Program Manager – Public Policy & Community Engagement

Overview We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead community engagement and public affairs initiatives supporting public policy and business objectives. This role will oversee high-visibility events, coordinate internal teams and external stakeholders, and build relationships with communities where drone delivery services are launching.

The ideal candidate has a background in public policy, public affairs, community engagement, and aviation, drones, or FAA-related work. They will manage vendors and internal staffing, communicate technical information about drone delivery services to community members, address questions and concerns, and share customer feedback with the business to help improve the service and community experience.

Why This Role Is Interesting

• Own some of the first community engagements in areas where drone delivery services are launching.
• Lead high-visibility initiatives with significant public policy and reputational value.
• Engage directly with community members and public policy leaders to build understanding and trust around drone delivery.
• Work cross-functionally with internal teams to support successful launches and address community feedback.
• Help shape engagement strategies and support potential regional expansion into Canada and the western United States.

Core Responsibilities

• Plan and execute community engagement and public affairs events that support public policy and business objectives.
• Manage end-to-end event logistics, including vendor coordination, internal staffing, scheduling, and stakeholder engagement.
• Build relationships with community members, public policy leaders, and external stakeholders to communicate organizational priorities and cultivate goodwill.
• Represent the organization at community events, public meetings, and other external engagements related to drone delivery services.
• Quickly learn and communicate basic technical information about drone delivery operations to answer community questions clearly and accurately.
• Deliver presentations and speak publicly to explain the service, address questions, and support community understanding.
• Listen to community feedback, identify recurring questions or concerns, and regularly communicate insights to internal business teams.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to prepare for new community launches and ensure engagement activities are executed effectively.
• Manage external engagements and respond to ad hoc requests in a fast-moving environment.
• Develop and follow processes that support consistent planning and execution of high-visibility initiatives.
• Identify creative solutions to logistical challenges and manage competing priorities and ambiguity.
• Support regional engagement efforts, initially focused on Seattle, with potential expansion into Canada and the western United States.
• Communicate program progress, stakeholder feedback, challenges, and outcomes to internal leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 7+ years of professional experience in program management, public affairs, community engagement, event planning, or related work, including aviation-related experience.
• Experience in aviation, drone operations, or FAA-related environments.
• Direct experience planning and executing large-scale community engagement or public affairs events.
• Public policy experience.
• Experience managing vendors, coordinating internal teams, and overseeing event logistics.
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to engage with community members, respond to questions, and communicate information clearly and professionally.
• Strong written and verbal communication, organization, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage ambiguity, coordinate cross-functional initiatives, and handle high-visibility engagements.
• Willingness to travel out of state approximately 20% of the time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting the launch of a new service or engaging communities around new technology.
• Experience working with public policy leaders, government stakeholders, or community organizations.
• Background in campaign management, fundraising, museum programming, marketing, or communications.
• Experience gathering customer or community feedback and translating it into actionable business insights.
• Experience supporting regional initiatives across Canada or the western United States.
• Creative, outside-the-box problem-solving skills and experience developing processes from the ground up.

Candidate Evaluation Focus Candidates should be prepared to provide specific examples of past projects and accomplishments, including measurable or quantifiable results. Responses should clearly explain the situation, the candidate's decision-making process, the actions they personally took, and the outcome.

Interview examples should demonstrate end-to-end ownership, including how candidates evaluated trade-offs, adapted to challenges, coordinated stakeholders, and achieved results. Answers should tell a cohesive story rather than presenting disconnected actions or responsibilities.