Manager, Career Pathways

Position Overview Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy that supports research to understand the root causes of America’s most persistent and pressing problems, as well as evidence-based solutions to address them. By focusing on systemic change and bipartisan policy reforms, AV works to improve the lives of American families, strengthen communities, and promote economic opportunity. AV’s Education team advances policies that promote quality, value, and accountability for student outcomes across both traditional higher education and other career pathways from high school to the workforce. That means elevating high-performing programs and high-value pathways, directing taxpayer money toward evidence-based solutions, protecting students and workers from ineffective programs, and focusing the education and workforce systems on results (e.g., strong earnings and advancement) over inputs (e.g., enrollment). AV's Career Pathways portfolio aims to ensure every learner can access fulfilling paths to economic mobility, including those who may not pursue a traditional college degree. We work to strengthen evidence and policies related to secondary and postsecondary career and technical education, apprenticeships and other employer-connected training models, and the publicly funded workforce system. We are seeking a manager to participate in the development and execution of AV’s strategy to advance high-quality career pathways. The Manager will serve as the primary liaison from the team to internal teams including grants, legal, and finance and will support the team’s strategy and policy work through research and analysis. The Manager will collaborate closely with the team on substantive, policy-oriented projects; gain experience developing philanthropic strategies and managing high-impact philanthropic projects; and learn to advance evidence-based policy recommendations at the federal and state levels. The position will be based in our Washington, D.C. office and will report to the Vice President, Career Pathways. Core Responsibilities Support the development and execution of AV’s Career Pathways strategy by analyzing and synthesizing relevant research and policy developments at the federal and state levels, and translating insights into actionable philanthropic opportunities Coordinate research and policy-oriented projects from concept through execution, managing timelines, deliverables, and inputs across internal teams and external partners to ensure work stays on track and aligned with strategic goals Develop and maintain expertise on career pathways related topics, policies, and best practices, with a focus on career and technical education, apprenticeships and on-the-job training policies, and workforce system reform Develop clear and concise written materials for diverse audiences including but not limited to the AV Board, Education leadership team, and internal and external nontechnical audiences, in collaboration with team members Manage the full lifecycle of philanthropic projects and grants, including identifying and developing charitable investments, preparing grant recommendations for the AV Board, overseeing implementation, and tracking progress against milestones and outcomes Monitor grant performance and portfolio-level progress; synthesize lessons learned across investments to inform strategic priorities, course corrections, and the design of future initiatives Actively contribute to team meetings regarding projects, including suggesting ideas and brainstorming; and participate in meetings with government officials, researchers, practitioners, funders and other stakeholders Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience 4-6 years of relevant work experience in positions involving research, policy analysis, consulting, or government initiatives relating to education, career pathways or workforce policy, including part-time work or internships; work experience may be substituted by formal education equivalent to graduate school-level training Demonstrated understanding of, or interest in, career pathways policy at the federal or state level Strong policy analysis, critical thinking, learning, and adaptive problem-solving skills, including willingness to explore new approaches Excellent quantitative and analytical skills, with demonstrated experience synthesizing and assessing insights from data Exceptional listening and communication skills, including the ability to absorb, analyze, and convey complex ideas in a clear and concise manner verbally and in writing Strong strategy development, project management, and organizational skills The salary range for this role will be $105,000-$140,000. Benefits Overview AV is committed to providing a robust and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our current benefits package includes 100% paid employee premiums for medical, dental, vision, basic life, and short- and long-term disability insurance; 20 days of paid time off, 16 paid holidays (including a winter break from December 24 to January 1), a hybrid policy that includes four days in office and one flexible day for remote work, and a summer schedule with alternating Fridays off beginning on Memorial Day and ending on Labor Day; paid parental leave; a 401k retirement savings plan with an employer match, profit-share contribution, and immediate vesting; pre-tax transit benefits; a professional development stipend; a charitable giving stipend; and an employee assistance program. In addition, a relocation bonus is available for candidates who will move to one of AV’s three office locations for a position. Our Culture and Core Values We are adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity We are intellectually curious, open-minded, objective, humble, collegial, and receptive to feedback We are action-oriented with strong self-direction and self-motivation skills with the ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects We are able to interact confidently and collaboratively with team members and navigate relationships with external experts, government leaders, advocates, and individuals AV’s values reflect who we are as an organization, help us accelerate our strategic goals, strengthen our resolve, anchor us to our mission, and guide our decision-making. The successful candidate will also demonstrate the following core values that inspire the AV team to make a difference. Depth of Thought AV is an equal opportunity employer, committed to an inclusive workplace. We are seeking applicants from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of experiences and perspectives. Candidates who have been impacted by the systems we are seeking to change are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, military/ veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. #J-18808-Ljbffr