Network Training and Mobilization Manager

The Washington Center for Equitable Growth is actively committed to promoting and maintaining the importance of diversity to its work. We encourage everyone across the spectrums of race, ethnicity, nationality, ability, age, gender identity and expression, educational background, sexual orientation, and religion to apply.

This is a bargaining unit position.

The Washington Center for Equitable Growth is a nonprofit research and grantmaking organization dedicated to advancing evidence-backed ideas and policies that promote strong, stable, and broad-based economic growth. Equitable Growth engages with academics and policymakers to better understand economic inequality in the United States and its impact on economic growth. Important elements of Equitable Growth's mission include grantmaking to academic economists and other social scientists to support new research on inequality, mobility, growth, and related issues, as well as work to apply the best available academic evidence to the policy world. Building a stronger bridge between academics and the policy community and elevating researchers and their work with the news media are both key to our work, with the goal of making new research relevant, accessible, and informative to the policymaking process.

Summary

Equitable Growth has an immediate opening for a Network Training and Mobilization Manager. This is a new role that requires an entrepreneurial mindset, grassroots organizing mentality, and the ability to work within a team to build on and utilize existing programming and tools. Core to the role is an ability to think about how to more deeply engage select academics from our network in policy and media debates, advance them along an engagement ladder, and create sustainable ecosystem infrastructure. 

Responsibilities

Training and Leadership Development

The Network Training and Mobilization Manager will work closely with the Director, Academic Programs, to identify current and potential network academics who are well-suited to engage more deeply with the organization and to develop a ladder of engagement for network members. Key aspects of this work include:

• Identify opportunities within existing programming to solicit interest in and assess aptitude for deeper engagement, both for current and potential network members
• Develop and test new tactics to solicit interest and assess aptitude
• Assess where existing programming can be utilized and where new programming may be needed to develop a ladder of engagement and move network members along it
• Develop, plan and implement trainings to engage network members and develop their skills. This may be in collaboration with the Communications & Marketing or Policy & Advocacy teams, and/or with partner organizations.
• Gather, synthesize, and provide feedback to participating network members to foster skill development
• Working across teams, develop individualized strategic engagement plans for select academic network members

Program Development and Implementation

The Network Training and Mobilization Manager will work closely with the Director, Academic Programs, to develop and implement innovative programming, tactics and tools to expand select network academics' ability to serve as experts to policymakers and the press to inform important economic debates. Key aspects of this work include:

• Work closely with the Communications & Marketing and Policy & Advocacy teams to plan new and innovative programming, and to identify opportunities for engagement with government officials and members of the press
• In collaboration with other teams, support the development of metrics of success; develop and implement evaluations of programming to assess effectiveness and make improvements

Collaboration, partnerships, and community building

The Network Training and Mobilization Manager will develop and maintain relationships with affinity organizations and external stakeholders, and work alongside the Academic Programs team to steward relationships with network academics. Key aspects of this work include:

• With the support of the Director, Academic Programs, develop relationships with key organizations and experts to identify opportunities for shared learning or collaboration
• Support core programming, in-person and virtual events, and content intended to build connections among scholars and between scholars and non-academic audiences

Project Management

The Network Training and Mobilization Manager will be responsible for overseeing the development of project management tools and assuring information is up-to-date to effectively track work, support evaluation, and facilitate cross-team collaboration and communication. Key aspects of this work include:

• Use and/or further develop existing project management tools to support streamlined program implementation, tracking, and cross-team collaboration
• Create project plans, administer everyday workflow of processes, and provide support to internal and external stakeholders as needed
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records

Requirements

• At least 4 years of experience, including 3 years of relevant training, member engagement, leadership development, or teaching experience. Experience in grassroots organizing or organizer training highly preferred.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and proven track record of executing innovative programming and/or working in a start-up environment
• Experience with policy advocacy and/or press preferred
• Working knowledge of current economic policy issues preferred
• Understanding of the role that research and evidence play in policymaking
• Experience engaging with academics or understanding of academic culture, job ladders, and incentives a plus
• Experience with project management tools, such as Smartsheet, Asana, or Trello, and/or organizing CRMs such as Salesforce, NGP VAN, NationBuilder, or other equivalent online tools. Should be comfortable creating and maintaining project plans.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to collaborate across teams or departments
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, work independently, and manage multiple concurrent projects
• Willingness to travel approximately once a quarter

For consideration, please include a cover letter.

EEO:The Washington Center for Equitable Growth is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.