, and other tools used during planning sessions, incorporating feedback from leadership and retrospectives.
• Proactively communicate deadlines and follow up with presenters to ensure all preparatory materials are completed on time.
• Facilitate pre-meetings for leadership alignment on strategic cascade topics, ensuring decisions are cascaded effectively.
• Iterate on planning processes to maximize successful achievement of goals while minimizing unproductive overhead of planning time.
• Processes to Keep Plans on Target:
• Schedule and lead monthly meetings to keep plans on target, ensuring action items are captured, followed up, and that meetings do not conflict with other key activities.
• Own and continually refine the monthly meeting agenda format based on stakeholder feedback.
• Send timely reminders to both teams and stakeholders for agenda preparation and review.

Operational Excellence & Data-Driven Improvement:

• Delivery Metrics & Continuous Improvement:
• Maintain a comprehensive tracker of committed versus delivered features and KRs/outcomes by quarter across all teams.
• Develop visualizations that show trends over time, helping to identify process optimizations and areas for improvement.
• Monitor initiatives, escalate off-track projects, and use data insights to refine planning and execution strategies.
• Large, Cross-Team Initiative Coordination:
• Create mechanisms to track and monitor the health of large initiatives spanning multiple teams (leveraging tools such as Jira, Airtable, and Jellyfish).
• Develop best practices and templates to ensure accurate estimations, integration time, and robust testing processes.
• Serve as the escalation point when initiatives are off-track, coordinating with key stakeholders to drive rapid resolution.
• Facilitate a Data & KPI-Driven Culture:
• Collaborate with Data teams, Product Managers, and other stakeholders to define consistent, accurate metrics.
• Develop clear, accessible dashboards for key metrics (including team and department OKRs and baseline KPIs) to be used in regular check-ins and across all teams.
• Change Management
• Create and facilitate plans for how to communicate, implement and sustain organizational change in Product & Engineering
• May support supplementary projects as assigned, ensuring timely and efficient completion in line with organizational objectives and standards.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Proven Leadership in Program Management:
• Extensive experience establishing and executing a program management function in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment.
• Demonstrated success in transforming high-level strategic priorities into actionable, measurable programs.
• Operational and Process Expertise:
• Deep experience in designing and executing scalable planning processes, tracking systems, and dashboards that drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Data-Driven Decision Making:
• Proficiency in creating and interpreting metrics and dashboards, with a hands-on approach to monitoring performance and identifying areas for improvement.
• Experience implementing or managing OKRs, KPIs, or other performance metrics.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
• Exceptional communication skills and experience working with cross-disciplinary teams—including product, engineering, operations, and GTM—to drive alignment and execution.
• Background in Product Management or Software Development:
• Direct experience in product management or software development, providing you with a solid understanding of the product lifecycle and the technical challenges faced by engineering teams.
• Adaptability and Accountability:
• A pragmatic problem solver who thrives in dynamic environments, with a strong sense of ownership and the ability to create structure amidst ambiguity.

BONUS POINTS IF…

• You’re proficient in agile methodologies and modern project management tools.
• You’ve navigated the challenges of rapidly scaling organizations, particularly within technology sectors or politically influenced environments.
• You possess prior experience in sectors such as eCommerce, B2B, or two-sided marketplaces.

WORK & BENEFITS SNAPSHOT

This posting is for a full-time, remote, salaried position. Travel may be required on a limited basis to attend all-staff and departmental retreats (1-2 times per year). Additional travel may be required for select positions. 

Registered States*: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C.

*While ActBlue is currently registered to support remote work in the states listed above, we possess the ability to register in additional states as needed. If you are located in a state not listed, we may still be able to proceed with your application, but please note that the offer process may take longer to accommodate registration requirements.

Work Schedule: 

This role requires availability during established, regular business hours (Mon-Fri).

Work Environment: 

Employees can expect to work with distributed teams across all U.S. time zones. Our roles require extended technology usage, and proficiency with virtual communication tools such as Zoom and Slack. Regular attendance in virtual meetings is inherent to every position.

Salary Range Details:

Salary Range: $213,918 - $242,511 - $271,104

ActBlue is committed to consistent compensation practices across our organization. Final salary offers will take into account factors such as candidate experience, interview performance and current team salary parity. 

UNION INFORMATION

This position is excluded from any bargaining unit as a confidential employee.

Benefits: 

• Flexible work schedules and an unlimited time-off policy
• Fully paid and trans-inclusive health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families; plus fully-paid health reimbursement arrangement to use for out of pocket expenses and fully-paid short- and long-term disability 
• Fully paid basic and AD&D life insurance and a voluntary supplemental life insurance option
• Dependent and health care flexible spending account options
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits for employees 
• Automatic 2% Employer-paid 401K contribution, plus up to an additional 6% match on employee contributions
• A minimum of three months paid medical, family and parental leave (for all new parents, adoptions included)
• Commuter or home-office benefits, including a $1,000 home-office setup allowance for all new full-time remote employees
• Additional perks including quarterly snack deliveries and digital subscriptions to the Boston Globe & New York Times

ActBlue is unable to sponsor work visas at this time.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

As part of our hiring process, ActBlue will conduct a background check at the time of offer. This will be completed in compliance with applicable laws and will not be initiated without your consent.

INCLUSION STATEMENT FROM ACTBLUE

ActBlue is committed to equal employment opportunities and fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace. We celebrate unique perspectives, honor the dignity of all individuals, and recognize that diverse backgrounds and identities strengthen our mission.

If you’re passionate about our work and see yourself in this role, we encourage you to apply—even if you don’t meet every requirement.We also provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process and employment. To request an accommodation, email [email protected].