The Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

To achieve our mission of a more free, just, and equitable society, we commit to working proactively to advance the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our myriad endeavors such as the recruitment, compensation, training, and advancement of staff. The best people-serving institutions make this commitment, and we seek to be a leader in the ways that we do so and learn from others. Visit our website to learn more about our commitment and recent actions taken toward building and nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment.

Program Description:

Youth Leadership Programs identify, cultivate, and amplify the talent of rising generations and the ecosystems that support them. The department works with youth up to age 25 to redress the most complex and challenging social, political, and scientific issues facing communities not in some distant future but today. The department is home to The Aspen Challenge, Aspen Young Leaders Fellowship, Bezos Scholars, and Youth Lead Now.Â

The Aspen Young Leaders Fellowship (AYLF) identifies, cultivates, and amplifies future generations of talent to engage in the values-based leadership essential for improving their lives and society. AYLF is a place-based, multi-site program that nurtures a cadre of diverse youth ages 18 – 24 to support (1) degree completion, (2) workforce readiness and placement, and (3) civic engagement that addresses the most compelling social, political, and scientific issues facing their communities. AYLF accelerates leadership development, socio-emotional learning, social innovation, and fellows’ abilities to effectuate change inside and outside systems. The program operates on a 1+4 model (1 year of intensive training coupled with four years of targeted support for degree completion and workforce placement). It stimulates long-term community transformation through a whole-systems approach involving families, educators, and community stakeholders.Â

Basic Function

The selected candidate will join a dynamic, creative, high-performing team focused on youth leadership development programs within the Aspen Institute. The Coordinator position is a remote work position reporting to the Senior Manager of Knowledge and Learning and will also work closely with the entire AYLF team.Â

The Coordinator is crucial in supporting the department's operational and programmatic delivery efforts, working primarily with AYLF. The ideal candidate is a multi-talented, early-career professional with experience in relationship management, advising, support services, logistics, and operations; is creative and eager to learn on the job and has exceptionally high standards for the quality of their work. The Coordinator position is a critical role that will provide high-quality programmatic, operational, research, and communications support for Aspen Young Leaders Fellowship. The Coordinator’s responsibilities are achieved via an unwavering focus on equity and inclusion and a commitment to working in communities with young people from low to moderate-income backgrounds, youth of color, and youth with learning differences or differing abilities.Â

Qualified candidates must demonstrate impeccable attention to detail, superior organizational skills, exceptional verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to flourish in a fast-paced environment. Experience with operational systems such as Outlook, Word, and Excel is essential. Critical thinking skills are also essential, as is the ability to exercise sound judgment and cultural competence in various situations. AYLF is committed to ensuring the diversity of our team, and we strongly encourage candidates of color, those who identify as Native American, women, people of low-income backgrounds, those who are differently-abled, and those with first-hand experience with economic/social challenges and inequity to apply for this role.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Program Delivery

• Support the delivery of opportunity ecosystem resources (e.g., connecting Fellows and Sr Fellows to resources such as tutoring, career coaching, financial literacy, family engagement, safety net, and catalyst funds) and Sr Fellows networks.

• Support the delivery of engagement programming for each phase of the Sr Fellows strategy, including but not limited to engaging with Sr Fellows who have just completed the cohort, Sr Fellows who are in college or working, and Sr Fellows who have personal and professional challenges.Â

• Provide timely insight and feedback to support the creation and execution of the strategy and activities.

• Connect and interact with AYLF Sr Fellows consistently, including tracking and updating various forms of data, using multiple communication vehicles to connect with Sr Fellows, designing and implementing processes for support, and cultivating meaningful and effective support relationships with youth.Â

• Assist with planning, scheduling, and implementing regional-based, in-person events for Sr. Fellows.

• Curate and manage virtual community-building activities and platforms.Â

• Source and provide access to internships, workshops, conferences, etc., aligning with Sr Fellows' ongoing personal and professional development.

General

• Contribute to website updates and database maintenance relative to Sr. Fellows (e.g., Salesforce).

• Support broader efforts and initiatives of the Youth Leadership Programs Department and the Aspen Institute as assigned.

• Conduct research to support program delivery or special initiatives (e.g., vendors, partner organizations, guest speakers, venues, etc.)

• Integrate a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens in all essential duties and work responsibilities.Â

• Contribute to healthy equity, inclusion, learning, and continuous improvement culture.

• Ensure excellent tracking and record keeping through Salesforce and other core tools.Â

Weekend and Travel Expectations

This position will require weekend work during one weekend per month and an ability and willingness to travel up to 30% of the time to provide on-site support for Youth Leadership Program Department events and meetings, trainings, and other Aspen Institute convenings. Travel expectations are contingent upon health and safety guidance and policies from national/local authorities and the Aspen Institute.Â

Knowledge, Education, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required;Â

• At least one year of experience in administrative, logistics, or operations functions, preferably in the nonprofit or education sectors;

• Strong cultural competence and experience working directly with constituents from diverse racial, ethnic, socio-economic, and geographic backgrounds;

• Excellent computer and software skills required, specifically, expertise with Microsoft Outlook (including managing multiple calendars and email inboxes); Microsoft Excel (including creation and maintenance of spreadsheets); Microsoft PowerPoint (including the development of dynamic PowerPoint presentations); Microsoft Word (including effective document layout, formatting, and design); virtual engagement platforms such as Zoom; SharePoint file management; and use of project management platforms such as Basecamp, Airtable, or others;

• Experience establishing organizational systems to improve efficiency and functioning in a changing environment;

• Experience meeting deadlines while balancing multiple projects, including calendar management, travel arrangements, and event planning coordination;

• Experience with Salesforce CRM, website development, or graphic design experience a plus

The ideal candidate will have:Â

• Superior attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks;

• Strong customer service orientation: patience, listening, resourcefulness, responsiveness, and attentiveness;

• Creative problem-solving skills;

• Polished, culturally competent interpersonal skills;

• A desire to learn, a sense of humor, flexibility, and resilience.

• Ability to work with diverse audiences and proven ability to interface with senior-level executives effectively;

• Strong, demonstrable writing and editing skills;

• Familiarity and interest in leadership development, community impact, and civic engagement; working with college-aged youth, youth from low to moderate income, youth of color, and first-generation college students;Â

• Strong interest in and passion for community impact and social justice issues.
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The Aspen Institute offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, and prescription benefits, retirement benefits, and paid leave.

The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.