Director, External Engagement - The Aspen Institute

ABOUT US

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.

Aspen Digital

Aspen Digital is a nonpartisan technology and information-focused program that brings together thinkers and doers to uncover new ideas and spark policies, processes, and procedures that empower communities and strengthen democracy. It is future-focused and inspires collaboration among diverse voices from industry, government, and civil society to ensure our interconnected world is accessible, safe, and inclusive – both online and off. Across its initiatives, Aspen Digital develops methods for elevating promising solutions and turning thought into networked impact. To learn more, visit aspendigital.org

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Director, External Relations, is an accomplished communications professional who will work across Aspen Digital to develop and execute engagement strategies that amplify the program’s core messages, activities, outputs, and values. The Director will develop, grow and maintain deep strategic relationships — especially in media and among policy makers, but also industry and civil society — to help highlight project work, publications, and forums, as well as drawing on those relationships for public events, media education sessions, and closed-door convenings. The Director will also identify, develop and execute on opportunities to bring Aspen Digital’s programming and expert perspectives in the news cycle.

Internally, the Director will help individual project teams conceive, develop, and execute engagement strategies that drive identified project outcomes and promote key outputs, helping to align project visions across the broader Aspen Digital team and shaping plans that ensure the program’s collective success and mission. In that capacity, the Director will collaborate closely with colleagues across Aspen Digital leadership, programmatic, event, and marketing and communication staff inside Aspen Digital and the Aspen Institute, and work extensively on major public events, like the Aspen Cyber Summit and other marquee public and private sessions.

The salary range for this position is $155,000 - $175,000. This is a Washington, D.C., based position that will report to the leadership of Aspen Digital. Employees are expected to work in person at the office approximately two days a week. The position will require monthly or quarterly travel nationally and occasional international travel.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Build, steward, and grow productive relationships with high-level stakeholders especially from media and the policy making field, in furtherance of Aspen Digital’s goal to drive informed, effective and equitable public policy decision-making around cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, media, democracy, and other key technology subjects.

• Develop, lead, and grow the program’s key stakeholder engagement, relationship-management, and programming, to raise the public profile of the program.

• Keep a pulse on developments in media and policy making as they pertain to Aspen Digital’s work, and identify, seize and execute on strategic opportunities for stakeholder engagement and thought leadership.

• Collaborate with senior program directors and other leaders across Aspen Digital to develop high-quality outputs, talking points, and platforms that amplify and highlight Aspen Digital’s work.

• Raise Aspen Digital’s profile among decision makers and the general public by positioning our experts to address relevant topics in the news cycle through proactive media outreach and placements.

• Take on project management responsibilities, including execution, coordination, managing deadlines, overseeing work plans and budgets, and other tasks as needed.

• Help develop, engage, and steward existing and prospective funders from across the private sector and philanthropy.

• Solicit input from a broad range of stakeholders including institutional leaders, partner organizations, internal colleagues including from other Aspen programs and the Institute’s central communications department, funders, and the media to inform program development and distribute information to key stakeholders.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO THRIVE

• Have 10+ years of relevant experience in communications, external relations, and/or media, with a track record of success performing in demanding environments that require strategic planning and execution, stakeholder engagement, and leadership in a team context

• Have demonstrable subject matter expertise and networks in one or more fields relevant to Aspen Digital’s work — including, among others, cybersecurity, national security, artificial intelligence, media, or broader technology areas.

• Excellent ability to build relationships with stakeholders and lead and manage client relations

• Strong network of media contacts and relationships with key reporters and editors

• Demonstrated track record of placing stories

• Extremely strong speaking, writing and editing skills, including a track record of effective communication that can engage audiences from public, private, and non-profit sectors

• Strong analytical skills, strategic thinking

• Excellent program management and execution skills to plan, organize, and follow through with a variety of internal and external constituencies

• Entrepreneurial acumen and drive, and ability to respond to opportunities to strengthen and/or course correct program plan

• Ability to manage multiple tasks without losing attention to detail in a fast paced environment

• Ability to work with diverse audiences

• Extremely collaborative, friendly, curious, and with collegial spirit

• Enjoy working in a team context, with excellent interpersonal skills and a desire to learn

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Aspen Institute offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, and prescription benefits, retirement benefits, and paid leave.

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.

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