The American Security Project (ASP) seeks a highly qualified external relations professional to expand the organization’s public profile and develop new funding leads. This individual will work directly with ASP’s leadership, resident research staff, network of adjuncts, and the Consensus for American Security to effectively engage in public messaging campaigns that help ASP achieve its mission.
The ideal candidate will be extremely flexible and willing to adapt to a dynamic work environment that may require them to assume varying responsibilities. Candidates should have a mindset in alignment with ASP’s strategic vision and commitment to developing and sharing new ideas and critical analyses on the most important national security issues of our time and building bipartisan consensus on contemporary foreign policy and national security challenges. Successful candidates will be independently motivated to network and engage in frequent outreach to numerous entities and organizations.
**This position may be expandable to include administrative office duties for a particularly flexible and capable candidate.
Major Functions and Responsibilities:
- Manage ASP’s various social media accounts, including X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and others. Increase user engagement and audience on multiple platforms.
- Develop messaging campaigns to further expand ASP’s reach.
- Work with ASP staff members to cultivate relationships with media and press in order to amplify ASP’s research.
- Assist in placing op-eds, securing interviews for ASP staff, board members, and ASP’s wider network.
- Work with senior leadership and members of ASP’s board to identify and approach potential new donors:
- Grow ASP’s networks to identify new opportunities for ASP funding, particularly among donors who will provide unrestricted support.
- Research, identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships resulting in funded issue research and general operating support.
- Support identification, engagement, solicitation, and cultivation of high-net-worth individuals and foundations.
- Be a first point of contact for donor and press inquiries, which includes responding to emails and connecting with the appropriate staff, board member, or Consensus member as needed.
- Work with board members and adjunct fellows to identify networked connections to funders.
- Assemble required materials for major individual donor solicitations and pitches as needed, including by making recommendations about particular content to share with donors that aligns with their funding priorities.
- Support grant application and reporting, accessing web portals, identifying documents required, reaching out to appropriate team members to assemble needed documents, drafting write-ups highlighting ASP’s work on key grant deliverables, and ensuring that the conditions of grant awards have been met.
- Oversee aspects of business development management, including bid and proposal management. Implement systems and procedures that improve the efficiency of the business development process and regularly generate meetings and engagement opportunities with prospective donors.
Qualifications:
- Commitment to ASP’s mission.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
- 2-5 years relevant professional experience.
- Located in (or willing to relocate to) the Washington, DC region and work in ASP’s downtown DC office. Remote work is permitted up to two days a week.
- Experience managing organizational social media accounts with a demonstrated track record of success.
- Demonstrated success cultivating and maintaining multiple donors, including corporate and foundation relationships, and successfully converting prospects to donors.
- Experience working with press and media to place op-eds and secure interviews.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Experience with grant writing and proposal development.
- The ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of staff members and partners as well as the ability to work independently.
- Ability to advance multiple competing priorities.
- Able to balance “big picture” and long-term strategies with day-to-day priorities and details for successful implementation.
- **Office Administrative skills
- Experience with accounting software like Quickbooks
- Knowledge of procedures relating to tax filing, non-profit registrations, employee benefits programs, and business licensing.
Salary:
Base Salary range $55,000-$65,000 dependent on qualifications and experience, additional salary of $10k-$15k available to those able to fulfill office administrative duties.
Benefits:
- WMATA transportation stipend.
- Participation in ASP health care plan including dental and vision.
- Access to ASP 403b retirement program (unmatched).
- 18 paid vacation days per full year.
- 11 paid federal holidays.
Applicants for the position should send a 1.) cover letter, 2.) resume, 3.) references, and a 4.) short writing sample (2 pg. max) to Matthew Wallin at careers@americansecurityproject.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
ASP is looking for current or recently graduated students interested in hands-on public policy experience for full- and part-time internships. Interns will support ASP researchers and staff in multiple areas, including communications, development, programming and research, and will be responsible for writing blog posts, event reviews, and contributing to reports. This internship offers a rare opportunity in DC to publish under one’s own name.
ASP’s internship program offers interns the opportunity to work on issues across sectors and encourages participants to attend events in and around Washington, D.C that relate to their field of study or interest. Excellent writing skills are preferred and data analytics skills are desirable.
Internships are intended for in-person work, with some telework flexibility. The position is unpaid, but a transportation stipend via WMATA is available.
Our current needs are in the following areas:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Energy Security
- U.S.-Russia Relations
- China Policy & Strategic Competition
- Nuclear Security
- National Security Strategy (all purpose/cross-discipline)
Please clearly indicate the research field(s) in which you are interested in working.
Applicants for the internship should send a 1.) cover letter, 2.) resume, 3.) references, and a 4.) short writing sample (2 pg. max) by November 15 to Matthew Wallin at careers@americansecurityproject.org.
The American Security Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
