Ascendant is recruiting qualified candidates for a full-time Project Manager position supporting a contract that we hold with the International Trade Administration (ITA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Project Manager will support SelectUSA’s Programs and Events team in advancing their mission to attract and retain foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States.

This position requires full-time, onsite presence (five days/week) at the federal client site to support close collaboration and real-time coordination with government stakeholders. The position is based in Washington, D.C. and is metro accessible (Federal Triangle/Metro Center).

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and execute complex, deadline-driven projects and events, including domestic and international programming supporting U.S. economic development initiatives
• Lead strategy, planning, and execution of programming and events for the SelectUSA Global Women in Tech mentorship program
• Manage and build upon an established global network of U.S. based tech ecosystem leaders such as venture capitalists, accelerators, other startup subject matter experts (SMEs), and industry partners in FDI
• Coordinate logistics, timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder communications across multiple concurrent initiatives including the annual SelectUSA Investment Summit
• Support the development of educational and informational panels in year-round virtual programming as well as the SelectUSA Investment Summit
• Support overall planning efforts for the SelectUSA Investment Summit
• Serve as a trusted point of contact for federal clients, partners, and external stakeholders, ensuring high-quality execution and responsiveness
• Prepare and present briefing materials, project updates, performance metrics, dashboards, and data visualizations for client and leadership audiences
• Manage virtual and hybrid meetings, conferences, and collaboration platforms (e.g., MS Teams, Zoom)
• Support CRM and website platforms (e.g., Salesforce), ensuring accurate tracking of contacts, engagement, and outcomes
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and contribute to continuous enhancement of program delivery

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 4 years of project/event management experience
• Experience in economic development, technology, international trade, foreign affairs, and/or foreign direct investment promotion is a plus
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint), including ability to create and manage pivot tables, dashboards, and reports
• Demonstrated experience managing large projects with hard deadlines, including high-visibility events
• Strong IT acumen, including experience with virtual and hybrid meeting platforms, websites, and CRM systems (MS Teams, Zoom, Salesforce)
• Solid understanding of project management and/or event management principles; PMP or CMP is a plus
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience briefing senior stakeholders
• Proven ability to work independently, solve problems, and succeed in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated initiative, flexibility, strong time management skills, and attention to detail
• Ability to work onsite at the federal client location five days per week in Washington, D.C.
• Must be able to successfully complete a U.S. Government public trust background check prior to start date