Advisor, Strategic Initiatives and Impact in Washington, District of Columbia at The Aspen Institute

ABOUT US

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 driven 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, D.C., the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners.

EDUCATION AND SOCIETY PROGRAM

The Education & Society Program improves public education by inspiring, informing, and influencing education leaders across policy and practice, with an emphasis on achieving excellence and equity for all students. For more information about the Education & Society Program, visit our website.

Our work focuses on:

• Advancing a richer vision of student success that integrates social, emotional, and academic learning as essential to equity.
• Transforming education systems to model exemplary learning and continuous improvement practices.
• Developing education leaders to drive systemic change in learning, equity, and efficacy.

We achieve these aims by:

• Hosting thought-provoking convenings for diverse leaders across levels and sectors.
• Developing research-based tools and resources to inform nonpartisan policy and practice.
• Cultivating strategic partnerships that surface promising practices and advance actionable recommendations.
• Seeking to be future-forward, envisioning a student experience that truly prepares them to thrive.

The Education & Society Program is a part of the Center for Rising Generations, which is dedicated to ensuring that civil dialogue, civic engagement, and leadership development become a predictable part of the journey to adulthood in our society and around the world. Inspired by the Aspen Institute’s strategic plan and supported by a generous endowment from the Bezos Family Foundation, the Center for Rising Generations:

• Expands opportunities for, and elevates the voices of, youth and young adults at the Aspen Institute.
• Creates opportunities to convene and build community beyond Aspen.
• Encourages innovation that emphasizes the assets young people bring to addressing today’s challenges.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Advisor, Strategic Initiatives and Impact is an Ed.L.D. residency placement through the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) Program. This ten-month residency offers an exceptional opportunity for an emerging senior education leader to work at the intersection of national education policy, systems leadership, and network development.

The resident will play a central role in launching and shaping two high-priority strategic workstreams: a new District Leaders Network focused on equity, college access, and social mobility; and the Social Mobility Leadership Network. Working directly under the Managing Director, the resident will bring intellectual rigor, project management depth, and a systems lens to the design of these initiatives while also contributing to the ongoing work of the Urban District Leadership Network (UDLN) and broader program strategy.

This role is designed to accelerate the resident's development as a senior sector leader through immersion in Aspen's strategic thinking, national convenings, funder relationships, and cross-sector partnerships. The salary for this opportunity is $85,000.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Strategic Network Development

• Support the design and launch of a new District Leaders Network, a new cohort of 20–25 school systems (representing approximately 1 million students) selected for leadership commitment, readiness to engage, and demonstrated commitment to reducing poverty; at least 60% Title I-eligible schools required.
• Develop and execute a rigorous district selection process emphasizing equity, geographic diversity (urban, suburban, county, and rural), and cross-partisan representation.
• Serve as primary point of contact for participating districts and external partners.
• Lead design and launch of the Social Mobility Leadership Network, building a shared vision, scope, and community for this emerging initiative.

Convening & Program Planning

• Plan and manage the Summer 2026 kickoff session, including logistics, facilitation design, and participant communications.
• Develop concise research profiles for each participating district, capturing superintendent tenure, programming, and relevant policy context.
• Serve as the coordination hub across internal teams to align project activities and shape a three-year learning arc for the District Leaders Network.

UDLN Strategy & Renewal

• Identify strategic opportunities to revamp the District Leadership Network, including clarifying a renewed vision, scope, and network design to strengthen impact.
• Develop recommendations for UDLN's evolution based on field scanning, participant feedback, and alignment with program-wide strategic priorities.

Thought Leadership & Collaboration

• Contribute to the Education & Society Program's broader policy and leadership agenda, including convenings, publications, and stakeholder engagement as opportunities arise.
• Serve as a thought partner to the Managing Director on emerging strategy questions related to district systems, equity, and leadership development.
• Represent Aspen's work with credibility and care in external settings, including meetings with superintendents, senior system leaders, and national partners.

Capstone Research

• Develop a Capstone project in partnership with the HGSE faculty advisor and Aspen supervisor, grounded in the leadership initiatives undertaken during the residency.
• Dedicate protected time during the workweek to Capstone writing and development, culminating in a final defense in April 2027.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO THRIVE

Required

• Completion of four semesters of coursework in HGSE's Ed.L.D. program, with demonstrated preparation in leadership, systems change, and educational equity.
• Experience in K–12 education leadership, policy, or practice, ideally including district-level or systems work.
• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects from design to execution
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate complex ideas for diverse audiences.
• Excellent relationship-building skills across sectors and levels of seniority.

Preferred

• Experience designing or facilitating adult learning experiences, convenings, or leadership networks.
• Familiarity with college access, dual enrollment, AP/IB programming, or district-level academic strategy.
• Network of relationships with district, state, or national education leaders.

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.

The Aspen Institute welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs, including the interview process. If you would like to request accommodations or hav questions about accessibility, please email hrsupport@aspeninstitute.org or call 202-736-2127 in advance of your visit. Requests for ASL or CART services should be made at least two weeks in advance when possible. We will make every effort to fulfill requests, subject to availability.