Inclusive Savings Program Manager

The Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

To achieve our mission of a more free, just, and equitable society, we commit to working proactively to advance the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our myriad endeavors such as the recruitment, compensation, training, and advancement of staff. The best people-serving institutions make this commitment, and we seek to be a leader in the ways that we do so and learn from others. Visit our website to learn more about our commitment and recent actions taken toward building and nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment.

The Aspen Institute Financial Security Program’s (FSP) mission is to illuminate and solve the most critical financial challenges facing American households and to make financial security for all a top national priority. We aim for nothing less than a more inclusive economy with reduced wealth inequality and shared prosperity. We believe that transformational change requires innovation, trust, leadership, and entrepreneurial thinking. FSP galvanizes a diverse set of leaders across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to solve the most critical financial challenges. We do this through deep, deliberate private and public dialogues and by elevating evidence-based research and solutions that will strengthen the financial health and security of financially vulnerable Americans.

The Aspen Institute Financial Security Program is committed to having a workforce that reflects diversity at all levels of the program team. We recognize the importance of not viewing individuals based on a single identity, and we thrive on being equitable in our recruitment process as well as in our efforts to be inclusive of all employees. We encourage all applicants regardless of gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, or other social identity. While not a minimum or mandatory qualification, we strongly encourage candidates of color, those who identify as Native American, people of low-income backgrounds, and those with first-hand experience of financial security inequity to apply for this role.

The Inclusive Savings Program Manager will be part of the Policy and Market Solutions Team at the Aspen Financial Security Program, reporting to the Director, Policy and Market Solutions. The Policy and Market Solutions Team works across sectors and disciplines, seeking to highlight market and policy gaps, source promising policy and market ideas that can help improve financial security, jumpstart creative solutions, and build a diverse set of leaders who can turn ideas into action. The Policy and Market Solutions team works closely with Aspen FSP’s Insights and Evidence team and our Communications Team.

Specifically, the Inclusive Savings Program Manager will lead a portfolio of programming designed to identify, convene, support, and foster a community of cross-sector leaders as they seek to create a truly inclusive, lifelong savings and wealth-building system in the United States, especially for economically vulnerable households.

The successful candidate for this role will be able to balance big-picture, strategic thinking with a focus on important details. They will thrive when given an ambitious set of goals and will be able to creatively and successfully design, own, manage, and execute a detailed workplan that achieves the original goal. They can be successful in an entrepreneurial environment and will be able to adjust strategy and tactics as circumstances change. They will actively partner with and seek the input, expertise, and participation of internal colleagues and close external collaborators as a project develops. The candidate will be an excellent communicator and will enjoy the process of building and managing relationships with a range of external partners, including researchers, corporate leaders and executives, policy experts, elected officials and their staff, and more. They will be energized by convening these cross-sector leaders and will successfully design and thoughtfully facilitate rich, productive dialogues that lead to impact. They are a curious learner who is eager to establish and continually evolve their own perspective as the world of inclusive savings product and policy changes.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

• Lead Aspen FSP’s strategy for Inclusive Savings, coordinating internally and externally to ensure that projects are impactful, aligned with broader FSP strategy and work, and are executed well
• In partnership with colleagues, current funders, and new supporters, evolve the fundraising and sponsorship approach for FSP’s Inclusive Savings portfolio
• Serve as a public-facing subject matter expert and ambassador for Aspen FSP’s point of view on inclusive savings
• Identify and develop opportunities to engage our emergency and retirement savings communities on adjacent wealth-building ideas, like baby bonds, child development accounts, 529s, etc.

Project Management

• Serve as project lead for our year-round Aspen Leadership Forum on Retirement Savings programming, project managing content and agenda development and invitation strategy
• Project manage, lead strategy for, and facilitate a variety of learning and engagement activities, including digital and in-person meetings, roundtables, and/or dinners for cross-sector leaders in emergency savings, retirement savings, 529s, baby bonds, child development accounts, and more

Building, Stewarding, and Maintaining Stakeholder Networks

• Support the Project Director of the Retirement Savings Initiative in facilitating regular virtual meetings with the Aspen Leadership Forum on Retirement Savings Advisory Group
• Develop and support relationships with external partners and funders
• Serve as primary point of contact for dozens of market and policy savings leaders and innovators, connecting them with resources and other innovators and leaders to support their work

Policy Monitoring and Analysis

• Attend external events and briefings in the savings space, sharing insights and key lessons with FSP teammates
• Partner with Aspen FSP’s Project Director, Retirement Savings Initiative, and Associate Director, Policy, to identify opportunities for FSP to engage and influence both policy and product innovation to advance specific inclusive savings solutions
• Contribute to the creation of a variety of different content, blogs, briefs, and reports in the inclusive savings space – some drafted by other people, some drafted by Aspen FSP staffers (including the Inclusive Savings Program Manager)

QUALIFICATIONS

• Commitment to the Aspen FSP’s mission and interest in how to achieve the mission of holistic financial security and equitable wealth-building via inclusive saving and investing.
• 5-10 years of experience working in the retirement savings, asset management, banking, credit union, or savings policy space, as well as an interest and curiosity in learning about and staying abreast of changes in both the policy and marketplace of saving and investing.
• Strong program management and relationship building and management skills.
• Strong interest in facilitating dialogue and leading meetings.
• Strong organizational, project and time management skills with attention to detail and deadlines
• Strong communication skills, including public speaking
• Ability to commit to up to 15% domestic travel, with occasional evening meetings, once public health conditions permit

To apply for this position, please visit https://www.aspeninstitute.org/careers/career-opportunities/

The Institute has implemented a mandatory COVID vaccination policy for all employees who will work at one of our physical locations, attend any of our in-person events or travel on behalf of the Institute. Staff unable to be vaccinated may request an exemption under certain circumstances.

The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.