Director of Special Initiatives

Cato; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Vacation and sick leave

Parental leave

Life and disability insurance

401(k) with employer match

Transit/ Parking benefits

Pet discount plan

Job summary

The Cato Institute in Washington, DC, is seeking a Director of Special Initiatives to lead high-priority engagement programs within its Public Affairs team. The role reports to the Vice President for Public Affairs and focuses on expanding signature programs and creating new engagement initiatives with policymakers, journalists, and influential audiences.

Hybrid position based in Washington, DC, with compensation ranging from $115,000 to $150,000 per year, depending on education, experience, and

Qualifications

• 7 to 10+ years in external outreach roles such as public affairs, government affairs, or communications.
• Experience coordinating large-scale engagement programs and events.

Responsibilities

• Lead and expand signature engagement programs (e.g., Congressional Fellowship Program and Congressional Policy Summit).
• Develop new engagement concepts, events, and programs connecting scholars with policymakers, journalists, and other audiences.
• Coordinate with Government Affairs and Communications staff for cross-cutting campaigns.
• Lead cross-functional teams to promote publications and enterprise-wide campaigns.
• Set goals, metrics, and evaluation frameworks to assess reach and impact.
• Manage the Special Initiatives team with strategic direction and development.

Skills

Public affairs

Government affairs

Event planning

Interpersonal skills

Oral & written communication

Job description

Description

The Cato Institute is seeking a Director of Special Initiatives to join its Public Affairs team. Reporting to the Vice President for Public Affairs, the Director will lead the development and execution of high-priority engagement initiatives that advance Cato’s institutional and policy objectives. The Director will oversee several of Cato’s signature policymaker engagement programs, including but not limited to the Congressional Fellowship Program and Congressional Policy Summit, while developing new approaches to connect Cato scholars and research with policymakers, journalists, and other influential audiences. This Director will also assist in translating organizational priorities into coordinated campaigns, events, and outreach initiatives.

Hybrid position based in Washington, DC, reporting to the Vice President for Public Affairs.

The projected salary range for this role is $115,000 to $150,000 per year. Compensation is based on the successful candidate’s educational background, experience, and skills.

About Cato

The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization — a think tank — dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.

Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to Cato’s Letters, a series of essays published in 18th-century England that presented a vision of a society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple, timeless principles of that revolution — individual liberty, limited government, and free markets — turn out to be even more powerful in today’s world of global markets and unprecedented access to information than Jefferson or Madison could have imagined. Social and economic freedom is not just the best policy for a free people, it is the indispensable framework for the future.

The Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the execution and expansion of signature Public Affairs engagement programs, including Cato’s Congressional Fellowship Program, Congressional Policy Summit, and other initiatives aligned with institutional priorities.
• Develop new engagement concepts, events, and programs that bring policymakers, congressional and state legislative staff, journalists, and other influential audiences into meaningful interaction with Cato scholars and research.
• Work closely with Government Affairs and Communication staff to ensure Cato-wide coordination of the Institute’s efforts.
• Lead cross-functional working groups to ensure the promotion of Cato publications and coordination of enterprise-wide campaigns.
• Develop goals, performance measures, and evaluation frameworks to assess the reach, effectiveness, and impact of major programs and initiatives.
• Manage the Special Initiatives team, providing strategic direction, oversight, and professional development to ensure effective execution of team priorities.

Requirements

Experience and Skill Sets

• 7 to 10 years’ experience working in an external outreach position, such as: public affairs, government affairs, or communications.
• Working knowledge of policymaking functions within state and federal governments
• Innovative, creative thinking with knowledge of how to create events of various sizes and target audiences
• A demonstrated appreciation for Cato’s mission and principles
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an outgoing personality
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Strong work ethic with an enthusiastic, positive attitude

Benefits

All Cato employees are offered the following benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Generous vacation and sick leave
• Paid parental leave
• Employer-provided life and disability insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Transit/Parking benefits
• Pet discount plan