Benefits Transformation Initiative Graduate Fellow at The Aspen Institute – Washington, District of Columbia

ABOUT US

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners.

FINANCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM

The mission of the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program (Aspen FSP) is to illuminate and solve the most critical financial challenges facing American households and to make financial security for all a top national priority. We aim for nothing less than a more inclusive economy with reduced wealth inequality and shared prosperity. We believe that transformational change requires innovation, trust, leadership, and entrepreneurial thinking. Aspen FSP galvanizes a diverse set of leaders across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to solve the most critical financial challenges. We do this through deep, deliberate private and public dialogues and by elevating evidence-based research and solutions that will strengthen the financial health and security of Financially vulnerable Americans.

The Aspen Institute Financial Security Program is committed to ensuring the diversity of our team. We welcome applicants of any gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, or other marginalized identities. While not a minimum or mandatory qualification, we strongly encourage candidates of color, people of all genders, those from low-income backgrounds, those who are disabled, and those who have first-hand experience of financial insecurity and inequity to apply for this role.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Benefits Transformation Initiative (BTI), a team within Aspen FSP, is dedicated to reimagining America’s benefits systems so that everyone can navigate everyday life with financial dignity and security. We elevate leaders and drive solutions that are impact-focused, creative, and centered on the lived experiences of the people these systems are meant to serve.

The BTI Graduate Fellow is a temporary position on the BTI team. As the Graduate Fellow, you will be at the center of the benefits ecosystem at a pivotal moment. With major programs like SNAP and Medicaid undergoing significant transitions, you will help the BTI team navigate and respond to the complexities of this evolution. You will engage with and learn from a diverse ecosystem of stakeholders (such as state administrators, non-profit advocates, and for-profit tech providers) while gaining a 360-degree view of how public benefits are designed, implemented, and scaled. You will also get support, guidance, and mentorship from your BTI supervisor and the broader Aspen FSP team.

We are looking for an entrepreneurial, early-career professional who thrives in dynamic, result-oriented environments. You are a "high-standards" generalist who can pivot seamlessly between deep-dive research and high-level project management. Applicants should demonstrate exceptional project management skills, especially on projects involving multiple stakeholders and external partners, as well as an ability to effectively manage competing priorities. They should demonstrate solid research synthesis and communication skills, with a focus on developing, contextualizing, and writing about key findings and actionable insights for a non-technical audience.

This role reports to the Senior Manager. This is a paid internship with an hourly rate of $25, working up to 32 hours per week, and lasting six to nine months depending on the start date. Both summer and fall start dates, aligning with the academic calendar, are possible. It may be possible to extend the position after the initial internship has ended. This role reports to the Senior Manager. In accordance with our Reimagining Work policy, candidates should be willing to be in-person with colleagues a minimum of 40% of the time while having the flexibility to work remotely for the balance.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

The Benefits Transformation Initiative Graduate Fellow will help contribute to project management, research, writing, relationship management, and other activities related to multiple BTI workstreams, to eventually develop expertise and core skills across the portfolio. Such responsibilities may consist of:

• Support multiple BTI workstreams concurrently via project planning, synthesizing external research, meeting scheduling, preparing for meetings with external partners, and more.
• Research and synthesize publications, policies, and other materials relevant to key projects.
• Assist with drafting, editing, and publishing Aspen FSP written materials, such as reports, issue briefs, and blogs.
• Assist with planning and implementing Aspen FSP’s events, including virtual working sessions, in-person leadership forums, and dynamic roundtable discussions.
• Attend expert briefings/lectures/webinars, industry forums, Congressional hearings, and other events, as well as reading relevant news articles and other publications, to elevate your own expertise, identify potential opportunities, and share lessons with the team.

More specifically, the Graduate Fellow will focus on a few key projects within the BTI team’s portfolio:

• Launching a first-of-its-kind, multi-state pilot to halt fraudulent transactions on EBT cards before they are completed, protecting the vital benefits of SNAP recipients.
  • The Graduate Fellow’s work on this project could include:
    • Assisting in the facilitation of a collaborative working group for state administrators participating in the pilot, helping to tackle implementation obstacles, and supporting the learning across states.
    • Creating and refining essential implementation resources for participating states, such as project roadmaps, checklists for required technical, procurement, and policy changes, and templates for recipient communications.
    • Helping to manage relationships across a complex ecosystem that includes state SNAP programs, EBT vendors, and technology partners.
    • Tracking progress across the five pilot phases, from initial scoping and design to the final evaluation and planning for national scalability, to ensure key milestones are met on schedule.
    • Assisting in the collection of continuous feedback from SNAP recipients and analyzing data to ensure the pilot minimizes disruption while maximizing theft prevention.
• Coordinating the Safety Net Response Network, a collection of organizations that support state governments as they navigate the complexities of modernizing benefits delivery.
  • The Graduate Fellow’s work on this project could include:
    • Managing communication and knowledge-sharing across a diverse group of members to ensure insights and lessons learned from one organization can quickly benefit others.
    • Identifying, developing, and/or disseminating high-impact resources - such as guides, technical assistance reports, and case studies - to the states and partners who need them most.
    • Helping the team "think big" by researching and writing about emerging trends, such as integrated data systems, mobile-first benefits access, and cross-program coordination that moves beyond the status quo.
• Leading the conversation on “what’s next” in public benefits programs, such as how to:
  • Design solutions to bridge the gap between policy intent and the actual beneficiary experience.
  • Advance strategies to integrate public safety nets with workplace benefits for a seamless, "whole-person" approach.
  • Engage other leaders in this space through convenings, events, and publications.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO THRIVE

• A passion for public benefits programs like SNAP and Medicaid.
• Sharp research and synthesis skills, with the ability to translate technical or policy data into clear insights for non-technical audiences.
• Proven project management experience, specifically in driving and tracking progress across initiatives with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal communication, and facilitation skills to engage a diverse network of partners.
• An entrepreneurial mindset with a track record of taking initiative in dynamic, result-oriented environments.

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 have 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.