The Lantern Vanguard is building a team of passionate professionals, innovators, and community-focused leaders dedicated to advancing opportunity, equity, and meaningful change. As the organization expands its programs and community impact, we are seeking individuals who share our commitment to service, collaboration, and creating pathways for empowerment.
Available opportunities provide the chance to contribute to mission-driven work that strengthens communities, supports individuals facing barriers to opportunity, and helps build solutions that create lasting impact.
Explore current career opportunities and become part of a growing team committed to transforming communities through innovation, compassion, and action.
Company Positions
.
Civic Tech & Innovation Lead —
New York, NY
Salary Range: $90,000 - 110,000 per year
The Civic Tech & Innovation Lead drives the technical design, deployment, and digital strategy for The Lantern Vanguard's technology frameworks. This role bridges social impact with modern software solutions, creating data-driven tools that improve equity, workforce development, and community access. Candidates should bring expertise in software oversight or product development, a strong interest in open data and civic infrastructure, and a passion for technology.
Qualifications
Preferred Education:
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
Professional & Technical Experience:
4–6+ years of experience in product management, civic technology, software systems, or full-stack platform development.
Demonstrated track record of overseeing software architecture, user experience (UX) design workflows, and data-driven digital tools tailored for social impact or civic infrastructure.
Technical literacy in modern development stacks, API integrations, cloud hosting environments, and open-source data frameworks (e.g., NYC Open Data, geospatial data systems).
Strategic & Analytical Capability:
Proven ability to translate complex community needs and organizational goals into clear product roadmaps and scalable technical solutions.
Deep expertise in leveraging analytics, data visualization, and user telemetry to measure program outcomes, user adoption, and social equity metrics.
Experience conducting technical feasibility assessments, vendor evaluations, and data privacy impact analyses for public-facing digital tools.
Leadership & Urban Impact:
Passion for innovation, digital equity, and economic empowerment initiatives across New York City’s diverse borough ecosystems.
Excellent cross-functional leadership skills with a history of effectively bridging technical developers, non-technical executives, and community stakeholders.
Familiarity with civic tech ecosystems, public-sector digital standards, and accessible web/mobile practices (e.g., WCAG 2.1 AA compliance).
.
Program Director —
New York, NY
Salary Range: $80,000 - 95,000 per year
The Program Director oversees the design and implementation of The Lantern Vanguard’s core initiatives. This role requires strong leadership in managing educational, creative, and technology-based programs while coordinating with community partners to ensure measurable outcomes and social impact. Ideal candidates have at least three years of nonprofit or project management experience and a passion for innovation and equity.
Qualifications
Preferred Education:
Bachelor's degree in Non-Profit Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, Urban Planning, Education, or Social Work.
Leadership & Management:
Minimum of 3–5 years of progressive leadership experience in non-profit program management, project management, or social impact initiative oversight.
Proven track record in managing cross-functional project teams, establishing key performance indicators (KPIs), and ensuring deliverables are met on time and within budget.
Strong operational acumen with experience designing, launching, and scaling educational, creative, or tech-focused community initiatives.
Community & Strategic Partnerships:
Demonstrated ability to build, nurture, and sustain meaningful partnerships with local community organizations, educational institutions, and municipal entities.
Excellent public speaking, facilitation, and relationship-building skills across diverse socioeconomic and cultural groups.
Execution & Impact Measurement:
Hands-on experience developing evaluation frameworks, quantitative/qualitative assessment tools, and impact reports for stakeholders and institutional leadership.
Expertise in navigating complex urban environments, community board engagement, and municipal program workflows.
Passionate commitment to social equity, workforce development, and innovative community interventions.
.
Director of Community Engagement —
New York, NY
Salary Range: $75,000 - $ $88,000 per year
The Director of Community Engagement serves as the primary liason between The Lantern Vanguard, grassroots networks, local business districts, and municipal partners. Responsibilities include building neighborhood coalitions, mobilizing community feedback, and driving outreach initiatives across target boroughs. Ideal candidates have deep roots in New York City community organizing, exceptional interpersonal skills, and a strategic approach to public-private partnerships.
Qualifications
Preferred Education:
Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, Urban Studies, Political Science, Sociology, or Community Development.
Community & Grassroots Experience:
5+ years of direct experience in New York City community organizing, external affairs, inter-governmental relations, or grassroots coalition building.
Deep knowledge of NYC borough dynamics, community board operations, local business improvement districts (BIDs), and municipal policy landscapes.
Strategic & Partnership Skills:
Demonstrated success in cultivating, maintaining, and expanding high-impact public-private partnerships and grass-roots alliances.
Exceptional interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict-resolution abilities, with a proven capacity to unite diverse community voices around shared objectives.
Strong strategic planning skills to align field-level community organizing initiatives with broader organizational advancement goals.
Public Engagement & Mobilization:
Proven experience designing and executing broad community outreach campaigns, town halls, listening sessions, and participatory workshops.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with the ability to represent the organization convincingly before community leaders, elected officials, and local residents.
.
Grants & Contract Manager —
New York, NY
Salary Range: $65,000 - $ $78,000 per year
The Grants & Contract Manager leads revenue strategy, grant writing, and funder reporting across public, federal, and philanthropic sources. This role expands organizational capacity by identifying funding opportunities, managing proposal lifecycles, and cultivating strategic relationships with institutional donors. Candidates should possess strong narrative writing skills, experience with grant compliance, and a proven track record in revenue development.
Qualifications
Preferred Education:
Bachelor's degree in English, Technical Writing, Public Administration, Finance, Business Administration, or Communications.
Revenue Development & Grant Writing:
3–5+ years of non-profit grant writing, proposal development, and contract management experience.
Proven, documentable track record of securing institutional funding across federal (e.g., EDA, HUD), state, municipal, and private philanthropic sources.
Exceptional written communication skills with the ability to translate complex community programs and technical frameworks into compelling grant narratives.
Compliance & Financial Management:
In-depth understanding of grant compliance, post-award reporting requirements, federal uniform guidance, and municipal contracting procedures.
Proficient in budget development, cost allocation tracking, and financial reconciliation in partnership with operational and finance leads.
Pipeline & Funder Relations:
Experience managing complete grant lifecycles — from prospect research and relationship building to submission, reporting, and renewal strategies.
Strong organizational skills with a rigorous approach to tracking deadlines, funder guidelines, and multi-year contract deliverables.
.
Brand Strategy & Digital Media Lead —
New York, NY
Salary Range: $60,000 - $72,000 per year
The Brand Strategy & Digital Media Lead oversees the organization's visual identity, public messaging, and digital media presence. Key responsibilities include creating multimedia content, managing digital campaigns, and shaping stories that highlight community impact to donors, partners, and the public. Candidates should excel in digital storytelling, graphic design, and content strategy with a clean, contemporary aesthetic.
Qualifications
Preferred Education:
Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Digital Media, Marketing, Strategic Communications, Visual Arts, or Advertising.
Creative & Digital Expertise:
3–5 years of professional experience in brand management, digital marketing, visual design, or multi-platform content production.
Strong portfolio demonstrating high-end visual design, creative narrative strategy, graphic design, and video/photo content development for web and social channels.
Technical proficiency in design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, Canva) and modern visual content creation workflows.
Campaign & Strategy Execution:
Proven ability to design and execute modern digital media campaigns that increase audience engagement, brand awareness, and donor conversion.
Expertise in managing social media ecosystems (LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, etc.) with a clean, contemporary aesthetic that reflects authentic urban culture and institutional polish.
Strong grasp of digital metrics, analytics tools, and content performance tracking to continuously refine storytelling strategies.
Brand Guardrails & Messaging:
Ability to articulate and uphold consistent brand guidelines across all external communications, pitch decks, and public collateral.
Excellent messaging and copyediting skills tailored to varied audiences, including community members, corporate partners, and institutional funders.
.
Administrative Assistant —
New York, NY
Salary Range: $45,000 - $55,000 per year
The Administrative Assistant provides essential support to the executive and program teams. Responsibilities include scheduling, recordkeeping, correspondence, and general office coordination. This position requires attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
Qualifications
Preferred Education:
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Communications, Management, or a related discipline.
Core Operational Skills:
2–4 years of administrative support, office management, or operations experience, ideally within a non-profit, agency, or corporate setting.
Proficient in calendar management, complex scheduling, executive travel logistics, and formal business correspondence.
Advanced command of office suites (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Notion, Slack, and project management tools).
Efficiency & Task Management:
Exceptional organizational and multi-tasking abilities with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
Ability to prioritize tasks effectively in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.
Strong written and verbal communication skills across both internal team messaging and external guest/partner communications.
Professional Conduct:
Strong interpersonal tact, dependability, and a collaborative, service-oriented mindset.
Demonstrated problem-solving ability with a proactive approach to office workflow efficiency.
.
Office Support Specialist —
New York, NY
Salary Range: $35,000 - $ $40,000 per year
The Office Support Specialist coordinates daily administrative operations and governance tasks in support of organizational operations. Key responsibilities include maintaining official records, facilitating meeting logistics, and assisting with compliance and reporting workflows. Candidates should possess strong organizational and clerical skills, professionalism, and the ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.
Qualifications
Preferred Education:
Associates degree or paralegal certification.
Clerical & Governance Support:
1–3 years of administrative, clerical, or office support experience, with exposure to meeting coordination, board administration, or legal/paralegal filing support preferred.
Familiarity with maintaining structured physical and digital record systems, governance filing protocols, and official organizational documentation.
Basic knowledge of compliance tracking, reporting schedules, and corporate record retention practices.
Discretion & Information Handling:
Proven track record of handling sensitive, proprietary, or confidential governance data with absolute discretion and professional integrity.
Strong typing, document formatting, and proofreading skills with high attention to grammatical accuracy and formatting detail.
Administrative Reliability:
High level of professionalism, reliability, and punctuality.
Strong verbal communication skills for greeting guests, answering calls, and assisting leadership with meeting preparation and logistics.
To Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to apply by submitting a résumé and a brief statement of interest outlining their relevant experience and motivation for joining The Lantern Vanguard.
Please email all materials to careers@lanternvanguard.org. Be sure to include the title of the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email. Applicants may also attach supporting documents such as portfolios or writing samples, where applicable.
Qualified candidates will be contacted directly to schedule an interview. We appreciate the time and effort of all applicants and encourage those not selected for immediate openings to check back for future opportunities.
Stay connected with us on LinkedIn and Instagram for the latest career updates, upcoming positions, and organizational news.
Accessibility & Equal Opportunity Statement
The Lantern Vanguard is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment for all individuals. We believe that accessibility and diversity are essential to innovation and creativity, which are the same values that drive our mission across communities.
We are dedicated to ensuring that our website, hiring process, and workplace are accessible to all applicants and employees, including individuals with disabilities. Our goal is to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1, Level AA) and to provide reasonable accommodations to applicants who need assistance during the recruitment process.
If you experience difficulty accessing information on our site or require accommodations to apply for a position, please contact us at accessibility@lanternvanguard.org. We will respond promptly to ensure your full participation.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement:
The Lantern Vanguard is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law. All employment decisions are made based on merit, qualifications, and organizational need.
The Lantern Vanguard is proud to build a workplace that reflects the diverse communities we serve, where every team member has the opportunity to thrive, contribute, and grow.