Program Manager, Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) seeks a full-time, in-person program manager for its Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility (COSM). The anticipated start date for this position is as soon as possible.

Launched at the beginning of 2023, COSM seeks to shrink opportunity gaps facing disadvantaged Americans and strengthen social mobility by publishing rigorous research and developing innovative policy solutions.

The program manager will work closely with the center’s director, Scott Winship, and deputy director, Kevin Corinth, to coordinate operations. The person in this position will design and execute major center initiatives; support research on safety-net programs, poverty, and related topics; develop COSM products; and advise research assistants in the center.

Interested candidates should submit a resume, a cover letter demonstrating their interest in AEI’s mission generally and COSM’s mission particularly, an academic transcript, and a full-length writing sample (such as a thesis or independent research paper).

• Strategy and Product Development
  
  • Work closely with COSM’s director and deputy director to develop and implement short- and long-term strategic plans for the center, including strategies for media and government relations, development, and coalitions.
  • Design, launch, promote, and maintain new COSM products, such as conferences, events, edited volumes, books, and web products.
  • Maintain current COSM article series, including “Perspectives on Opportunity” and “COSM Commentary.”
  • Stay up-to-date on evolving opportunity and mobility policy issues and identify opportunities to further COSM’s influence on them.
• Communications
  
  • Work closely with AEI’s communications teams to strengthen COSM’s public presence, build relationships with local partners across the nation, and ensure COSM’s work is influencing national and state policy discussions.
  • Lead promotions for new COSM products. Coordinate COSM policy inputs for daily AEI publications and website features.
  • Track and measure COSM scholars’ outputs and impact. Maintain the COSM.aei.org website and COSM’s X account.
• Operations
  
  • Support the workflows of four research assistants and 13 scholars researching policy related to economic well-being, US safety-net programs, and economic opportunity and mobility.
  • Train and advise research assistants on high-impact assignments, expectations regarding research support, and career development.
  • Design and improve the center’s internal systems and protocols.
  • Foster a supportive and collegial environment among COSM’s staff. Cultivate internal resources and professional development opportunities for research assistants.
  • Support hiring for COSM research assistant positions.

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.

• 2–5 years of experience in research, management, or politics
• A bachelor’s degree (required)
• A general knowledge of Washington, DC; the institutions that shape public policy research; and the policymaking process (required)
• Prior experience with policy research related to US safety-net programs, workforce development, housing, child welfare, or intergenerational mobility (highly preferred)
• The ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships within and among departments
• Excellent writing and editing skills, attention to detail, and time management skills
• A proven ability to develop and execute project plans
• Strong organizational skills
• Creativity
• Strong initiative

Benefits
AEI offers generous benefits, including 18 days of paid leave (15 days of paid annual leave and 3 personal/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 FSA; a tuition assistance program of up to $5,200; life and disability insurance at no cost to employees; and a 403b retirement plan with a 12% 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: scope and responsibilities of the position; a candidate's full-time, applicable work experience; key skills and qualifications; as well as internal and external market considerations. The salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $60,000 - $65,000. Salary is just one component of AEI’s total compensation package for employees.