Senior Manager for Knowledge and Learning

The Aspen Institute

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.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

To achieve our mission of a more free, just, and equitable society, we commit to working proactively to advance the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our myriad endeavors such as the recruitment, compensation, training, and advancement of staff. The best people-serving institutions make this commitment, and we seek to be a leader in the ways that we do so and learn from others. Visit our website to learn more about our commitment and recent actions taken toward building and nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment.

Youth Leadership Programs identify, cultivate, and amplify rising generations' talent and the ecosystems that support them. The department works with youth up to 25 to redress the most complex and challenging social, political, and scientific issues facing communities, not in some distant future but today. The department is home to The Aspen Challenge, Aspen Young Leaders Fellowship, Bezos Scholars, and Youth Lead Now. 

The Aspen Young Leaders Fellowship (AYLF) identifies, cultivates, and amplifies future generations of talent to engage in the values-based leadership essential for improving their lives and society. AYLF is a place-based, multi-site program that nurtures a cadre of diverse youth ages 18 – 24 to support:

1. Degree completion.
2. Workforce readiness and placement.
3. Civic engagement that addresses the most compelling social, political, and scientific issues facing their communities.

AYLF accelerates leadership development, socio-emotional learning, and social innovation, along with fellows' abilities to effectuate change inside and outside systems. The program operates on a 1 4 model (1 year of intensive training coupled with four years of targeted support for degree completion and workforce placement). It stimulates long-term community transformation through a whole-systems approach involving families, educators, and community stakeholders. 

Basic Function 

The selected candidate will join a dynamic, creative, high-performing team focused on youth leadership development programs within the Aspen Institute. The Senior Manager position is a remote work position reporting to the Director of AYLF. It will also work closely with the entire AYLF team. 

The Sr Manager is vital in driving knowledge management and learning strategies across the AYLF team. The ideal candidate is a multi-talented, seasoned professional with experience in relationship management, advising, communications, writing, youth development, and curriculum. They are creative and eager to learn on the job and have incredibly high standards for the quality of their work. The Senior Manager position is a critical role that will provide high-quality programmatic, research, and communications support for the Youth Leadership Programs Department. They achieve their responsibilities via an unwavering focus on equity and inclusion and a commitment to working in communities with young people from low to moderate income backgrounds, youth of color, and youth with learning differences or differing abilities. 

Qualified candidates must demonstrate impeccable attention to detail, superior organizational skills, exceptional verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to flourish in a fast-paced environment. Experience with operational systems such as Outlook, Word, and Excel is essential. Critical thinking skills are also necessary, as is the ability to exercise sound judgment and cultural competence in various situations. The Youth Leadership Programs Department is committed to ensuring the diversity of our team. We strongly encourage candidates of color, those who identify as Native American, women, people of low-income backgrounds, those who are differently abled, and those with first-hand experience with economic/social challenges and inequity to apply for this role.

Alumni Engagement

• Refine and execute a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy that responds to the needs of AYLF alumni and supports their ongoing learning, development, and support for degree completion or workforce development.
• Manage the execution of alumni engagement activities with and through the AYLF Alumni Coordinator.
• Inform and adapt the engagement strategy and activities by gathering information, input, and feedback from AYLF alumni, Local Action Coordinators, community advisory councils, and AYLF staff. 
• Develop and implement a communications strategy that deploys messaging to alumni and refines the design based on impact, response, and participation.
• Assist with the completion of an updated alumni database
• Identify resources needed to effectively implement alumni-based activities and submit an annual budget that aligns with the ongoing strategy and activities.
• Research and apply effective practices that align with AYLF's vision and support the 1 4 model for engagement.

Knowledge Management

• Curate information and data needed to create an AYLF framework that defines and includes all aspects of the program cycle within the AYLF ecosystem.
• Prepare essential documents and information that support the development of communication strategies, including fundraising, external partnerships, and site development. 
• Partner with crucial AYLF staff to support messaging and language for key communication activities such as onboarding, session preparation, and AYLF newsletter, among other things. 
• Support and build infrastructure that supports efficient and effective program management and data security, including systems for storing documents, program participants, and case management. 
• Build structure and process for the Opportunity Ecosystem diagnosis, triage, and application.
• Work closely with Director and the entire team to socialize and share data to support communication strategies.

Curriculum - Development and Delivery

• Lead and manage curricula improvements and updates for effective content delivery during sessions. 
• Provide oversight and management of the AYLF Curriculum Team, including the Advocate in Residence, Senior Moderator, and critical AYLF staff.
• Partner and support ongoing curriculum development and program enhancements by working with various colleagues to collect and analyze data and set improvement goals and benchmarks.
• Support onboarding and training for delivery team members at all sites.
• Assist with the ongoing development of youth facilitators' ability to develop competencies, skills, and techniques that are effective, engaging, and responsive.

The Institute has implemented a mandatory COVID vaccination policy for all employees who will work at one of our physical locations, attend any of our in-person events or travel on behalf of the Institute. Staff unable to be vaccinated may request an exemption under certain circumstances.

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.