ABOUT US

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.


THE CENTER FOR RISING GENERATIONS

The Aspen Institute’s Center for Rising Generations (CRG) is dedicated to ensuring that civil dialogue, civic engagement, and leadership development become a predictable part of the journey to adulthood in our society and around the world. Inspired by the Aspen Institute’s strategic plan and supported by a generous endowment from the Bezos Family Foundation, the Center for Rising Generations:

• Works to expand opportunities for, and elevate the voices of, youth and young adults at the Aspen Institute
• Creates opportunities to convene and build community beyond the Aspen Institute
• Encourages innovation that helps emphasize the assets that young people bring to help address today’s challenges

The Center for Rising Generations manages five programs: the Aspen Challenge, the Aspen Young Leaders Fellowship, the Center for Native American Youth, the Stevens Initiative, and the Education and Society program. CRG works closely with and coordinates work across these CRG programs.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Director of Partnerships for the Center for Rising Generations (CRG) will have primary responsibility for coordinating, nurturing, and initiating CRG’s engagements with organizational partners, including partners within the Aspen Institute. In this role, the Director will manage a complex, flexible team made up of short-term employees and contractors who engage directly with partners. The Director will use strong management skills, strategic thinking, and innovative approaches to building a network to help CRG become a hub for youth-serving organizations.

Success for the Director of Partnerships means that CRG can work seamlessly and effectively with partners with whom we engage deeply and co-create projects; with partners with whom we share ideas and some resources; and with partners with whom we share information. CRG’s partnership strategy will not depend, primarily, on financial support for partners, so the Director will need to find innovative ways of collaborating with partners who share our mission. Our ideal candidate will be able to work flexibly and collaboratively while demonstrating CRG’s values and working in a fast-paced environment. Please note, The Center for Rising Generations operates with a spirit of collaboration and co-creation. Most responsibilities for this position will be done with deep support from other CRG and CRG program staff.

This role reports directly to the Vice President of The Center for Rising Generations. The salary range for this position is $150,000 - $175,000. The expectation is for this role to be in our Washington D.C. office a minimum of 3 days a week to collaborate with colleagues.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

For CRG

• Serve as the face of CRG for organizational partners.
• Establish and implement a partnership strategy that helps CRG become a hub for youth-serving organizations and that vastly expands opportunities for young people.
• Establish tiers of engagement that allows CRG to maximize time and resources with a core group of partners (likely about 10) who are most aligned to the CRG mission.
• Create tools including newsletters, regular meetings, and Slack groups that help CRG maintain and nurture relationships at all tiers of engagement.
• Ensure that partners with whom we have deep engagement have a specific point of contact and receive regular updates and information by forming a small group of partner managers made up of staff from other Aspen programs, contractors, and others in flexible work arrangements.
• Establish management structures, including those for non-traditional, non-hierarchical teams, that set CRG up for success.
• Engage deeply with select partners on CRG-priority projects.
• Vet new partners.
• Manage CRG database of partners.
• Engage with other programs within the Aspen Institute to build partnerships.
• Coordinate with the Aspen Institute on partner engagement as needed.

For CRG programs

• Share information about potential partners with CRG programs and support CRG programs as they engage with their partners.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO THRIVE

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in related field.
• Demonstrated experience working with large networks of partners to build a mission-driven community.
• Strong management experience, including experience in managing non-traditional structures.
• Experience building a partnership strategy for mission-driven organizations.
• Experience devising and implementing innovative approaches to solve complex problems.
• An ability to make partners feel welcomed and engaged.
• An ability to align partner engagement to CRG plans and initiatives.
• Facility in representing CRG, its values, plans, and viewpoint with a variety of audiences.
• Ability to maintain highly responsive relationships with high volumes of partners.
• The ability to work collaboratively with programs, each of which takes a different approach to engaging partners and alumni.
• Strong communication skills.
• A disposition toward collaboration and co-creation.
• A spirit of possibility, fun, and optimism.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants should submit a resume and a cover letter.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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.

The Aspen Institute welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs, including the interview process. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about accessibility, please email hrsupport@aspeninstitute.org or call 202-736-2127 in advance of your visit. Requests for ASL or CART services should be made at least two weeks in advance when possible. We will make every effort to fulfill requests, subject to availability.