The Thomas B. Fordham Institute seeks an organized, lively, and dynamic individual to join its national team. The Events and Staff Associate will play a vital role in supporting key organizational initiatives and amplifying Fordham’s work.
The ideal candidate is smart, energetic, detail-oriented, and passionate about furthering excellence and equity in American K-12 education. This is an ideal role for someone with a deep desire to learn about education policy and research and how think tanks operate, with opportunities for career advancement within the organization.
Responsibilities:
Event Planning (33%)
- Conceive, schedule, plan, and facilitate on-site, off-site, and virtual meetings and convenings, including coordinating event logistics and travel, preparing and disseminating meeting materials, and staffing events.
- Draft and disseminate post-event minutes and notes.
- Partner with Chief of Staff and Development Associate on impact and goal tracking for all events.
- Assist with board meeting planning and preparation, including overseeing creation of board memos and board briefing books, and handling board meeting logistics and travel.
- Coordinate staff retreats once every 18 months or as needed.
- Plan and execute all-staff events, happy hours, and office parties.
Research and Commentary Work (33%)
- Provide research support for national reports, studies, and briefs as well as smaller day-to-day research projects and tasks.
- Regularly research and author blog posts and short reviews for Fordham’s Flypaper blog and The Education Gadfly newsletter.
Office Management and Executive Support (33%)
- Provide research and project management assistance to Fordham’s president emeritus.
- Coordinate travel arrangements and provide administrative support to Fordham’s president emeritus and other staff, as needed.
- Project manage other special projects and key initiatives.
- Manage the overall office calendar, interface with partners and visitors, and coordinate regular staff meetings.
- Identify opportunities for process and office management improvements, and design and implement new systems.
- Assist with impact tracking.
Preferred Qualifications:
- A strong interest in education policy and reform.
- Previous experience working in event planning and/or an administrative capacity.
- A fierce attention to detail and excellent project management skills.
- The ability to take initiative, proactively anticipate needs and challenges, and keep pace in a demanding work environment.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Superb interpersonal skills and a good sense of humor.
- Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
About the Thomas B. Fordham Institute
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute promotes educational excellence for every child in America via quality research, analysis, and commentary, as well as advocacy and exemplary charter school authorizing in Ohio.
In order to improve student outcomes, boost upward mobility, and dramatically increase the number of young Americans prepared for college, career, and citizenship, we advance:
- Ambitious standards in all academic subjects, strong assessments of student learning, aligned and well-implemented curricula, and common-sense accountability for schools and children across the achievement spectrum; and
- High-quality charter schools and other proven models of educational choice, particularly for the children and families that need them most.
We promote educational improvement by:
- Producing relevant, rigorous research, analysis, and commentary for education practitioners and for policymakers at the national, state, and local levels;
- Incubating new ideas, innovations, organizations, and visionary leaders to advance educational excellence;
- Advancing sound policies in Ohio related to standards, assessments, results-driven accountability, equitable funding, school choice, and other important education reforms; and
- Serving as a model charter school authorizer and sharing our lessons throughout and beyond Ohio.
The Fordham Institute is committed to providing equal opportunities and being an inclusive workplace that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the students and families we aim to serve.
Additional Information:
This is a full-time role based in downtown DC with the option of part-time remote work, reporting to Fordham’s Chief of Staff.
The Fordham Institute provides competitive compensation and a generous benefits package that includes health care coverage, a 401(k) plan with a 12 percent employer contribution policy, professional development stipends, and annual performance-based bonuses.
To Apply:
Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials as a single PDF here.
- Resume
- Cover Letter detailing your interest in the position and the mission of the Fordham Institute
Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.