Interim Director/Interim Associate Director (Remote Available)

Interim Director/Interim Associate Director (Remote Available)

Program Description:

The Aspen Tech Policy Hub is a West Coast policy incubator, training a new generation of tech and science policy entrepreneurs. We take subject matter experts, teach them the policy process through an in-residence fellowship program in the Bay Area, and encourage them to develop outside-the-box solutions to society’s problems. We model ourselves after tech incubators like Y Combinator, but train new policy thinkers and focus the impact of their ideas.

To date, we have trained over 250 fellows and leaders through fellowship and executive leadership programs. Our fellows have already made a considerable impact on science and tech policy, from expediting the disbursement of disaster relief grants by the federal government, to proposing amendments to the California Consumer Privacy Act, to advising city governments on how to improve the provision of broadband services to help close the digital divide.

Basic Function:

The selected candidate will serve as the maternity cover for our Director, Betsy Cooper, joining a dynamic, entrepreneurial, high-performing team within the larger environment of Aspen Digital. The Interim Director/Interim Associate Director will help grow and co-lead a center that aims to be the premier science and tech policy institute in the Bay Area. The selected candidate will lead the establishment of cutting-edge policies, programs, research, and communications for the Hub, and will support scientists and technologists as they learn to engage in the policy process.

The ideal candidate is a multi-talented, mid-career professional with experience handling a wide range of teaching, leadership, research, and operational tasks; has extensive experience working in policy and science/technology; has experience teaching seminars and managing projects and staff; can think strategically about how to improve Hub programming and operations; and has extremely high standards for the quality of their work.

Candidates hired both at the Interim Director and Interim Associate Director level will be responsible for leading the internal operations of the Hub during our director’s absence, and leading communications and external relations. In addition:

• A candidate hired at the Interim Director level will be tasked with revising and teaching a policy curriculum to technology fellows, providing extensive feedback and support on fellow projects, mentoring fellows, and managing five full time staff.
• A candidate hired at the Interim Associate Director level will support other Hub leadership (our Deputy Director and Senior Advisor) in other work of the Hub, including revising and teaching a policy curriculum to technology fellows, providing extensive feedback and support on fellow projects, and mentoring fellows.

The maternity cover will run approximately from September 15 to December 15. Any successful candidate must be available to start by June 15 for training (ideally by May 15).

We prefer candidates that are based in the Bay Area for this position, but will consider remote candidates. All candidates must be available to spend 3 weeks in the Bay Area, California from July 10 to 28, 2023 to attend our nonprofit fellowship program and learn our teaching/programming methods.

The initial position terminates on December 31, 2023. Hired candidates have the possibility of being hired into a permanent position (though Director candidates should recognize that our Director will be returning to her role at the end of her leave).

The minimum base salary for this position, which will be prorated, is $100k (~$3,846/pay period).
Interim Associate Directors’ compensation may be based on an annual salary of up to $140k (~$5,385/pay period) based on experience.
Interim Directors’ compensation may be based on an annual salary of up to $180k (~$6,923/pay period) based on experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Management and Operations Oversight (Interim Director 60%; Interim Associate Director 80%)

• Supervise one or more staff, providing mentorship and feedback on a regular basis;
• Manage/Assist in managing the internal operations of the Hub; example responsibilities include co-leading fellowship recruitment, managing budgets, and maintaining relationships with external contractors and vendors;
• Provide guidance and oversight to junior staff for managing events, briefings, convenings, and roundtables.

Communications and External Relations (20% for both Interim Director and Interim Associate Director)

• Liaise and manage relationships with technology leaders, policymakers, journalists, and funders;
• Write funding proposals, annual reports, white papers, and other formal publications for the Hub;
• Edit and oversee written correspondence for the Hub, including for its website, social media, and other external communications.

Teaching and Mentorship (Interim Director 20%)

• Teach “policy bootcamps” and workshops focused on teaching technology experts the policy process. Sample teaching topics include: scoping a policy problem, stakeholder mapping, introduction to government, introduction to legislative policymaking, and introduction to company policymaking;
• Provide supervision and feedback on fellow work products, including but not limited to policy memos, presentations, and white papers;
• Provide extensive mentorship support to fellows, assisting them with developing projects and connecting them to relevant technology and policy leaders as needed;
• Identify and invite science/technology and policy experts to lead trainings for our fellows; past guest speakers have included Tom Kalil, Neil Chatterjee, and Renee DiResta;
• Assist in developing curricula for new Hub initiatives, such as executive education programs or topic-specific fellowships.

Knowledge, Education, and Experience:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree;
• 5+ years or equivalent of professional experience working in public policy or science/technology related fields;
• Strong interest in and passion for science/technology in the interest of society;
• Experience managing a variety of complex projects, and building initiatives from the ground up;
• Strong, demonstrable writing and editing skills;
• Ability to work with diverse audiences and proven ability to effectively interface with senior-level executives;
• Creative problem-solving skills and professional and polished interpersonal skills;
• Superior attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks;
• Excellent computer skills required, specifically, expertise with: Gmail, Google Sheets, Google Forms, Google Slides, Microsoft Excel; and Microsoft PowerPoint;
• (Director only) Experience managing direct reports;
• (Director only) Experience fundraising; and
• (Director only) Experience teaching and/or presenting in front of large and high-level audiences.

Preferred:

• At least 2 years of experience working on science or technology policy issues;
• Experience running a small nonprofit organization;
• Experience teaching large groups complex materials;
• Experience with Airtable, WordPress, and graphic design systems; and
• Graduate degree in law, public policy, business, computer science, information systems, or a similar field.

We encourage you to apply if you think you would be great at this job, regardless of whether you meet all of the qualifications listed.

Review Dates: Applications are open and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The position will remain open until filled. We hope to hire as soon as possible so encourage applicants to apply in a timely manner. First consideration will be given to applicants who apply by April 26.
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