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. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

ASPEN LEADERSHIP SEMINARS

Aspen Leadership Seminars (Seminars) sits at the heart of the Aspen Institute’s founding mission: to foster values-based leadership that inspires individuals to think more deeply, act more courageously, and serve more selflessly. Since 1950, the Seminars have brought together leaders from every sector and region of the world to explore the moral and ethical dimensions of leadership through moderated text-based dialogue. Guided by the belief that the greatest challenges facing society are moral, not technical, these seminars create space for leaders to reflect on the values that guide their choices and shape their organizations.

In support of its mission to develop values-driven leaders, the department offers both tuition-based and fee-for-service seminars to individuals and organizations. Seminars annually delivers 35+ seminars, including the flagship Aspen Executive Seminar on Leadership, Values, and the Good Society, as well as a growing portfolio of Custom Leadership Seminars designed in partnership with client organizations in the corporate, government, and not-for-profit sectors. The portfolio has experienced significant growth in recent years and is poised to expand in both scope and scale in the years ahead. For more information, visit aspeninstitute.org/leadershipseminars/ or find us on LinkedIn.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Program Associate is a key member of the Design & Delivery team within the Seminars Department and plays a critical role in the execution of Aspen Leadership Seminars. This position focuses on the coordination and delivery of residential and virtual seminars, ensuring a seamless and high-quality experience for participants, moderators, and external clients.

Working under the guidance of the Senior Program Manager, the Program Associate owns day-to-day logistics, communication, and execution workflows for assigned seminars. The role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously in a fast-paced, client-facing environment. This is an execution-focused role with meaningful responsibility in seminar delivery, client coordination, and internal systems management.The Program Associate will coordinate the successful execution of 12+ residential and virtual seminars annually, managing logistics and delivery processes from start through post-seminar close-out, and support the infrastructure of the Design & Delivery team through disciplined systems management and maintenance of central records.

The salary range for this position is $57,600 - $62,000. The Program Associate will report directly to the Senior Program Manager, Design & Delivery. This position is based in Washington, DC and is expected to adhere to the Institute's Reimagining Work policy, which requires working in-person with colleagues at least 40% of the time, with the flexibility to work remotely for the remainder. The role also requires up to 30% travel to support program delivery and related activities.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Seminar Delivery and Client Coordination

• Serve as the primary coordinator for assigned seminars, owning all phases from building project timelines and workplans through post-seminar close out ensuring all deliverables are met.
• When assigned as secondary support for a seminar, execute defined components of delivery, such as venue logistics, materials preparation, virtual setup, vendor coordination, and on-site/virtual seminar support.
• Serve as the main point of contact for clients and moderators; build and maintain strong professional relationships, provide briefings, logistics details, and proactive correspondence that reflects Aspen’s standards.
• Partner with the curriculum designer and production team to ensure accurate and timely delivery of all physical and digital materials.
• Advise on execution norms, venue setup, program activities, and best practices of Seminar delivery with clients (as needed).
• Function as virtual and on-site staff at assigned seminars.
• Secure and pay vendors, invoice clients.
• Execute closing workflows, including evaluation creation and distribution, reporting, data consolidation, and digital archiving.
• Work with other Seminars department and Leadership Center staff as necessary.

Systems and Administration Support

• Maintain accurate CRM (Salesforce) and project management (Airtable) records, including post-seminar reports and historical data, to support relationship management.
• Contribute to quarterly special projects that support departmental growth and operations.
• Coordinate supply inventory, material orders, and annual supply replenishment.
• Fulfill additional duties to support the effective functioning of the Design & Delivery team and the broader department.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO THRIVE

• 1-3 years of experience in program coordination, operations, event management, or client services.
• Experience supporting high-level stakeholders or executive-facing environments preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with strong attention to detail and deadline discipline.
• Exceptional professionalism, discretion, and composure in high-pressure situations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt style to diverse audiences.
• High standards for preparation, hospitality, and follow-through.
• Intellectual curiosity and the ability to navigate complex challenges with creative solutions.
• Cultural sensitivity and the ability to work effectively across diverse backgrounds and environments.
• Ability to work independently as a workstream owner and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite; familiarity with Salesforce, Airtable, Cvent, and Zoom preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel both domestically and internationally.
• Commitment to the Institute’s values and to fostering inclusive seminar environments.

TO APPLY

Please submit a cover letter outlining your experience relevant to this role, along with an updated résumé. Applications that do not include a cover letter will not be considered.

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.