Higher Education Manager

Position Overview

AV 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 institutions and programs, directing taxpayer money toward evidence-based solutions, protecting students from ineffective and predatory programs, and focusing the education and workforce systems on results (e.g., stronger earnings) over inputs (e.g., enrollment).

AV’s Higher Education initiative prioritizes both improving student outcomes, especially for those students who have traditionally been underserved, and ensuring public dollars are spent effectively and efficiently. We work with teams of experts from inside and outside government and across disciplines to improve the return on investment of higher education for both students and taxpayers through research, evidence, testing innovative pilot programs, litigation, policy change, and advocacy.

We are seeking a manager to participate in the development and execution of AV’s strategy to advance high-quality education. 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 manager will also serve as the primary liaison from the team to internal teams including Grants, Legal, and Finance. The position will be based in our Washington, D.C. office and will report to the Director of Education – Chief of Staff.

Core Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of AV’s Higher Education strategy by analyzing and synthesizing relevant research and policy developments at the federal and state levels, and translating insights into actionable philanthropic opportunities
• Coordinate 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 higher education related topics, policies, and best practices, with a focus on accountability, value, and return on investment
• Develop clear and concise written materials for diverse audiences including but not limited to executives (AV’s Board, Education leadership team), and internal and external nontechnical audiences, in collaboration with team members
• Manage the full life cycle of philanthropic projects and grants, including identifying and developing charitable investments, preparing grant recommendations for AV’s 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 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, higher education 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

Our culture seeks to inspire and empower our people to innovate and develop bold ideas that will help AV achieve lasting impact. Our culture, and the core values that support it, should create an environment that spurs our team to think outside the box, feel comfortable pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and signal confidence in our team’s ability to make change happen through our philanthropic efforts. Although not an exhaustive list, below you’ll find examples of Arnold Ventures’ work culture.

• 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.

• Respect for Ourselves & Others
• Audacious Action
• Collaborative Engagement
• Depth of Thought
• Clear Communication

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.