Senior Project Manager, Center for Sustainable Development (Job ID: 2021-2766)

Posted Date 1 week ago(11/2/2021 3:10 PM)

Program

Global Economy and Development

Job Function

Research Project Management

Job ID

2021-2766

Salary

Commensurate with experience

Overview

Join one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks!

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level.

We bring together leading experts in government and academia from all over the world, rooted in open-minded inquiry and representing diverse points of view, who provide the highest quality research, policy recommendations, and analysis. Research topics cover a full range of public policy issues in economics, foreign policy, development, governance and metropolitan policy.

With fair and transparent business practices, clear communication, mutual respect, and a collaborative atmosphere that offers both professional and personal development opportunities, Brookings offers an inclusive and welcoming workplace that values the efforts of all contributors.

The Global Economy and Development (“Global”) program at Brookings aims to offer innovative policy solutions and tools to help global, national, and local policymakers build more inclusive and sustainable economic systems that deliver prosperity for all. The Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), housed within Global, generates leading research and practical insights to advance global sustainable development and implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within and across all countries.

CSD hosts the secretariat for the 17 Rooms initiative, which works in collaboration with external partners to advance action, insights, and community for the Sustainable Development Goals. 17 Rooms is a “start-up” undertaking requiring a core team with supple, adaptive mindsets and a willingness to adjust responsibilities as the initiative grows and evolves. CSD also engages with diverse activities focused on the intersection of economic development, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. For example, CSD intends to work with an external partner on a forthcoming “green transitions” project that will recruit a cross-section of academic, civil society, policy, and potentially also business leaders from emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) to produce a series of essays and participate in strategic convenings to help inform global climate policy debate.  The aim is to source compelling issue narratives and big ideas from EMDEs that have potential to refresh common premises in international policy dialogs, making the case for how low-carbon economic development strategies are not only a planetary necessity, but can be smart development economics too.

This position will be an appointment initially termed to June 2023, with possibility of renewal thereafter.

Position Location: This position is based in Brookings’ Washington, DC office. The person hired for this position must be willing to move to or currently reside in Washington DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia by their date of hire.   

Operating status: Brookings eligible employees are currently authorized to work remotely but will be moving towards a hybrid plan later this year, which will require working both in the office and remotely. All vaccinated Brookings employees who wish to work from the office can do so. Brookings policies on masks and other pandemic mitigation measures will continue to be informed by DC and CDC guidelines.   

Vaccine Policy: Brookings has made the safety of our staff and our surrounding community a top priority. As part of that commitment, Brookings recently announced that staff on Brookings campus this fall are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.  Brookings will require all staff and visitors to submit proof of complete vaccination against COVID-19 to be in Brookings buildings.

As a visitor and/or a new employee at Brookings, you will be required to comply with the vaccination policy. Individuals invited for an in-person job interview or hired as an employee that (i) have a qualifying medical condition that contraindicates a COVID-19 vaccination, or (ii) who object to being vaccinated based on a sincerely held religious belief, may request a reasonable accommodation.

Responsibilities

Ready to contribute to Brookings success?

The Senior Project Manager (SPM) will be responsible for managing the green transitions project and will also serve as a core member of the 17 Rooms secretariat, with special emphasis on supporting and advancing the initiative’s environmentally-focused components. To tackle these interconnected responsibilities, the SPM will bring a mix of creativity and systematic project management skills. A flexible and entrepreneurial outlook will be essential, always with an eye toward opportunities for innovation and amplifying impact. Experience with private sector professional environments would be an added advantage.  The development and oversight of efficient and regular procedures will also be key to fostering the greatest possible opportunities for a diverse and complex global network of collaborators, while also providing substantive technical, administrative, and research support in helping to execute key tasks within CSD as needed.

The Senior Project Manager will serve as a key member of the 17 Rooms secretariat and will collaborate with CSD scholars to manage the green transitions project. This will entail overseeing the following key sets of responsibilities and providing a high level of project support in terms of communications, administration, and relationship management:

For the “green transitions” project

• Ensure streamlined overall day-to-day project management, working in close consultation with CSD scholars and the external organizing partner.
• Coordinate and serve as primary day-to-day liaison with international project contributors.
• Contribute research and drafting for key background documents, synthesis notes, and meeting notes .
• Oversee planning of meetings, roundtables, and potential external events, coordinating with external project partner wherever appropriate.
• Oversee and ensure streamlined editorial and production processes for project publications.

For the annual 17 Rooms flagship process

• Coordinate stakeholders across a subset of the 17 distinct Rooms (working groups) to ensure successful completion of their respective work streams.
• Draft and edit core project documents and communications products, including an annual meeting synthesis report.
• Collaborate with flagship participants and external partners to identify opportunities for advancing Room-specific collective actions over each subsequent year.
• Support the development of internal analytical learning systems that can inform future 17 Rooms flagship processes, syndication efforts, and broader global efforts to achieve the SDGs.
• Contribute to overall Brookings project management to ensure, in collaboration with internal and external partners, the successful planning, execution, and follow-up for major meetings, whether conducted virtually or in person (e.g., in New York City).

For the 17 Rooms-X process

• Collaborate with external partners (e.g., universities, local governments, private sector entities, multi-stakeholder alliances) to spot opportunities for innovation and syndication.
• Contribute to the preparation of toolkits to empower 17 Rooms-X initiatives around the world.
• Contribute to the development and evolution of a strategic plan to guide future syndication efforts.

For overall CSD activities

• Identify opportunities for operational and programmatic synergies with other SDG-related activities in CSD and Global.
• Support the preparation of relevant communications strategies and products, including digital communications products.
• In coordination with the Development and Finance teams, draft relevant sections of periodic grant reports and ensure smooth implementation of consultant contracts.
• Serve an ambassadorial role, helping to identify new opportunities for strategic collaboration with external partners.

Qualifications
Ready to make an impact? In this role, you will support Brookings values of collegiality, respect, inclusion, diversity and community, and bring the following qualifications:

Education/Experience Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in economics, environmental science, sustainable development, international affairs, development studies, or related field required. Masters degree strongly preferred. Minimum five years combined experience of policy analysis, research management, project management, and/or program development. Experience conducting empirical and/or qualitative research analysis is a plus, as is experience working in developing country settings and in private sector operating environments. Experience working in multicultural professional environments and high level of comfort interfacing on policy issues with senior figures from public institutions, civil society, academia, philanthropy and the private sector are required. Must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

Knowledge/Skills Requirements:

Cooperative, professional, and entrepreneurial disposition; able to navigate ambiguity in building new and efficient processes and systems. Strong working knowledge of global environmental, economic, and social policy issues and demonstrated ability to get up to speed quickly on frontier insights; familiarity with the Sustainable Development Goals strongly desired. Excellent writing and oral communication skills. Ability to work effectively with high-level counterparts. Exceptional organizational skills; willingness to multi-task and do “whatever it takes” to ensure project success and meet deadlines. Sound judgment and discretion in navigating complex policy issues. Proficiency in all Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access) required. Knowledge of Stata, R and Invivo a plus.

Additional Information:

What can we offer you? Brookings provides a generous benefit package that is comprehensive and includes both traditional benefits and unique offerings.

Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please attach your cover letter and resume as one document when you apply. Please note: if you have applied to more than one Brookings job opening you should add a position-specific cover letter as a separate attachment. 

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for employment at Brookings.

Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms.  We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.