Senior Director, Programs and Digital Operations
The Council on Competitiveness (www.compete.org) — entering its 40th anniversary year — seeks a Senior Director of Programs and Digital Operations to participate in leading the development and delivery of the Council’s flagship programs, convenings, and research-driven outputs, while overseeing the effective use of the Council’s core digital platforms. This role offers a range of strategic development opportunities for an ambitious, entrepreneurial, and collaborative team player — combining program leadership and support of senior management; policy analysis, research and writing; website administration; event management; and operational execution.
The ideal candidate brings a real-world understanding of the U.S. economy and its innovation ecosystem, can engage in independent research, and can translate complex, high-level discussions and Council Member insights into clear, compelling written products that advance the Council’s mission and inform policy and practice.
Working closely with senior leadership, program leads, Council Members (including some of the world’s most influential CEOs, CTOs, university presidents, labor leaders, and national laboratory directors), and external partners, the Senior Director will support the execution of Council initiatives, convenings, and thought leadership. This role also ensures the Council’s ideas, Membership, and impact are consistently reflected across the website, newsletters, LinkedIn, executive speeches, and other public communications channels.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Thought Leadership: Policy Analysis and Development, Research, Writing
- Draft original, high-impact reports and policy analyses across Council programs, including — but not limited to — science, technology, and innovation policy; emerging economic sectors such as the bioeconomy, energy, and manufacturing; and the evolving landscape of education and workforce development
- Conduct background research and analysis in support of Council initiatives, convenings, and thought leadership
- Translate discussions among Members, policymakers, and experts into clear, written products that reflect the Council’s voice and priorities
- Draft and edit substantive written outputs, including convening summaries, Council Insights, executive speeches, program updates, web and social content, and other research-informed content
Member Communications
- Prepare and manage targeted email communications to Members, contributors, and partners
- Draft and produce a monthly newsletter and other thought leadership content, distributing to the Council community using Constant Contact
- Support consistent LinkedIn posting to highlight Council research, convenings, and leadership
Program Management
- Support the management of initiative steering committees and working groups
- Manage timelines, agendas, materials, and communications to keep initiatives on track and aligned with Council priorities
- Provide flexible programmatic and operational support as initiatives evolve
Convening Management
- Provide programmatic and operational management for Competitiveness Conversations, CTO dialogues, the National Competitiveness Forum, and other Council convenings (virtual and in-person)
- Work with internal teams, Members, and partners to co-develop agendas, identify and prepare speakers, and support speaker outreach and preparation
- Ensure effective execution and communications before, during, and after convenings
Website and Digital Content Management
- Build and maintain report and initiative webpages
- Update the website with substantive content, including reports, Council Insights, Fellows’ and member articles, and related thought leadership
- Manage member status updates on the website, and support member tracking in the Council’s database
QUALIFICATIONS
- Significant experience in research, writing, program leadership, and/or communications — ideally within a policy, nonprofit, think tank, academic, or membership organization
- Demonstrated ability to research complex topics, synthesize insights, and produce clear, compelling content for senior audiences
- Familiarity with key economic and innovation-related data sources (e.g., Census, BLS, BEA, NSF, OECD, World Bank, IMF)
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with keen editorial judgment and meticulous attention to detail, capable of crafting and delivering compelling messages to senior national and global leaders
- Strong organizational and project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams independently
- Comfortable using digital tools, including CMS platforms, email marketing systems (e.g., Constant Contact), CRM software (e.g., Zoho), and LinkedIn, with demonstrated proficiency, or the ability to learn quickly and adapt to new platforms as needed
- Ability to work collaboratively with senior leaders, Council Members, external partners, and diverse stakeholders
- Interest in innovation, competitiveness, technology, and economic policy strongly preferred
HOW TO APPLY
Please email Council on Competitiveness Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Chad Evans at [email protected] with your resume to apply.
