Manager, Futures Fellows for Democracy

The Manager of this new fellowship program will:

• Develop and manage an application process, helping to define the criteria we will use to select fellows and the ways in which we will collect the requisite information needed for evaluation.
• Encourage applications through direct outreach to a network of nominators and through posting of an open call on the appropriate channels.
• Manage the selection process and finalize our inaugural cohort of fellows, in close collaboration with senior leaders and external advisors and stakeholders. 
• Assist with the public launch of the program and the announcement of our inaugural cohort, in partnership with our Communications team.
• Build out a full offering of resources and support for each of our fellows. (e.g., matching our fellows with a professional coach, etc.) 
• Establish a regular cadence of programmatic touchpoints in the form of recurring meetings and events. (e.g., brown bag lunches, happy hours, etc.) 
• Foster a sense of connection between the fellows through community building efforts and activities. 
• Serve as the primary point of contact for each of our fellows and the main liaison. between the cohort and the rest of the Schmidt Futures team.
• Work closely with each fellow to help them achieve the goals, objectives and intended impact targets of their respective projects. 
• Help to ensure that our fellows enjoy the program and make the most of it.
• Surface insights and lessons learned in order to evolve and improve the program over time.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of the democracy space, including some of the challenges currently facing American democracy and some of the best new ideas and the most innovative solutions out there. 
• Demonstrated leadership ability, including comfort coordinating efforts and maintaining alignment across multiple stakeholders. 
• A track record of driving impact at scale in high-intensity, team-based environments
• Stellar project management skills, including the ability to craft and stick to a detailed work plan with clear deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to serve as an effective ambassador and recruiter for a talent-based program. 
• Exceptional problem-solving skills for both conceptual and analytical problems and an openness to creative, innovative solutions. 
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with senior executives and principals.
• Demonstrated commitment to the highest standards of ethics and confidentiality.
• Unwavering commitment to equity and inclusivity both in the workplace and outside of it.
• Unwavering commitment to democratic values and a foundational belief in the promise of democracy as a system of governance.

Requirements

• Have ~7+ years of relevant work experience in the democracy space and/or related fields such as politics, government or philanthropy. 
• Have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. (advanced degree preferred)
• Be based at the Schmidt Futures office in New York and be able to travel within the U.S. on a regular basis as needed.