Project Assistant Jobs in District of Columbia
Project Assistant jobs in District of Columbia concentrate heavily in federal contracting, policy and advocacy organizations, and government-adjacent consulting, with openings at every level from entry-level coordinators to senior program support specialists. The densest hiring is in Washington DC proper, where established employers such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and the Brookings Institution maintain large and active project support teams. The most in-demand specialties are federal program coordination, policy research support, and grants management assistance. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 10+ Project Assistant jobs
Staff Assistant (Project Coordinator)
Location: Washington, DC, 20037
Position Overview
HunaTek is seeking a Staff Assistant to fill a vacancy on our contract with Department of State, located in Washington DC. The Staff Assistant serves as a critical support resource to the Under Secretary, Special Assistants, and Senior Advisors by coordinating administrative and operational processes that advance key business needs and mission objectives. This role requires a comprehensive understanding of bureau priorities, strong judgment in managing competing demands, and the ability to facilitate seamless interagency coordination.
Essential Job Functions:
Strategic Support & Coordination
- Serve as Staff Assistant to the Under Secretary, Special Assistants, and Senior Advisors, coordinating administrative and operational processes to advance critical business needs and mission objectives.
- Maintain a comprehensive understanding of major current and long-term issues pursued by the bureau to provide informed support and anticipate leadership needs.
- Exercise sound judgment in prioritizing competing demands and resolving administrative challenges both short and long term.
- Provide backup support to process and submit time and attendance records for F/FO personnel.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Interagency & Departmental Liaison
- Maintain liaison with the Office of the Secretary, Executive Secretariat (S/ES), Operations Center, Department Principals, offices of other Assistant Secretaries, and offices of Principals in other agencies to facilitate seamless coordination and information flow.
- Coordinate with bureaus and offices to ensure deadlines are met for work tasked by S/ES and the Under Secretary, proactively addressing potential delays.
- Advise Bureau personnel on overdue action items, upcoming deadlines, priority issues, and Department/S/ES procedures for processing documentation.
Correspondence Management & Quality Control
- Maintain liaison with bureau offices to ensure deadlines are met for work tasked by S/ES and the Under Secretary, coordinating with the Chief of Staff, Special Assistants, and Senior Advisors to track and monitor correspondence within the F Family.
- Determine feasibility of meeting deadlines, make necessary corrections, return documents to originators for changes, and notify originators when extensions are required.
- Ensure all official communications to the F Under Secretary are properly and promptly handled in accordance with records requirements and Department standards.
- Assist in preparing high volumes of correspondence, telegrams, memoranda, briefing papers, and reports for senior-level contacts at the White House NSC, DOD, DOC, DOE, DOJ, and across the Department.
- Prepare and request briefing memoranda for meetings through the Department paper tasking system.
- Coordinate with Special Assistants and Senior Advisors to track, monitor, and expedite correspondence within the F family bureaus.
- Ensure the quality and timeliness of written products drafted within the F family bureaus directed to Department principals, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.
- Provide authoritative guidance, enforce deadlines, and review and edit all documents for the Under Secretary to ensure correct format, style, coherence, accuracy, content, and clearances.
- Make necessary corrections or return documents to originators with clear guidance for required changes.
Knowledge Management, Process & Workflow Improvement
- Design and implement knowledge management systems to track assignments, share information, and maintain core documentation in collaboration with F Front Office staff and other Department personnel.
- Determine feasibility of meeting deadlines on specific documents, notify originators when extensions are required, and negotiate realistic timelines.
- Respond promptly to inquiries from within and outside F family bureaus concerning the status, location, subject matter, and deadlines of documents and taskers.
- Identify workflow bottlenecks and take proactive action to avoid, minimize, or eliminate processing problems in both the short and long term.
Security & Classified Information Management
- Ensure classified materials are managed appropriately, including procedures for handling and storing SCI documents.
- Take and transcribe notes during international, interagency, or public meetings as required.
Skills and Qualification Required:
- High school diploma or GED
- Six (6) years or more work experience in international politics/foreign policy, military/defense, or security cooperation.
- Six (6) years or more work experience in administration, travel planning, complex logistics, political-military affairs, foreign affairs, and defense security cooperation.
- Experience working with the U.S. interagency, preferably the Department of Defense, with senior-level contacts.
- Experience as an assistant to Senior Executive Service/Senior Foreign Service officials, including managing schedules, briefing memoranda, and travel arrangements.
- Experience working with U.S. security cooperation, preferably Foreign Military Sales and/or export control issues.
- Experience in State Department paper content, format, and clearance management, including knowledge management systems such as SharePoint.
- Ability to work independently to assess priorities and manage daily coordination of details without repeated requests for guidance from supervisors.
- Proficiency in travel management, preferably experience with E2 solutions.
- Ability to solve problems and encourage consistent, solid performance.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks, coordinate activities in multiple locations, act decisively in daily work, and work well in a multi-cultural team environment.
- Strong organizational, communication, interpersonal, and computer skills.
- Excellent English language communication skills (written and spoken).
- Top Secret clearance
At HunaTek, we build teams of people from all backgrounds with varying levels of experience, knowing firsthand that diversity of thought will strengthen our ability to deliver for our customers. We work hand in hand with Federal civilian and military staff, pulling together to further the interests of our nation and home and abroad.
Whenever possible, we provide opportunities for our employees to learn new skills, obtain certifications, attend industry events, and have some fun together.
Our Benefits:
We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to make sure our employees and their families have access to good health care, are insured against catastrophic health events, can put money aside for retirement and are able to maintain a healthy work-life balance. These benefits include:
- Comprehensive medical, dental and vision
- Long-term and short-term disability insurance and term life insurance
- 401(K) with safe harbor contribution
- Paid time off and 11 paid holidays
- Tuition and career development assistance
- A selection of voluntary benefits
Staff Assistant (Project Coordinator)
Location: Washington, DC, 20037
Position Overview
HunaTek is seeking a Staff Assistant to fill a vacancy on our contract with Department of State, located in Washington DC. The Staff Assistant serves as a critical support resource to the Under Secretary, Special Assistants, and Senior Advisors by coordinating administrative and operational processes that advance key business needs and mission objectives. This role requires a comprehensive understanding of bureau priorities, strong judgment in managing competing demands, and the ability to facilitate seamless interagency coordination.
Essential Job Functions:
Strategic Support & Coordination
- Serve as Staff Assistant to the Under Secretary, Special Assistants, and Senior Advisors, coordinating administrative and operational processes to advance critical business needs and mission objectives.
- Maintain a comprehensive understanding of major current and long-term issues pursued by the bureau to provide informed support and anticipate leadership needs.
- Exercise sound judgment in prioritizing competing demands and resolving administrative challenges both short and long term.
- Provide backup support to process and submit time and attendance records for F/FO personnel.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Interagency & Departmental Liaison
- Maintain liaison with the Office of the Secretary, Executive Secretariat (S/ES), Operations Center, Department Principals, offices of other Assistant Secretaries, and offices of Principals in other agencies to facilitate seamless coordination and information flow.
- Coordinate with bureaus and offices to ensure deadlines are met for work tasked by S/ES and the Under Secretary, proactively addressing potential delays.
- Advise Bureau personnel on overdue action items, upcoming deadlines, priority issues, and Department/S/ES procedures for processing documentation.
Correspondence Management & Quality Control
- Maintain liaison with bureau offices to ensure deadlines are met for work tasked by S/ES and the Under Secretary, coordinating with the Chief of Staff, Special Assistants, and Senior Advisors to track and monitor correspondence within the F Family.
- Determine feasibility of meeting deadlines, make necessary corrections, return documents to originators for changes, and notify originators when extensions are required.
- Ensure all official communications to the F Under Secretary are properly and promptly handled in accordance with records requirements and Department standards.
- Assist in preparing high volumes of correspondence, telegrams, memoranda, briefing papers, and reports for senior-level contacts at the White House NSC, DOD, DOC, DOE, DOJ, and across the Department.
- Prepare and request briefing memoranda for meetings through the Department paper tasking system.
- Coordinate with Special Assistants and Senior Advisors to track, monitor, and expedite correspondence within the F family bureaus.
- Ensure the quality and timeliness of written products drafted within the F family bureaus directed to Department principals, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.
- Provide authoritative guidance, enforce deadlines, and review and edit all documents for the Under Secretary to ensure correct format, style, coherence, accuracy, content, and clearances.
- Make necessary corrections or return documents to originators with clear guidance for required changes.
Knowledge Management, Process & Workflow Improvement
- Design and implement knowledge management systems to track assignments, share information, and maintain core documentation in collaboration with F Front Office staff and other Department personnel.
- Determine feasibility of meeting deadlines on specific documents, notify originators when extensions are required, and negotiate realistic timelines.
- Respond promptly to inquiries from within and outside F family bureaus concerning the status, location, subject matter, and deadlines of documents and taskers.
- Identify workflow bottlenecks and take proactive action to avoid, minimize, or eliminate processing problems in both the short and long term.
Security & Classified Information Management
- Ensure classified materials are managed appropriately, including procedures for handling and storing SCI documents.
- Take and transcribe notes during international, interagency, or public meetings as required.
Skills and Qualification Required:
- High school diploma or GED
- Six (6) years or more work experience in international politics/foreign policy, military/defense, or security cooperation.
- Six (6) years or more work experience in administration, travel planning, complex logistics, political-military affairs, foreign affairs, and defense security cooperation.
- Experience working with the U.S. interagency, preferably the Department of Defense, with senior-level contacts.
- Experience as an assistant to Senior Executive Service/Senior Foreign Service officials, including managing schedules, briefing memoranda, and travel arrangements.
- Experience working with U.S. security cooperation, preferably Foreign Military Sales and/or export control issues.
- Experience in State Department paper content, format, and clearance management, including knowledge management systems such as SharePoint.
- Ability to work independently to assess priorities and manage daily coordination of details without repeated requests for guidance from supervisors.
- Proficiency in travel management, preferably experience with E2 solutions.
- Ability to solve problems and encourage consistent, solid performance.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks, coordinate activities in multiple locations, act decisively in daily work, and work well in a multi-cultural team environment.
- Strong organizational, communication, interpersonal, and computer skills.
- Excellent English language communication skills (written and spoken).
- Top Secret clearance
At HunaTek, we build teams of people from all backgrounds with varying levels of experience, knowing firsthand that diversity of thought will strengthen our ability to deliver for our customers. We work hand in hand with Federal civilian and military staff, pulling together to further the interests of our nation and home and abroad.
Whenever possible, we provide opportunities for our employees to learn new skills, obtain certifications, attend industry events, and have some fun together.
Our Benefits:
We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to make sure our employees and their families have access to good health care, are insured against catastrophic health events, can put money aside for retirement and are able to maintain a healthy work-life balance. These benefits include:
- Comprehensive medical, dental and vision
- Long-term and short-term disability insurance and term life insurance
- 401(K) with safe harbor contribution
- Paid time off and 11 paid holidays
- Tuition and career development assistance
- A selection of voluntary benefits
See All 10 Project Assistant Jobs in District of Columbia
Find roles in District of Columbia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Project Assistant JobsProject Assistant Jobs by City in District of Columbia
Where District of Columbia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Project Assistant Job Market in District of Columbia
A snapshot from current District of Columbia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Distribution & Wholesale
- Construction & Real Estate
What District of Columbia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in project assistant jobs across District of Columbia.
- Bachelor's degree in public administration, business, or a related field required
- Demonstrated experience supporting project planning, scheduling, and status reporting
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
- Familiarity with federal contracting processes, grant compliance, or government program operations
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for stakeholder and client coordination
- Ability to obtain or maintain a security clearance at the Secret or Public Trust level
Project Assistant Jobs in District of Columbia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a project assistant in District of Columbia?
Most project assistant roles in the District of Columbia require a bachelor's degree, typically in public administration, business administration, political science, or a related field. There is no District of Columbia-specific license for the role, but many positions in federal contracting environments require candidates to be eligible for a federal security clearance, which involves a background investigation administered through the relevant federal agency. Candidates who complete a PMP or CAPM certification through the Project Management Institute strengthen their competitiveness noticeably.
Which companies hire project assistants in District of Columbia?
Employers hiring project assistants in District of Columbia right now include JLL, Bozzuto, and Intellibee, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. The District of Columbia market is particularly active among federal consulting firms and policy research organizations, which maintain ongoing project support needs tied to federal agency contracts and grant cycles.
Which District of Columbia cities have the most project assistant jobs?
The cities with the most project assistant openings in District of Columbia are Washington. Washington DC anchors the market because of the concentration of federal agencies, large consulting firms, and policy organizations headquartered there, while surrounding areas like Bethesda and Arlington draw additional volume from defense contractors and federal health agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.
Are there remote project assistant jobs in District of Columbia?
Yes, and more than many comparable roles. About 67% of project assistant openings tied to District of Columbia are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting the desk-based and coordination-heavy nature of the work. Research support, grants management, and policy documentation tasks are the functions most frequently performed fully remotely, while roles tied to classified federal contracts are almost always on-site.
How can I get hired as a project assistant in District of Columbia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through an internship or fellowship with a federal agency, a think tank, or a consulting firm that holds federal contracts. Organizations like the Urban Institute, MITRE, and ICF International regularly bring on program support interns who transition into junior project assistant roles. Lateral moves from administrative coordinator or research assistant positions are common. Candidates without direct project experience should pursue a CAPM certification, which signals project management competence and is achievable without prior formal experience.
Where can I find and apply to project assistant jobs in District of Columbia?
You can find and apply to project assistant jobs in District of Columbia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the District. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your experience and the specialties most active in the DC market, such as federal program coordination or grants management, and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 10 Project Assistant Jobs in District of Columbia
Find roles in District of Columbia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Project Assistant Jobs