Policy Entrepreneurship, Manager/Senior Manager
Full-time FAS Staff | Washington, DC
Why FAS?
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) takes seriously our role as a beacon and voice for the science community.
FAS has a rich history: after the devastating bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, a group of atomic researchers — deeply concerned about the use of science for malice — created an organization committed to using science and technology to benefit humanity.
The group they created — the Federation of Atomic Scientists — soon became the Federation of American Scientists in recognition of the hundreds of scientists across diverse disciplines who joined together to speak with one voice for the betterment of the world.
Today, we are a group of entrepreneurial, intrepid changemakers, forging a better future for all through the nexus of science, technology and talent. We value equity, inclusion, and transparency. As a collective, we are building an organization focused on being impact-driven, customer-focused, and growth-oriented as a force for good in the world.
The Role
FAS is entering a pivotal moment. Science and technology institutions are under unprecedented pressure, and the need for evidence-based, nonpartisan policy leadership has never been more urgent. FAS is responding by deepening its practice of policy entrepreneurship (PE), the discipline of moving ideas into action through strategic engagement with the people and windows that drive change.
The Policy Entrepreneurship Manager or Senior Manager will work at the intersection of science policy, government affairs, and organizational execution – with a particular focus on catalyzing reform of the R&D enterprise using that to learn from how research is planned, funded, evaluated, and communicated. This role is in one of FAS's most active and highest-leverage portfolios and will be expected to manage research projects and relationships with executive and legislative branch decision-makers, sense policy windows, draft policy products, and support the broader team's PE infrastructure.
This is a role for someone who is detail oriented, energized by fast-moving environments, and has experience and/or domain expertise in the science of institutional design, function of science, and/or metascience. The incumbent must be comfortable working collaboratively and through ambiguity, and be deeply motivated by getting good ideas into government. Working across several time-sensitive projects this position will have opportunities to work directly with senior leaders in FAS such as CEO, Director of Policy Entrepreneurship (PE), and/or Director of Government Affairs (GA), and will be a key contributor to the Day One Community. The role will report to the Director of Fellowships and Products.
This role may be filled at the Manager or Senior Manager level, depending on the candidate’s experience and qualifications.
What You'll Do
Actively Drive Policy Projects
Track, manage, and advance priority projects across FAS's PE portfolio with clear accountability for next steps, relationships, and timelines including work such as envisioning the future of NSF, building federal R&D performance metrics, and learning from the incorporation of AI into science and research systems.
Support project leads (such as the CEO, PE Director, and/or GA Director) in preparing for and following up on high-stakes meetings with congressional staff and executive branch officials (such as OMB, OSTP, NSF, DOE, NIH).
Manage select timebound projects as they are stood up using agile-based approaches.
Draft, refine, and coordinate feedback on policy memos, briefs, and other materials that translate complex S&T ideas into actionable recommendations for specific policy customers.
Contribute to the FAS’s rapid response capacity by identifying and pursuing emerging policy windows of opportunity to help mobilize FAS's quick and effective response.
Manage and Deepen Relationships
Represent FAS in meetings with…