Phd Graduate Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

Primary Duty

Job summary. The Graduate Engagement Strategist (GES) develops and manages relationships with a portfolio of PhD students within the IHS network. Reporting to the Associate Director of Intellectual Talent Development, the GES connects graduate scholars to resources, academic opportunities, and relevant members of the broader IHS network. This role serves as a primary point of contact for assigned graduate students, supports program execution for PhD-focused initiatives, and collaborates cross-functionally to ensure coordinated engagement across teams.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Portfolio Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain working relationships with a defined portfolio of graduate students.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of portfolio members’ research areas, professional goals, and engagement history.
• Provide relevant student and research insights to internal stakeholders to inform programming, placement strategy, and network development.
• Conduct regular digital outreach (e.g., email, virtual meetings) to support engagement and relationship continuity.

Program Ownership and Execution

• Own execution of approximately 10-12 programs annually for PhD students.
• Coordinate with internal teams to determine program topics, identify speakers, and manage invitations.
• Support logistics, communications, and follow-up processes associated with assigned programs.
• Track participation and outcomes to inform future programming decisions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Participate in cross-functional meetings to share portfolio insights and contribute to program refinement.
• Coordinate closely with the Intellectual Talent Development team to ensure consistent engagement strategies.
• Support alignment between graduate programming and broader organizational objectives.

Field Engagement and Representation

• Attend academic conferences, prospecting events, and related gatherings to build relationships with graduate students and expand the network.
• Represent IHS and its graduate engagement initiatives at relevant events.
• Travel up to approximately 20% (approximately 10 or more events annually) to support portfolio development and recruitment.

Data and Process Management

• Maintain accurate records of student engagement within CRM systems.
• Support a data-informed approach to engagement by tracking key activity metrics and outcomes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of engagement workflows and processes.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This role has no supervisory responsibilities.

Required Qualifications

• Professional experience in higher education, academic administration, nonprofit programming, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects or programs with defined timelines and deliverables.
• Experience working with CRM systems and tracking engagement data; Salesforce experience preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills suited to academic audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and communicate insights clearly.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Terminal degree (PhD, JD, DPhil, or equivalent).
• Experience designing or executing academic programming for graduate students.
• Familiarity with classical liberal ideas and IHS’s mission.

Working Conditions

Travel

IHS operates remotely. Staff attend organization-wide in-office weeks in Arlington, VA — two required and one optional per year — each running approximately Monday through Thursday.

In addition, this role includes occasional program-related travel to support conferences and convening events.

Total travel for this role is up to approximately 30% of the year, inclusive of in-office weeks and program travel.

Schedule / Hours

Full-time, Monday – Friday, 9:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. ET.

Physical Requirements / Work Environment

This role is primarily a sedentary, office/remote role. Essential physical functions include prolonged periods working at a computer, frequent use of a keyboard and screen, and the ability to communicate and exchange information verbally and in writing. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

During in-person programs and events, this role also requires standing and walking for extended periods and occasionally lifting, carrying, or moving materials of up to 20 pounds (e.g., event supplies and setup).

Salary Range

$60,000–$75,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications. Total compensation also includes health and wellness benefits, as detailed below.