Jennifer Barkley is a political whiz from Washington who was brought in as a campaign manager by Nick Newport, Sr. to help his son Bobby Newport win the city council election against Leslie Knope. According to Jennifer, the Newports are paying her $250,000 for six weeks of work. After Leslie defeats Bobby in the City Council election in Season 4, Jen offers Ben Wyatt a job in Washington, D.C. working with the Barkley Group, running Congressman Murray's campaign. Jen also has a brief tryst with Chris Traeger.