Program Officer for American Institutions

The Program Officer is responsible for research and writing, project management, policy development and analysis, and other administrative tasks related to the Academy's work in the program area of American Institutions, Society and the Public Good. Building on the work of the Our Common Purpose project and the Commission on Reimagining the Economy , the Program Officer will play a key role in developing new, non-partisan, cross-ideological project(s) focused on the American economy and democracy, and in supporting new work exploring local solutions to national problems.  

Major Areas of Responsibility:

• Collaborate with staff, Academy members, project members, and partner organizations to organize and facilitate meetings, to organize outreach and communications plans related to projects, initiatives, programs and reports.
• Collaborate with leadership to explore, develop, and advance program initiatives, research areas, and funding opportunities, including grant writing and fundraising.
• Draft, edit, and prepare written materials for internal and external audiences, including research reports, publications, proceedings, occasional papers, executive briefings, and leadership remarks.
• Identify and gather research materials for projects and meetings; facilitate the flow of information among committee/panel members, staff, consultants, and other applicable parties.
• Support scoping conversations and building new connections with civic leaders at the state and local level.
• Manage workshops, meetings, and/or conferences including developing agendas, inviting presenters and participants, overseeing meeting logistics and multimedia presentations, and preparing written summaries.
• Develop and maintain partnerships, implement outreach and communications strategies, represent the program area at meetings and convenings, and help expand the Academy's profile in academic, policy, and professional communities.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis, and visualization as needed.
• May supervise permanent or temporary Academy staff in tasks related to their project and encourage staff development.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: 

• A PhD in social sciences, humanities or public policy, with two years of relevant project administration and professional work; or an MA or MPA in a relevant field with at least five years of professional work experience.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to synthesize research, analyze data, and present findings clearly to diverse audiences.
• Expertise in American politics, society, and/or public policy, including current scholarship and policy issues; political economy knowledge preferred.
• Deep commitment to interdisciplinary thinking and working across multiple sectors and disciplines.
• Ability to foster an inclusive and collaborative team environment, leveraging diverse perspectives of staff and committee members, and facilitate meaningful engagement with stakeholders across the ideological spectrum.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively engage with a wide variety of internal and external groups including funders, academic, policy, and research institutions, and other potential partners.
• Demonstrated experience in, or leading partnerships with, place-based civic organizations a plus.
• Successful grant writing experience and familiarity with private foundations and other funding sources a plus.
• Experience managing complex projects under tight deadlines, with demonstrated creativity, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Word); SPSS, R or similar statistical software a plus; and social media tools.
• Occasional travel may be required.

Location and Work Environment

This role will be based in Washington, DC or Cambridge, MA. 

For Cambridge employees: This hybrid role requires on-site work in Cambridge, MA, three days per week (Wednesdays in office). Occasional travel and some evening or weekend hours may be needed.

Application

Interested applicants are encouraged to submit a brief cover letter and CV.

About the Academy

Founded in 1780, the Academy is both an honorary society that recognizes and celebrates the excellence of its members and an independent research center convening leaders from across disciplines, professions, and perspectives to address significant challenges.   The Academy projects bring together elected members and subject matter experts in cross-disciplinary efforts to produce reflective, independent, and pragmatic studies that inform public policy and advance the public good. The Academy is committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion and looks to all its staff members to foster and promote these values. We are an equal opportunity employer and make all employment decisions based on organizational needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications.  

Academy Values

As a scholarly organization and research center, the Academy recognizes that diversity of thought, class, experience, sex, gender, race, physical or mental ability, age, religion, national origin, and sexual orientation is a value to uphold and is central to the mission and work of the organization. A more pluralistic staff embracing diversity of thought, approach and life experience fosters a more nuanced understanding of contemporary issues facing the nation and the world. Working together in a climate of respect and openness models the civil discourse that is fundamental to the work of the Academy. 

More information about our guiding values can be found here. 

We are committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion and look to all our staff members to foster and promote these values.  More information about our guiding values can be found here.