Bachelor's degree required; master's preferred in relevant fields.
Minimum of 7 years in program management, policy, or government.
Deep understanding of national security threats to U.S. education.
Proven ability to build coalitions with policymakers and education leaders.
Strong organizational skills for tracking milestones and outcomes.
Excellent interpersonal skills and sound judgment.
Responsibilities
Assist in developing and managing program priorities and initiatives.
Shape the program's agenda on national security threats to education.
Represent the program at meetings and external engagements.
Support stakeholder outreach and coalition building.
Manage the research pipeline from conception to publication.
Draft reports on research and outreach for stakeholders.
Improve internal processes for efficiency and quality.
Benefits
Health care coverage based on eligibility.
Full Job Description
SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER, EDUCATION AND NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAM
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) seeks a full-time senior program manager for its Education and National Security Program. This role requires a seasoned professional with experience managing multiple projects, building coalitions, ensuring timely completion of deliverables, and maintaining consistent communication.
Full-time | Reports to the director of the Program on Education and National Security
Salary: $90,000-$140,000 annually, based on the candidate's experience and qualifications. Additional benefits are available, including health care coverage based on eligibility.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Program Strategy
Assist the director in conceptualizing, developing, implementing, and managing the program's priorities, initiatives, and events in support of its mission and objectives.
Help shape the program's substantive agenda on national security threats to the U.S. education system, including legislative and regulatory frameworks, foreign-funding streams, and the influence of malicious outside groups.
Represent the program at meetings, briefings, and external engagements, in coordination with the director.
Support stakeholder outreach and development, including managing and building coalition opportunities, in coordination with the director.
Complete special projects and other duties as assigned by the director consistent with the program manager role.
Research Pipeline
Manage day-to-day operation of the research pipeline, guiding projects from conception through internal review to final publication.
Serve as liaison to the production team for all the program's research products.
Draft reports on research, outreach, and impact for various stakeholders.
Ensure the program's content on the FDD website is accurate and updated as necessary.
Operations
Manage internal processes and complete tasks that improve efficiency, effectiveness, timeliness, and quality.
Develop and manage a system to record accomplishments, outreach, and outcomes for all program members.
Serve as the primary interface with outreach teams and other FDD centers and programs.
Monitor timelines and milestones to ensure the program meets appropriate deadlines.
QUALIFICATIONS AND QUALITIES:
Bachelor's degree required; master's degree in public policy, education policy, international relations, security studies, business, or a related field preferred.
Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in program management, policy, or government.
Substantive knowledge of the national security threats facing the U.S. education system.
Proven track record of building coalitions and managing relationships with policymakers, congressional staff, education leaders, and outside organizations.
Organized self-starter, including the ability to build and maintain systems for tracking milestones, deadlines, accomplishments, and outcomes.
Strong interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and discretion.
This role has a projected salary band of $90,000-$140,000 per year, based on the candidate's experience and qualifications. Additional benefits are available, including health care coverage based on eligibility.
Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to submit a resume, and brief cover letter describing (1) your experience managing programs, building coalitions, and addressing national security threats to the U.S. education system and (2) your interest in FDD's mission. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Please submit to FDD Human Resources ()
For more information, please visit FDD.org and follow FDD on X @FDD.
