Career Education and Training Manager

Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy whose core objective is to maximize opportunity and minimize injustice. We are dedicated to tackling some of the most pressing problems in the United States. We invest in sustainable change, building it from the ground up based on research, deep thinking, and a strong foundation of evidence. We drive public conversation, craft policy, and inspire action through education and advocacy.

Position Overview

Arnold Ventures is developing a new Career Education & Training (CET) portfolio to identify and expand programs and policies that improve access to good jobs, meaningful careers, and economic mobility, with a focus on pathways other than a traditional college degree.

The CET field is making exciting progress. Research has identified several programs and approaches that have been proven to improve career opportunities and economic outcomes for participants (e.g., Per Scholas, Project Quest, Year Up, and Career Academies). Likewise, policymakers, employers, and the public increasingly recognize the importance of having a wider array of high-quality secondary and postsecondary career training options that lead to good jobs and address crucial workforce needs.

However, there is more work to do. We need to identify and scale more programs that prepare young people for meaningful careers, craft better systems and policies to ensure that we’re channeling resources to effective programs, and hold workforce stakeholders accountable for delivering positive outcomes – all while ensuring equitable access to opportunity.

We are seeking a manager to participate in the development and execution of AV’s strategy to advance high-quality CET. The Manager will also serve as the primary liaison from the CET programmatic team to grantees and internal teams including grants, legal, and finance. This individual will also support the team’s strategy and policy work through research and analysis. The Manager will collaborate closely with the team on substantive, policy-oriented projects; gain experience developing philanthropic strategies and managing high-impact philanthropic projects; and learn to advance evidence-based policy recommendations for CET issues federally and in states. This position will be based in any of Arnold Ventures’ three offices: Houston, New York City, or Washington D.C., and will report to the Vice President of CET.

Core Responsibilities

• Work with the Vice President of CET to refine and execute on the strategic direction for the portfolio
• Conduct research and analysis to inform strategy and project development, analyze and synthesize relevant policy developments in the field, and make strategic recommendations to the Vice President of CET
• Collaborate with colleagues and grantees to identify, conduct due diligence on, and develop proposals for charitable grants and investments to recommend to Arnold Ventures’ Board; oversee and track progress of pipeline and existing investments and grants
• Develop materials for Arnold Ventures’ Board, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Programs, Vice President of CET, and other individuals in collaboration with team members
• Manage grants, contracts, and other investments; track progress and impact; and draw lessons from these activities to inform strategic priorities and the development of future investments
• Participate in meetings with government officials, researchers, training providers, peer funders, and other stakeholders
• Work with other teams at AV (e.g., Higher Education and Evidence & Evaluation) to identify and manage shared priorities and opportunities for collaboration
• Collaborate with the Communications team to develop materials that elevate grantee achievements, products, research, policy developments, and innovative approaches

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• 5+ years of relevant work experience in positions involving research, policy analysis, consulting, or government initiatives relating to workforce or education policy, including part-time work or internships. Work experience may be substituted by formal education equivalent to graduate school-level training
• Demonstrated understanding of, or interest in, CET policy at the federal or state level, as well as CET programs and stakeholders more generally
• Strong policy analysis, critical thinking, learning, and adaptive problem-solving skills, including willingness to explore new approaches
• Excellent quantitative and analytical skills, with demonstrated experience synthesizing and assessing insights from data
• Exceptional listening and communication skills, including the ability to absorb, analyze, and convey complex ideas in a clear and concise manner verbally and in writing
• Strong strategy development, project management, and organizational skills

The salary range for this role will be $95,00-$130,000.

Benefits Overview

Arnold Ventures is committed to providing a robust and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our current benefits package includes 100% paid employee premiums for medical, dental, vision, basic life, and short- and long-term disability insurance; 20 days of paid time off, 16 paid holidays (including a winter break from December 24 to January 1), a hybrid policy that includes four days in office and one flexible day for remote work, and a summer schedule with alternating Fridays off beginning on Memorial Day and ending on Labor Day; paid parental leave; a 401k retirement savings plan with an employer match, profit-share contribution, and immediate vesting; pre-tax transit benefits; a professional development stipend; a charitable giving stipend; and an employee assistance program.

Our Culture and Core Values

Our culture seeks to inspire and empower our people to innovate and develop bold ideas that will help Arnold Ventures achieve lasting impact. Our culture, and the core values that support it, should create an environment that spurs our team to think outside the box, feel comfortable pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and signal confidence in our team’s ability to make change happen through our philanthropic efforts. Although not an exhaustive list, below you’ll find examples of Arnold Ventures’ work culture.

• We are adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity
• We are intellectually curious, open-minded, objective, humble, collegial, and receptive to feedback
• We are action-oriented with strong self-direction and self-motivation skills with the ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects
• We are able to interact confidently and collaboratively with team members and navigate relationships with external experts, government leaders, advocates, and individuals

Arnold Ventures’ values reflect who we are as an organization, help us accelerate our strategic goals, strengthen our resolve, anchor us to our mission, and guide our decision-making. The successful candidate will also demonstrate the following core values that inspire the Arnold Ventures team to make a difference.

• Respect for Ourselves & Others
• Audacious Action
• Collaborative Engagement
• Depth of Thought
• Clear Communication

Arnold Ventures is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, military/veteran status, or any basis prohibited by applicable law.

Acknowledging the importance of diverse perspectives, Arnold Ventures is committed to employing individuals from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of experiences. Members of historically marginalized communities and candidates who have been impacted by the systems we are seeking to change are strongly encouraged to apply.