Manager of Government Affairs (International Policy)

The Cato Institute is seeking applications for a full-time position located in Washington, D.C., to serve as a Manager of Government Affairs. The Manager will work to maintain Cato as a prime source for objective analysis for federal policymakers and to ensure that Cato scholars have the access and proper tools needed to help Congress and the executive branch develop and advance principled policy solutions. Reporting to Cato’s Director of Government Affairs, the Manager will work closely with the existing federal affairs team and appropriate policy scholars to devise and execute engagement strategies for a portfolio of international policy issues. This portfolio will include, but is not limited to, policy areas such as defense, international affairs, trade, and global liberty.

About Cato Institute

The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization – a think tank – dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.

Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to Cato’s Letters, a series of essays published in 18th-century England that presented a vision of a society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple, timeless principles of that revolution – individual liberty, limited government, and free markets – turn out to be even more powerful in today’s world of global markets and unprecedented access to information than Jefferson or Madison could have imagined. Social and economic freedom is not just the best policy for a free people, it is the indispensable framework for the future.

The Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with policymakers in Congress and the executive branch
• Identify, create, and assist with opportunities for Cato scholars to provide congressional testimony, statements for the record, and other high-impact opportunities
• Track and advise Cato scholars and staff on ongoing and emerging dynamics in Congress and the executive branch to ensure Cato’s maximum impact on the policy debate
• Devise, recommend, and execute engagement strategies for issue portfolio with the goal of positively influencing the policy debate
• Oversee distribution of Cato scholarship to an audience in Congress and the executive branch
• Assist in the planning and execution of events focused on disseminating Cato scholarship
• Work with existing federal affairs staff to ensure Cato-wide coordination of the Institute’s efforts
• Exercise exceptional judgement to ensure the protection and enhancement of Cato’s reputation for excellence, integrity, and dedication to principle

• Three to six years of issue-management experience in Congress or the executive branch, or similar experience with a think tank, association, or in the for-profit sector
• A bachelor’s degree in political science, economics, or related field
• A demonstrated appreciation for Cato’s mission and principles
• Experience, educational background, or interest in international policy issues
• Demonstrated experience with policy analysis and communicating policy positions to external audiences
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to carry a project from conception to completion
• Comprehensive understanding of congressional rules, procedures, and operations
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills

Benefits

All Cato employees are provided with:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)

• Generous vacation and sick days

• Paid parental leave

• Employer provided life and disability insurance

• 401(k) employer match

• Transit/ Parking benefits

• Pet discount plan