Director, Fellowships and Products

Director, Fellowships and Products

Full-time

Washington, DC

Why FAS?

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) takes its role as a beacon and voice for the science community seriously. Founded after the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 by atomic researchers concerned with science for malice, FAS has grown into a diverse organization that seeks to use science and technology to benefit humanity. We are entrepreneurial, intrepid changemakers forging a better future through the nexus of science, technology and talent. We value equity, inclusion and transparency and are building an impact-driven, customer-focused, growth-oriented organization as a force for good.

Skills and Expertise : Must Haves

Strategic Leadership

Provide vision and strategic direction for our signature initiatives that seek to power a policy entrepreneurship revolution – our policy entrepreneurship programming and talent fellowships platform, ensuring alignment with FAS's overall mission and organizational priorities

Develop and execute multi-year strategies to expand the reach, impact and sustainability of both initiatives through the creation of replicable, scalable products

Serve as a senior member of the FAS leadership team, contributing to organization-wide strategic planning and decision-making

Represent FAS in external forums, conferences and meetings with senior government officials, foundation leaders and other key stakeholders

Fundraising & Partnerships

Work closely with the FAS development team to secure funding from foundations, government grants and individual donors

Cultivate strategic partnerships with universities, nonprofits, research institutions, professional societies and industry

Develop collaborative relationships with aligned organizations in the science policy ecosystem, identifying opportunities for joint initiatives, co-funding and shared resources

Products Leadership

Build and oversee deployment of the scalable infrastructure for programming, training, community-building and processes for converting promising ideas into policy action

Work across FAS domains in partnership with FAS subject-matter experts, fellows, contractors and expert reviewers and contributors

Translate proven FAS models into a movement at scale that activates new communities, secures new partnerships and builds a deeper ethos of policy entrepreneurship in S&T policymaking, while scaling a sustainable operating model

Ensure Day One Project deliverables are timely, high-quality and strategically positioned for maximum impact

Coordinate dissemination strategies to place recommendations before policymakers, the scientific community and the public

Pursue opportunities to integrate our policy entrepreneurship engine with our talent and fellowships platform to drive greater impact

Fellowships Leadership

Oversee and expand the FAS Talent Hub's work to put policy entrepreneurship into practice by connecting technical experts with high-impact government positions across federal and state governments and ensuring their success, as well as connecting experts at all levels with roles in civil society

Develop recruitment strategies to build a robust pipeline of science and technology talent interested in public service and civil society and inculcate them in the policy entrepreneurship ethos

Cultivate relationships with new partners at state and federal agencies and congressional committees seeking technical expertise, and help them curate high-impact opportunities for fellows to drive impact

Track and evaluate the impact of talent placements on government capacity and policy outcomes

Pursue opportunities to integrate more deeply our Talent Hub's work with FAS' engine for policy entrepreneurship to drive greater impact

Team Management & Operations

Hire, mentor and manage a high-performing team of program managers and policy analysts

Establish clear goals, metrics and accountability structures for both programs

Oversee program budgets, ensuring efficient resource allocation and financial sustainability

Implement systems and processes to enable scalable growth while maintaining program quality

Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture that values innovation and excellence

What proficiency (or higher) do you need to demonstrate in order to be a strong candidate?

10+ years of professional experience with at least 5 years in a leadership role managing teams and complex programs

Proven success in fundraising and donor relations

Experience launching or scaling innovative programs across sectors

Demonstrated experience in science and technology policy, with knowledge of how technical expertise informs government decision-making

Proven track record of program development and management, including setting strategy, building teams and delivering measurable outcomes

Strong network within government, policy and scientific communities, with the ability to open doors and build influential relationships

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for policy audiences

Strategic thinking combined with operational excellence, balancing big-picture vision with attention to detail

Experience managing budgets and financial resources for programs or organizations

Commitment to FAS's nonpartisan mission and ability to work effectively across political administrations

To Sum It Up…

The elevator pitch. FAS seeks an exceptional Director to lead two flagship initiatives : the Day One Project and the FAS Talent Hub. This role represents a unique opportunity for a policy entrepreneur to build and scale a new integrated platform for our policy entrepreneurship and talent initiatives to deliver policy impact at scale.

Visionary Leadership

Ability to see possibilities, set ambitious goals and inspire others toward a shared mission

Relationship Building

Natural connector who builds trust and maintains diverse networks across sectors with an ability to fundraise and drive vision broadly

Political Savvy

Understanding of government dynamics, processes and how to navigate complex political environments

Entrepreneurial Mindset

Comfortable with ambiguity, willing to take calculated risks and focused on results

Collaborative Approach

Seeks input, builds consensus and empowers team members

Adaptability

Thrives in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and emerging opportunities

Integrity

Demonstrates ethical leadership and maintains nonpartisan credibility

Work Environment

This position will be a hybrid role, meaning that both remote and in-person work can be accommodated, generally two to three days per week on site and two to three days per week remote.

Salary

$160,000-$190,000

Hiring Statement

Don't check off every box? Apply anyway! Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every listed qualification. At FAS we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and developing new voices. If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway – you might just be the right candidate.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Federation of American Scientists is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. The Federation of American Scientists prohibits discriminating against employees and job applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose the compensation of the employee or applicant or another employee or applicant. Employment is contingent on successful verification of eligibility to work in the United States.

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