Project Manager

SF New Deal (SFND) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides supportive services and financial opportunities for small businesses in San Francisco. Our mission is to strengthen neighborhoods by making it easier for under-resourced small business owners to succeed. We envision and are building towards a vibrant San Francisco with diverse and thriving small businesses. Our team is growing rapidly to deliver innovative, community-centered solutions to some of the city’s most persistent challenges. Since our launch in March 2020, we’ve disbursed over $60 million to more than 2,300 small businesses citywide through diverse programs funded by private donations and government contracts.

About the role

SF New Deal is seeking a part-time (est. 20 hours per week) Project Manager to lead the implementation, field testing, and scale plan for the Vibrancy Index. This new, multi-faceted framework—developed in partnership with Gehl, an urban design and research firm—helps measure vibrancy in neighborhoods and uncover deeper insights into solutions that can increase vibrancy across varied scales and investment levels. The role sits at the intersection of data, community partnership, and project leadership, working with neighborhood organizations to deploy the Vibrancy Index in commercial corridors. You will train partners on field data collection, facilitate implementation plans, and manage timelines across multiple neighborhoods. The Project Manager will collaborate closely with Gehl, community-based organizations, and neighborhood associations to structure partnerships, deployment schedules, and share post-implementation insights. The goal is to scale the Vibrancy Index as a widely used framework across City agencies, community organizations, neighborhood groups, and private philanthropy.

Responsibilities

• Project Management & Coordination
  • Manage citywide implementation of the Vibrancy Index across multiple neighborhoods, ensuring deployments stay on track, on schedule, and aligned with project goals.
  • Develop and manage project plans, timelines, milestones, roles, and deliverables for each neighborhood deployment.
  • Coordinate across SF New Deal staff, community partners, technical partners, and other stakeholders to ensure clear communication, alignment, and accountability.
  • Maintain clear documentation of implementation activities, decisions, lessons learned, and next steps.
• Community Partnerships & Engagement
  • Identify and build relationships with community-based organizations, neighborhood groups, merchant associations, and other local partners to ensure implementation reflects neighborhood context and priorities.
  • Recruit, onboard, and support neighborhood organizations serving as Vibrancy Index implementation and data collection partners.
  • Coordinate with public agencies and other stakeholders to strengthen neighborhood implementation and use of the Vibrancy Index.
• Field Implementation, Training & Data Quality
  • Facilitate trainings with Gehl to prepare community partners for high-quality observational and survey data collection using Vibrancy Index methodology.
  • Coordinate fieldwork logistics, including staffing, scheduling, materials, data collection protocols, and communication across teams.
  • Provide support to partners during data collection and troubleshoot implementation questions.
  • Monitor data collection for completeness, consistency, and adherence to protocols, addressing quality issues with partners.
  • Lead SF New Deal’s direct deployment of the Vibrancy Index in priority neighborhoods, including planning, coordinating, and participating in field data collection as needed.
• Scaling & Continuous Improvement
  • Lead expansion of the Vibrancy Index into additional neighborhoods, building internal capacity to implement the tool directly.
  • Develop repeatable tools, resources, training materials, and workflows to make neighborhood implementation increasingly efficient and accessible.
  • Capture lessons learned across deployments and translate them into improvements for training, fieldwork, partner engagement, and project management.
  • Collaborate with SF New Deal’s Impact team and technical partners to refine implementation practices based on partner feedback and field experience.

Qualifications

We’re looking for someone who enjoys designing thoughtful systems and frameworks but is equally comfortable rolling up their sleeves to make them work. You likely bring:

• 4+ years of experience in project management, impact measurement, research, or a related field.
• Experience designing or managing evaluation frameworks, surveys, or measurement systems.
• Ability to manage ambiguity and build new processes from the ground up.
• Experience with community-based research or participatory evaluation.
• Experience working with nonprofits, local government, urban planning, economic development, or community development organizations.
• Experience working with cross-sector partnerships or neighborhood-based initiatives.
• Strong project management skills with experience coordinating multiple stakeholders across workstreams.
• Comfort working with quantitative and qualitative data.
• Experience with spreadsheets, aggregating, and cleaning data.
• Experience facilitating trainings or workshops.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

You’ll Be a Great Fit If You...

• Care deeply about strengthening neighborhoods, supporting small businesses, and creating measurable community impact.
• Like making complex projects feel organized.
• Naturally connect people across teams and disciplines.
• Enjoy turning data into stories and actionable recommendations.
• Can zoom out to think strategically and zoom in to manage execution details.
• Are curious, analytical, and always asking, “How can we learn from this?”
• Thrive in collaborative environments where priorities evolve and innovation is encouraged.

Across all platforms, the Project Manager is expected to act professionally, use good judgment, and bring a hospitality mindset to programs. In all interactions, they should thoughtfully and empathetically manage expectations with clients, partners, and team members with clarity and consistency.

Pay

$50,000–$55,000 annually for a 20-hour-per-week position.

Schedule

• Part-time, approximately 20 hours per week.
• Preferred work days: Monday–Friday; schedule may vary based on Vibrancy Index implementation needs.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid time off.
• 401(k).
• Annual work-from-home stipend and monthly internet/phone and wellness stipends.
• Professional development.

Location

This role is primarily remote/work from home, with a preference for candidates who live in or near San Francisco. The role requires regular time in neighborhoods across the city and attendance at 8 in-person team events per year, including annual kickoff, midyear, and 6 culture and team-building events.

Reports to: Chief Impact Officer.