Program Manager, Cato Courses in Washington, District of Columbia at Cato Institute

The Cato Institute seeks a Cato Courses Program Manager to lead the growth, production, and outreach of Cato Courses, the Institute’s free, self-paced learning platform that introduces students and lifelong learners to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.

The Program Manager will serve as the day-to-day owner of the Cato Courses experience and will report to the Program Director.

They will support the launch of the Cato Courses Scholarship Program, assist in course production from script to publication, audit existing courses for quality and accuracy, and cultivate ongoing relationships with course alumni and allied educational organizations. The role carries a shared team goal of reaching 10,000 student registrations over the next three years.

The ideal candidate is a natural relationship-builder and program champion who can rally students, alumni, and allied organizations around Cato Courses. They bring strong writing instincts, a knack for connecting with younger audiences, and genuine enthusiasm for the ideas at the heart of Cato's mission.

This is a hybrid position based in Washington, DC.

The projected salary range for this role is $60,000 to $85,000 per year, commensurate with experience and demonstrated skill.

About Cato

The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization — a think tank — dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.

Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to Cato’s Letters, a series of essays published in 18th-century England that presented a vision of a society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple, timeless principles of that revolution — individual liberty, limited government, and free markets — turn out to be even more powerful in today’s world of global markets and unprecedented access to information than Jefferson or Madison could have imagined. Social and economic freedom is not just the best policy for a free people, it is the indispensable framework for the future.

The Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Responsibilities

• Scholarship Program Leadership. Launch and lead the Cato Courses Scholarship Program from the ground up, including eligibility criteria, application design, selection process, recipient communications, and ongoing reporting on program outcomes.
• Course Production Support. Assist scholars, instructional designers, and outside contributors in producing new courses, contributing to scripting, review cycles, asset gathering, AI-conversation design, quiz development, and final quality control before publication.
• Course Audits and Continuous Improvement. Audit existing courses on a regular cadence for factual accuracy, pedagogical clarity, accessibility, and alignment with Cato’s editorial standards. Recommend revisions and coordinate their implementation.
• Alumni and Outreach Relationships. Build and steward ongoing relationships with course alumni and with allied educational organizations, student groups, and affiliated programs. Develop alumni touchpoints, referral channels, and joint promotional opportunities that grow the platform’s reach.
• Cross-Team Collaboration. Work closely with Educational Programs, Sphere Education Initiatives, marketing, web, design, and scholarly staff to keep course launches, scholarship cycles, and promotional efforts on schedule and on message.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in education, communications, public policy, political science, or a related field preferred, but not required.
• 2 to 4 years of professional experience in program management, educational programs, scholarship administration, or content production.
• Experience designing and running an application-based program (scholarship, fellowship, grant, or admissions) is a strong plus.
• Familiarity with online learning platforms, learning management systems, or course-authoring tools. Squarespace experience is a plus.
• Basic comfort using AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, and similar) in daily work.
• Comfort with CRM and analytics tools (Salesforce and Google Analytics preferred).
• Demonstrated interest in libertarian or classical liberal ideas consistent with the Cato Institute’s mission.

Skills

• Strong project management instincts: able to run multiple workstreams, hit deadlines, and keep contributors moving.
• Sharp written communication, with the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, audience-ready language.
• A relationship-builder’s temperament for working with alumni, students, and allied organizations.
• Analytical mindset capable of turning enrollment and engagement data into recommendations.
• Attention to detail across editorial, design, and process work.
• Collaborative, self-directed, and accountable.

To Apply

Please submit the following materials:

• CV/Resume
• Cover Letter

Benefits

All Cato employees receive:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Generous vacation and sick leave
• Paid parental leave
• Employer-provided life and disability insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Transit/Parking benefits
• Pet discount plan

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. This position does not offer visa sponsorship.