Policy Entrepreneurship, Manager/Senior Manager

Full-time FAS Staff  |  Washington, DC

Why FAS?

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) takes seriously our role as a beacon and voice for the science community.

FAS has a rich history: after the devastating bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, a group of atomic researchers — deeply concerned about the use of science for malice — created an organization committed to using science and technology to benefit humanity.

The group they created — the Federation of Atomic Scientists — soon became the Federation of American Scientists in recognition of the hundreds of scientists across diverse disciplines who joined together to speak with one voice for the betterment of the world.

Today, we are a group of entrepreneurial, intrepid changemakers, forging a better future for all through the nexus of science, technology and talent. We value equity, inclusion, and transparency. As a collective, we are building an organization focused on being impact-driven, customer-focused, and growth-oriented as a force for good in the world.

The Role

FAS is entering a pivotal moment. Science and technology institutions are under unprecedented pressure, and the need for evidence-based, nonpartisan policy leadership has never been more urgent. FAS is responding by deepening its practice of policy entrepreneurship (PE), the discipline of moving ideas into action through strategic engagement with the people and windows that drive change.

The Policy Entrepreneurship Manager or Senior Manager will work at the intersection of science policy, government affairs, and organizational execution – with a particular focus on catalyzing reform of the R&D enterprise using that to learn from how research is planned, funded, evaluated, and communicated.  This role is in one of FAS's most active and highest-leverage portfolios and will be expected to manage research projects and relationships with executive and legislative branch decision-makers, sense policy windows, draft policy products, and support the broader team's PE infrastructure.

This is a role for someone who is detail oriented, energized by fast-moving environments, and has experience and/or domain expertise in the science of institutional design, function of science, and/or metascience. The incumbent must be comfortable working collaboratively and through ambiguity, and be deeply motivated by getting good ideas into government. Working across several time-sensitive projects this position will have opportunities to work directly with senior leaders in FAS such as CEO, Director of Policy Entrepreneurship (PE), and/or Director of Government Affairs (GA), and will be a key contributor to the Day One Community. The role will report to the Director of Fellowships and Products. 

This role may be filled at the Manager or Senior Manager level, depending on the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

What You'll Do

Actively Drive Policy Projects

• Track, manage, and advance priority projects across FAS's PE portfolio with clear accountability for next steps, relationships, and timelines including work such as   envisioning the future of NSF, building federal R&D performance metrics, and learning from the incorporation of AI into science and research systems.
• Support project leads (such as the CEO, PE Director, and/or GA Director) in preparing for and following up on high-stakes meetings with congressional staff and executive branch officials (such as OMB, OSTP, NSF, DOE, NIH).
• Manage select timebound projects as they are stood up using agile-based approaches.
• Draft, refine, and coordinate feedback on policy memos, briefs, and other materials that translate complex S&T ideas into actionable recommendations for specific policy customers.
• Contribute to the FAS’s rapid response capacity by identifying and pursuing emerging policy windows of opportunity to help mobilize FAS's quick and effective response.

Manage and Deepen Relationships

• Represent FAS in meetings with executive and legislative branch policymakers in Washington, DC, serving as a trusted and credible interlocutor.
• Help expand and maintain FAS's network of collaborators, policy customers, congressional staff, agency officials, and external partners.
• Contribute to demand sensing by continuously monitoring policy signals, RFIs, legislative calendars, and budget windows to surface timely opportunities for FAS engagement.

Skills and Expertise: Must Haves

This is a demanding role at the intersection of policy, relationships, and organizational execution. The right candidate will bring:

A Hire at the Manager Level: 
Skills

• Strong written communication: able to draft concise, persuasive policy memos and briefs with clarity and credibility.
• Relationship management: able to build trust quickly with senior government officials and manage ongoing stakeholder relationships with professionalism and judgment.
• Project management: able to track multiple active projects simultaneously, surface blockers, and keep things moving without needing to be told.
• Political and institutional savvy: understands how the executive and legislative branches work, how policy windows open and close, and how to read a room.
• Collaboration and agility: thrives in fast-moving, matrixed environments; comfortable pivoting when priorities shift; brings energy and ownership to cross-functional work.

Expertise

• At least 5 years of experience in science policy, government affairs, legislative strategy, or a closely related field.
• Direct experience engaging with executive branch agencies and officials (NSF, DOE, NIH, OMB, OSTP, or similar) and/or congressional staff on S&T issues.
• Demonstrated ability to produce policy-relevant written products (memos, briefs, analysis) that have reached and influenced real decision-makers.
• Ability to rapidly come up to speed on technical issues or domain areas that may be unfamiliar and translate findings into practical policy recommendations.
• Familiarity with federal science funding, research enterprise policy, metascience, and/or technology governance is strongly preferred.
• Experience in a policy entrepreneurship, rapid-response, or advocacy environment where speed, judgment, and strategic communication are core to the work.

A Hire at the Senior Manager Level:
Skills 

• Strategic judgement: able to identify policy opportunities, assess tradeoffs, and set priorities across multiple initiatives with limited oversight.
• Communication and influence: able to translate complex issues into persuasive recommendations, tailor messaging to direct audiences, and build alignment among stakeholders with competing perspectives.  
• Project leadership and collaboration: able to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives, coordinate subject matter expertise, and adopt plans as policy conditions and priorities change.
• Political and institutional savvy: able to anticipate evolving executive and legislative development, advise on policy opportunities and risks, and independently shape engagement strategies that advance policy objectives. 

Expertise

• At least 8 years of relevant experience leading in science policy, government affairs, legislative strategy, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage strategic relationships (NSF, DOE, NIH, OMB, OSTP, or similar) with executive branch officials and or congressional staff to advance science and technology policy objectives.
• Proven ability to translate complex or unfamiliar issues into actionable policy recommendations, lead the development of influential written products, and exercise sound judgement in rapidly changing policy environments.
• Experience in federal science funding, research enterprise policy, metascience, and/or technology governance is strongly preferred.
• Experience in a policy entrepreneurship, rapid-response, or advocacy environment where speed, judgment, and strategic communication are core to the work.

To Sum It Up

You are a science policy practitioner who is as comfortable in a meeting with a Senate staffer as you are drafting a memo to hit a policy window. You bring sharp political instincts, credible relationships, and a genuine commitment to using science and technology to benefit people. You want to work somewhere that takes policy entrepreneurship seriously as a discipline and you're ready to help FAS make that vision real.

Work Environment

This position will be a hybrid role based in Washington DC, meaning that both remote and in-person work can be accommodated, generally two to three days per week on-site at FAS offices, and two to three days per week remote. For this role, much of the work will be relationship building and meeting with federal government officials within Washington, DC. Regular in-person presence in DC is expected. 

This body of work is a high priority for FAS now and in the coming years. This position is a twelve month termed role with an opportunity for extension if additional funding is available. 

This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific terms and conditions of employment are subject to collective bargaining.

Salary Range

The salary range for this role is $95,000 - $105,000 for the Senior Manager level and is $80,000 - $90,000 for the Manager level, commensurate with experience. 

Hiring Statement

Don't check off every box? Apply anyway! Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every listed qualification. At FAS we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and developing new voices. If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway — you might just be the right candidate.

The Federation of American Scientists is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. The Federation of American Scientists prohibits discriminating against employees and job applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose the compensation of the employee or applicant or another employee or applicant. Employment is contingent on successful verification of eligibility to work in the United States.