Program Manager

Disclaimer:

• Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
• Full-time positions at the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) require periodic travel for in-person team gatherings, typically several times per year. Locations may vary.

Job Summary The Program Manager plans and executes convenings within the Economic Freedom and Abundance (EFA) portfolio. This role translates established strategic priorities into structured events that connect scholars, policy leaders, and practitioners. The Program Manager is responsible for coordinating logistics, managing timelines and budgets, and ensuring convenings are delivered effectively and in alignment with institutional objectives. The role works closely with the Solution Coalitions, Academic Relations, Communications & Marketing, and Program Operations teams to support consistent execution across the portfolio.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None.

Duties and Responsibilities Convening Planning and Execution

• Plan and execute EFA convenings, including roundtables, workshops, salons, and larger gatherings.
• Translate EFA strategic priorities into event plans, agendas, timelines, and deliverables.
• Coordinate speaker outreach, invitations, participant tracking, and agenda development in partnership with relevant internal stakeholders.

Operations and Logistics

• Manage event timelines, task tracking, vendor coordination, and on-site execution in collaboration with Program Operations.
• Track event expenses and coordinate budget reporting with the Director of Solution Coalitions, EFA, and appropriate finance staff.
• Ensure contracts, participant documentation, and logistical materials are prepared accurately and on time.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner with the Senior Director of Solution Coalitions, EFA, to align convenings with broader coalition objectives.
• Collaborate with Communications & Marketing to support post-event communications and dissemination of outcomes.
• Work with Academic Relations and Business Intelligence to collect participation data, feedback, and post-event reporting inputs.

Reporting and Documentation

• Track attendance, engagement data, and relevant outcomes in Salesforce and other institutional systems.
• Contribute to internal assessments of convening effectiveness and lessons learned.
• Maintain organized documentation of event plans, participant records, and follow-up actions.

External Representation

• Represent IHS at EFA-related convenings and partner events with professionalism and subject-matter familiarity; up to 25% travel required to support convenings and external engagement.

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of professional experience in program management, event management, or project coordination, preferably within academic, policy, or nonprofit environments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects from planning through execution.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience coordinating across multiple internal departments and external stakeholders.
• Professional credibility in working with scholars, policy professionals, and mission-aligned organizations.
• Proficiency in CRM and project management systems; Salesforce experience preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of and alignment with the mission of the Institute for Humane Studies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in public policy, political science, law, economics, philosophy, or a related field.
• Experience planning or managing academic or policy-focused convenings involving senior scholars or institutional leaders.
• Experience supporting initiatives with external partners, philanthropic stakeholders, or fundraising-aligned programming.
• Familiarity with Washington, DC-based policy and nonprofit ecosystems.

To apply, qualified candidates must submit the following materials:

• Resume
• Cover letter detailing your interest in this position and why the IHS mission resonates with you.

EEO Statement:

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

About IHS:

The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) is a think network advancing the principles and practices of freedom in the academy, public policy, and civil society.

Founded in 1961, IHS believes that the liberal tradition has yielded unprecedented freedom and human flourishing. And in this moment, when the forces of illiberalism on both the left and right are gaining ground at an alarming pace, our vision is to spark a new spirit of liberal freedom.

Our Work:

• Cultivating a pool of intellectual talent for partners in policy, civil society, philanthropy, and the academy through $1.5 million in fellowship and career development programs.
• Catalyzing scholarship and academic networks to strengthen the fields of foundational and applied research that matter most to a free society.
• Equipping freedom-focused research centers, think tanks, foundations, and civil society organizations with the research and experts they need to maximize their impact in policy and in communities across the country.

IHS Benefits:

We have a flexible, professional, open office environment that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship and provides substantial opportunity for professional growth. Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. IHS provides exceptional benefits to all employees, including health and dental insurance coverage (which includes paying 100% of the health and dental insurance premium for individuals), health savings accounts, long-term disability and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement savings program, a parking permit and 12 free tuition credit hours annually at George Mason University.