ABOUT US

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.

THE CENTER FOR RISING GENERATIONS

The Aspen Institute’s Center for Rising Generations (CRG) is dedicated to ensuring that civil dialogue, civic engagement, and leadership development become a predictable part of the journey to adulthood in our society and around the world. Inspired by the Aspen Institute’s strategic plan and supported by a generous endowment from the Bezos Family Foundation, the Center for Rising Generations:

• Works to expand opportunities for, and elevate the voices of, youth and young adults at the Aspen Institute
• Creates opportunities to convene and build community beyond the Aspen Institute
• Encourages innovation that helps emphasize the assets that young people bring to help address today’s challenges

CRG supports placing early career professionals in high-responsibility positions throughout the Aspen Institute to create opportunities for career growth and to ensure youth voice is reflected across the Institute.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The CRG Associate for alumni engagement will have primary responsibility for planning and building a network that helps alumni from CRG programs and CRG projects stay connected to the Aspen Institute and the Center for Rising Generations. When completed, this network will connect the alumni of individual programs (AYLF, Aspen Challenge, Stevens Initiative, CNAY) with each other and will serve as a bridge to connect alumni to the broader Aspen community.

The salary for this opportunity is $65,000. This term-limited position is set to begin April 20^th, 2026, and will end April 23, 2027. The expectation is for this position to work out of the Washington D.C. office at least three days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday).

WHAT YOU WILL DO

The programs within the Center for Rising Generations have tens of thousands of alumni, some of whom participated in programs more than a decade ago. These alumni span the country and in some cases the globe and have a wide variety of interests, needs, and talents to share. The common element of our many alumni is that they have a desire to stay engaged with their programs and to explore the Aspen Institute more broadly.

Working closely with the Aspen Network Strategy and Enterprise Development team and with CRG’s Youth Engagement staff, the CRG Associate for Alumni Engagement will engage in a three-part project in which they gather data; craft an interim structure for engagement and propose a long-term solution for on-going alumni engagement.

1. Gather Data. During the first two months of the project, the Associate will work with CRG programs to identify the alumni currently in their network; any resources that they currently use to engage alumni (e.g. newsletter etc.); and any data that programs have regarding alumni. The Associate will also gather information from program leads about how they would like to engage their alumni, including what additional resources they have to offer. Finally, the Associate will gather information directly from alumni about what they would like to gain, and to offer, as alumni.
2. Craft Interim Structure for Engagement. By month three, the Associate should be in a position to start crafting interim, that is low-tech, easy to produce, solutions to improve alumni engagement. This may include alumni newsletters, easy opportunities for alumni to connect with each other, and events for alumni.
3. Long-term solution for alumni engagement. Beginning after the data gathering stage, the Associate will begin crafting long-term, sustainable solutions for alumni engagement that fit with existing Aspen Institute and CRG efforts to build networks. By the end of the engagement, the Associate will have produced and begun to implement a workable plan for on-going alumni engagement.

The Associate may have opportunities to participate in other projects and will be expected to contribute to program priorities.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO THRIVE

• A bachelors degree.
• Experience working collaboratively to co-create solutions to complex problems with data visualizations, dynamic tools, or compelling case studies.
• A demonstrated ability to work with others who have different experiences, backgrounds, and opinions.
• An eagerness to learn new skills and apply those skills to ongoing projects.
• The ability to work within a large organization and to navigate differences in priorities and strategies.
• A proven ability to communicate effectively, accurately, and in a timely manner even when sharing disappointing news.
• A willingness to adapt to changing priorities and approaches.
• A spirit of possibility, fun, and optimism.
• Experience participating in at least one program through the Aspen Institute, ideally through a CRG program.
• Experience operating with and communicating with large groups of people.
• Ability to curate online content and educational opportunities.
• Experience gathering and applying qualitative and quantitative data to create products that are responsive to needs.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Through this one-year experience the CRG Associate will:

• Develop their leadership skills and learn how to operate effectively in a large organization.
• Expand on their ability to develop a work plan; collaborate with others to effectuate the plan; review progress; adjust based on outcomes; and complete a project.
• Gain experience in building systems and structures that support networks of people.

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered, applicants should submit a resume and a cover letter. Applications for this opportunity will close March 10, 2026.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Aspen Institute offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, and prescription benefits, retirement benefits, and paid leave.

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.

The Aspen Institute welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs, including the interview process. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about accessibility, please email hrsupport@aspeninstitute.org or call 202-736-2127 in advance of your visit. Requests for ASL or CART services should be made at least two weeks in advance when possible. We will make every effort to fulfill requests, subject to availability.