Program Manager, Domestic Policy Studies

America’s Future Foundation (AFF); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

18 days paid leave

Medical and dental coverage

Health Savings Account

Tuition assistance

Life and disability insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Job summary

The American Enterprise Institute seeks a full-time, in-person program manager for its Domestic Policy Studies program. The role reports to the director and collaborates with scholars to manage daily activities, high-priority projects, and department operations.

The ideal candidate has 2–5 years of relevant experience in nonprofit or policy settings, strong writing and research skills, and the ability to lead teams in a fast-paced environment. Starts ASAP with competitive benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 2–5 years experience in nonprofit/academic/domestic policy preferred.
• Strong writing, research, and communications skills.
• Ability to manage high-priority projects and personnel across a department.
• Experience with policy areas and knowledge of federal institutions is desirable.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships within and among departments.

Responsibilities

• Manage department staff including scholars, research assistants, and interns.
• Onboard/offboard research staff and contract scholars.
• Implement and maintain workflow systems internally and cross-departmentally.
• Guide researchers on policy and research strategies; address performance issues.
• Develop and update research assistant job descriptions; assign researchers to scholars.
• Develop and monitor the department budget and grant submissions.

Skills

Project management

Writing

Research

Communication

Time management

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) seeks a full-time, in-person program manager for its Domestic Policy Studies program, which houses education policy, AEI’s Housing Center, the Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility, and the Center for Technology, Science, and Energy. The anticipated start date for this position is as soon as possible.AEI’s domestic policy work advances policies to encourage upward mobility, develop the workforce, strengthen America’s educational system, provide transparent reports on housing market trends, promote technological innovation, and grow social capital. Reporting to the program’s director, the program manager will work closely with AEI’s Domestic Policy scholars and the program’s director to manage the department’s daily activities.The ideal candidate for this position will have an outstanding academic record and two to five years’ experience working in a nonprofit, academic, or domestic policy environment, with extensive project-management capabilities and excellent writing, research, and communications skills. The candidate should have a demonstrated interest in a wide range of policy topics and a strong grasp of federal institutions and current events.This role comes with a high level of responsibility. The program manager is expected to manage, advise on, and execute high-priority projects and manage department-wide personnel with varying research, administrative, and operational responsibilities.AEI offers a stimulating work environment, competitive compensation, and excellent benefits. Applicants should submit an online application complete with a resume, a cover letter demonstrating interest in our policy areas, transcripts, and a writing sample.

Responsibilities

• Personnel Management:
  • Manage department staff including scholars, research assistants, and interns.
  • Onboard and offboard department research assistants, full-time scholars, and contracted (1099) scholars.
  • Implement and maintain workflow systems internally and cross-departmentally.
  • Guide research assistants on AEI and department policy and address performance issues in a professional manner.
  • Foster a supportive learning environment and guide research assistants on research strategies and career development.
  • Develop and update research assistant job descriptions.
  • Assign research assistants to scholars.
• Budget Management:
  • Develop and monitor the annual non-personnel budget.
  • Manage department subscriptions, purchases, and renewals.
  • Manage department expense approvals.
  • Manage grant submissions and approvals.
• Administration:
  • Provide scholars with the necessary resources to conceptualize and execute original research and writing and private and public conferences.
  • Manage schedules for individuals and the department.
  • Ensure staff install and maintain proper software.
  • Manage the shared department folder for recordkeeping and organization.
  • Collect and coordinate travel information.
• Communications:
  • Develop and streamline efficient reporting mechanisms.
  • Serve as a liaison among departments.
  • Oversee communications for promotional efforts.
• Development:
  • Manage the department’s grant portfolio, ensuring timely completion of project deliverables.
• Miscellaneous:
  • Manage special projects as assigned (including major conferences and events, special reports, edited volumes published by AEI, and digital projects hosted on AEI’s website).

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions at AEI

• The employee is regularly expected to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard. This job requires close-up vision for computer work.
• The employee must be able to lift up to 30 pounds.
• The employee must be able to work in a confined area.
• Moderate noise (e.g., from computers, phones, printers, and light traffic) is expected.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities associated with this position.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree is required.
• Candidates should have two to five years of previous applicable full-time work experience, preferably in research, management, or politics; one or more years of experience at AEI is preferred.
• The ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships within and among departments.
• Supervisory and leadership skills.
• The ability to work in a high-pressure and fast-paced environment.
• Attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
• Time management skills and a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• A self-starting attitude and the ability to identify complex problems, review related information, develop and evaluate options, and implement solutions.

Benefits

AEI offers generous benefits, including 18 days of paid leave (15 days of paid annual leave and three personal or floating holidays); 12 days of paid sick leave; paid family leave; medical and dental coverage, in addition to a health savings account; medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts; a tuition assistance program of up to $5,200; life and disability insurance at no cost to employees; and a 403(b) retirement plan with a contribution from AEI, among other benefits. For more information, you can see a full summary of our benefits at https://www.aei.org/jobs/benefits/.Compensation is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position; a candidate's full-time, applicable work experience; key skills and qualifications; and internal and external market considerations. The salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $60,000–$75,000+. Salary is just one component of AEI’s total compensation package for employees.