Understanding War

Education Program Manager – Institute for the Study of War

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) seeks a full-time Education Program Manager to plan and execute our growing educational programs housed in the General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders.

About ISW

As the world continues to witness the devastating impact of armed conflict, the need for objective, real-time, unbiased analysis has never been greater. When decision-makers need information—from policymakers to humanitarian aid organizations to military leaders on the ground—time and time again, they turn to the Institute for the Study of War.

ISW has a unique, dual mission: provide real-time intelligenceto help leaders make informed decisions in conflict zones around the world andeducate the next generationof national security leaders. This work is carried out through the General Jack Keane Center for National Security and the General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders.

ISW runs a top-tier and growing talent development program. ISW’s Petraeus Center identifies, educates, and develops the next generation of national security leaders through formal educational programs, professional development, and other offerings.

Job Description Summary/Objective:

ISW promotes an understanding of war and conflict by providing analytical assessments to key American political and military leaders. In addition, ISWseeksto educate civilians about war and conflict, thus bridging the gaps between military and civilian decision-makers. ISW aims to improve how the United States formulates and executes its national security policy. ISW is vigilant at monitoring crises around the world and hasa track recordof accurately predicting potential and actual conflicts. ISW provides a proven platform for emerging researchers and analysts to launch their careers in an innovative and highly relevant project.

The Education Program Manager will plan and fully execute ISW’s three seasonal internship programs and support the execution of the Center’s other educational efforts including the annual Hertog War Studies Program, two War Studies Advanced Programs, alumni events and engagement, and future professional development and educational programs for staff and alumni. These highly selective programs recruit globally and include formal classroom education and professional development. The Education Program Manager will work with the other Petraeus Center staff and ISW leaders to establish measures of effectiveness for these programs, evaluate them, and improve them. The Education Program Manager will also assist with Center operations and the Center’s growing programming.

The Education Program Manager reports to the Director of the Petraeus Center and plays a vital role in achieving ISW’s mission to educate the next generation of national security leaders. He or she will work closely with ISW’s Petraeus Center Assistant Director, ISW’s full staff across the research teams and operations, and wonderful students, interns, and alumni.

Required skills, qualifications, and experience: Educational Programs (80%)

ISW Internship Program

• Plan and execute the internship program so that interns contribute fully to achieving ISW’s missions.
• Plan for, execute, and manage intern onboarding and education three times annually, including the full logistical support that such training entails.
• Coordinate with the ISW research team, its managers, the OSINT Center of Excellence, and the proper liaisons at its partner organizations to ensure that all staff members have properly prepared content and can smoothly execute the education and onboarding program.
• Plan and coordinate education, lectures, briefings, professional development, and other enrichment activities that benefit ISW and its interns.
• Maintain and regularly update the internship standard operating procedures and internship handbooks with best practices derived from each program.

Recruitment and Selection

• Ensure that the program recruits and maintains a selective and talented pool of students in close coordination with the research teams on which most of the interns will work, including immersing in the fast-paced and dynamic culture of the ISW research teams.
• Develop and execute regular recruitment and marketing campaigns for the internship program that ensure ISW can select from a pool of exceptional applicants and gain its top candidates.
• Manage the intern recruitment and selection process.
• Set measures of effectiveness for the internship program, in conjunction with research managers, the analysts, and the Petraeus Center leadership.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the program and propose improvements each semester.
• Regularly coordinate with intern supervisors and team leads to evaluate effectiveness of the intern program.
• Generate reports on effectiveness of program and areas of improvement for every iteration of the program.
• Keep the records of each intern’s performance and next steps to integrate them into ISW alumni network, working closely with the HR Department.

Hertog War Studies Program

Support the Petraeus Center staff in the planning and execution of the main summer Hertog War Studies Program and semi-annual War Studies Advanced Programs so that they enrich and engage students, speakers, and faculty.

• Assist the Petraeus Center staff with their formal reporting to the Hertog Foundation and other supporters.
• Liaise with travel agent to coordinate student travel arrangements and lodging.
• Support logistical planning and execution for all programs, ensuring execution is in line with budget allocations.
• Serve as a resource for faculty before and during the program to help them focus on teaching rather than execution.

Professional Development

Support the Petraeus Center staff in the planning and execution of professional development programs for the analytical staff in the Keane Center.

• Assist the Petraeus Center leadership with development of war studies curriculum and other educational and professional development programs for ISW’s analysts and the alumni network.
• Coordinate closely with the Keane Center management to ensure integration between Keane Center requirements and Petraeus Center professional development offerings.
• Support logistical planning and execution for all professional development programs, ensuring execution is in line with budget allocations.

Alumni and Petraeus Center Operations Support (20%)

• Support special projects and events as needed, such as new Petraeus Center programming, organizational professional development events, virtual and physical briefings, and VIP visits.
• Maintain the alumni network, leverage the talents and expertise of alumni to enrich ISW programming.
• Support Petraeus Center staff in developing and executing alumni programming.
• Integrate relevant alumni insights into general fundraising and marketing products.
• Coordinate with ISW multimedia experts, especially but not exclusively on the external relations team, to help them produce
• Produce high-quality quarterly alumni network newsletters appropriate for alumni and supporters in conjunction with Petraeus Center staff.
• Support the Petraeus Center staff in preparing materials describing internships and alumni programming.

Qualifications Required education, skills, and experience:

• A bachelor’s degree.
• At least 3-5 years of professional experience working in an educational program or in the national security field including 2-3 years demonstrated experience managing significant projects or programs.
• Experience serving as a higher education teaching assistant or research assistant preferred, ideally in national security focused courses.
• Ability to manage a portfolio of projects and balance competing priorities and deadlines.
• Meticulous organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Excellent critical thinking skills.
• Solutions-oriented and creative.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with peers, senior leaders, and junior teammates.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Suite, and project management software, and ability to learn new software independently.
• An entrepreneurial spirit.
• Willingness to learn, grow, and innovate.
• Ability to take initiative within intent, and the drive to do so.
• Commitment to and interest in ISW’s mission and work.

Other duties

Please note this job description is illustrative and is not an exhaustive listing of activities, duties and responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Additional duties, responsibilities, and activities may be assigned by the supervisor.

ISW will consider applications on a rolling basis. The salary range for this role is $70,000 - $95,000 annually. The final salary offered to the selected candidate will depend based upon, but not limited to, the following factors: the candidate’s prior experience, demonstrated skills, level of education, knowledge of national security issues, market data for comparable roles and the level of hire based on the previously stated qualifications.