Application Guide
How to Apply for Assistant Director, Research
at Partners for Public Good
🏢 About Partners for Public Good
Partners for Public Good (PPG) is unique as a nonprofit focused specifically on helping state and local governments optimize core operational functions like procurement, staffing, and budgeting to drive tangible public impact. Unlike think tanks that focus on policy ideas, PPG works directly on implementation challenges, offering a rare opportunity to bridge research with real-world government operations. Someone might want to work here to see their research directly influence how governments serve residents and to be part of an organization with the practical mission of building governments people can count on.
About This Role
This Assistant Director, Research role involves defining the long-term vision for PPG's research function and leading portfolio planning across procurement, staffing, and budgeting domains to produce insights most useful to governments and funders. It's impactful because you'll set methodological standards for the organization and mentor a research team, directly shaping how evidence informs public sector operations and ultimately improves government effectiveness for residents.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve morning meetings with program teams to align research questions with upcoming government engagements, followed by reviewing methodological approaches for ongoing studies on procurement efficiency. The afternoon could include mentoring sessions with research analysts on best practices for government stakeholder interviews and reviewing draft findings for a budgeting study to ensure they're actionable for local officials.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Partners for Public Good Is Looking For
- Has 7+ years in applied research or policy analysis with public-facing outputs, specifically in government-adjacent contexts like public administration, urban planning, or nonprofit evaluation
- Demonstrates experience leading complex research portfolios (not just single studies) with examples of aligning research questions with organizational strategy and stakeholder needs
- Possesses at least 2 years of people management experience in research settings, with evidence of mentoring junior researchers and fostering team excellence
- Shows proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative methods, with practical experience using statistical analysis tools relevant to public sector data (like R, Stata, or SPSS for budget/procurement analysis)
📝 Tips for Applying to Partners for Public Good
Tailor your research experience examples to PPG's focus areas: highlight specific projects related to procurement processes, government staffing models, public budgeting, or digital infrastructure in local/state government contexts
Quantify your impact on public-facing outputs: specify how many reports, policy briefs, or presentations you've produced that reached government audiences, and mention any that influenced operational changes
Demonstrate your understanding of PPG's niche by referencing their specific approach (bridging research with operational functions) rather than generic nonprofit or government research
Showcase both methodological rigor and practical applicability: balance technical skills with examples of how your research answered real questions from government stakeholders
Highlight your people management philosophy in research contexts: describe how you've developed researchers' skills while maintaining high standards for public-sector relevance
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your vision for aligning research with PPG's specific operational focus areas (procurement, staffing, budgeting, digital infrastructure) and how you'd prioritize research questions for maximum government utility", 'Specific examples of leading research portfolios (not just individual studies) in government-adjacent contexts and how you ensured alignment with organizational strategy', 'Your approach to mentoring research teams in applied settings and fostering a culture where methodological excellence meets practical public sector needs', "How your methodological background (qualitative/quantitative) would help set standards for PPG's research across diverse operational domains"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review PPG's published reports or case studies to understand their specific research approach to procurement, staffing, or budgeting challenges in different government contexts
- → Investigate the state/local government partners mentioned in their materials to understand the operational environments where their research is applied
- → Examine how PPG positions itself relative to other government-focused nonprofits (like Results for America, Government Performance Lab) to understand their unique niche
- → Look for any public presentations or webinars by PPG staff to understand their current research priorities and methodological approaches
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on academic research experience without demonstrating how findings were applied in practical government or nonprofit settings
- Presenting generic management experience without specific examples of leading research teams or developing researchers' skills in applied contexts
- Emphasizing policy development over operational research - PPG focuses on how governments implement functions, not what policies they should adopt
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Partners for Public Good!