Employment opportunities
The Department of Transformation is a small and growing organization. Please see our open job postings below!
About Department of Public Transformation:
Department of Public Transformation (DoPT), founded in 2017 and incorporated in 2018, is a nonprofit organization developing creative strategies for increased community connection, civic engagement, and equitable participation in rural places. We believe in the power of rural creativity in activating solutions to address community challenges and opportunities. DoPT is a multi-centered organization working on projects nationally across the United States, regionally in the Upper Midwest, statewide throughout Minnesota, and in/with Southwest Minnesota.
Activate Rural Associate Director
Job Summary:
Title: Activate Rural Associate Director
Hours: Full-time (36 hours per week)
Annual Compensation: $62,989; increases to $66,756 in January 2026
Application Due Date: Open until filled. High priority to applications received before September 12, 2025
Ideal Start Date: November 3, 2025
How to Apply: Applications will only be accepted via email. Please carefully review the instructions to ensure your application is complete and considered.
Activate Rural, a program of DoPT, supports third places, creative space use, and building activation projects—art galleries and cultural centers, creative coffee shops and taprooms, theaters, artist studios, performance and event venues, multi-use creative places, and more—that inspire, motivate, and open up possibilities for rural communities with a population of 20,000 or less across the United States and the Native Nations that share that geography. The program offers support, peer learning, and resources through a curated Learning Lab cohort, workshop series, and 1:1 coaching sessions to artists, creative entrepreneurs, organizations, and small business owners.
Position Description:
The Associate Director is a proactive and organized self-starter responsible for providing strategic and programmatic support to the Program Director in implementing the Activate Rural program. This role combines program design and delivery, community development, partner and funder engagement, creative facilitation, event logistics, and project management. This position reports to the Activate Rural Program Director.
The ideal candidate will be collaborative, resourceful, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple tasks efficiently. They will be an effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills and a relational approach; a deep listener and quick learner with a problem-solving mindset. This is a remote position with occasional travel required for meetings and events in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana. Candidates can be based in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Montana.
Hiring Timeline:
Open until filled. High priority to applications received before September 12, 2025; early submissions are encouraged. Interviews will begin near the end of September. We will notify all applicants of the outcome of their application. The ideal start date is November 3, 2025; in conversation with the selected candidate.
How to Apply:
Applications must be emailed to jobs@publictransformation.org. Applications will not be accepted through other formats or job portals. Please send the following items to jobs@publictransformation.org with the email subject line “Associate Director”:
Your resume with relevant experience listed
A cover letter that shares 1) why you’re excited about this role, 2) how your experience aligns with the responsibilities, and 3) what draws you to our organization. (We’d love to hear your personal perspective and learn more about what makes you a great fit!)
Contact information for three (3) references (who may be contacted at the finalist stage)
Please email us at jobs@publictransformation.org with questions about this position!