American Progress is seeking to fill the positions listed below. We do anticipate other openings in the future and encourage you to check our site often. Please note that only those individuals whose qualifications match the current needs of the organization will be considered applicants and will receive responses from American Progress. Thank you for your interest in American Progress.
Current Job Openings
Assistant Editor/Researcher
The Enough Project, a project of the Center for American Progress, has an immediate opening for an Assistant Editor/Researcher to assist with the publication of policy papers on issues related to the prevention of genocide and mass atrocities in Enough’s priority areas: Sudan, South Sudan, eastern Congo, and the Lord’s Resistance Army.
Associate Director of Major Gifts
The Associate Director of Major Gifts executes the major donor fundraising efforts as a senior fundraiser in the Development department. He or she engages the institution’s largest individual donors in the work and impact of American Progress while expanding the major donor file to include new supports. This position is ideal for a fundraiser who focuses on the bottom line and is creative. The Associate Director of Major Gifts works closely with the Director of Development on the departmentwide strategy for meeting the organization’s annual fundraising goal.
Associate Director of Ocean Communications
American Progress has an immediate opening for an Associate Director of Ocean Communications to support the Ocean Program. The program is seeking an experienced communications specialist to build on existing relationships with media outlets, enhance our social-media presence, create original content, and shape compelling stories to increase the reach and impact of our ocean policy work. The ideal candidate will have an established network of media contacts and a proven track record of experience promoting policy work and translating complex issues into content that is persuasive and accessible to a broad audience.
Associate Director/Director for Postsecondary Education
The Postsecondary Education Policy Program at American Progress believes a quality and affordable postsecondary education is a key to rebuilding the middle class and advancing national competitiveness. To provide every American with access to a quality, affordable postsecondary education, American Progress advocates for a postsecondary education policy agenda that would strengthen public investment with accountability for results, use consumer information to promote sound decision making by students and families and safeguard public and private investment, and apply innovative approaches to teaching and learning, including the use of technology, to create cost-effective ways to expand access to and the quality of postsecondary education.
American Progress has an immediate opening for an Associate Director/Director for Postsecondary Education. The right candidate will be a dynamic leader capable of driving an agenda to transform postsecondary education through the development of evidence-based policy, creative communications, and effective stakeholder engagement. The Associate Director/Director will lead a strong team of experts to develop high-impact policy solutions within the agenda described above.
Associate Editor, Campus Progress
American Progress has an immediate opening for an Associate Editor with Campus Progress, American Progress’s youth-outreach arm. Campus Progress helps young people make their voices heard on critical issues.
The Associate Editor will work with Campus Progress’s Communications team to assign, develop, and edit reported and opinion pieces by young writers for the web magazine, which covers politics, policy, and culture. The Associate Editor also will recruit new writers, contribute original writing to the web magazine, and work with Campus Progress’s network of student-run publications.
CampusProgress.org reaches a broad audience. The magazine runs reported and opinion articles, cultural reviews, video, photos, comics, and other content from a wide range of contributors, mostly young people. The magazine often focuses on priority issues for Campus Progress’s advocacy work, including LGBT issues, immigration, higher education, and voting rights. The magazine has interviewed national figures including President Barack Obama, Stephen Colbert, Margaret Cho, M.I.A., Talib Kweli, Paul Krugman, and Rachel Maddow. Its content is regularly highlighted in and linked to by prominent media outlets and blogs. Its investigative pieces have been cited by media and key government officials in the context of major policy debates.
Campus Progress’s Communications division also offers funding and training to a diverse network of more than 50 student-run newspapers, magazines, blogs, and radio stations on campuses across the country. Participants at our journalism conferences and trainings have included top reporters from publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, TIME, The Huffington Post, Politico, and The Nation.
Climate Reporter, ThinkProgress
American Progress has an immediate opening for a Climate Reporter at ThinkProgress.
Director of Development
Enough, a project of the Center for American Progress, has an immediate opening for an experienced Director of Development.
Enough is looking for a Director of Development who is highly motivated by a strong commitment to the vision and mission of the Project. The ideal candidate will have strong prior experience in promoting human rights and fund development.
In partnership with the Executive Director, other members of the management team, a Development Advisory Committee, and the development staff of the Center for American Progress, the Development Director will articulate and execute the development strategy and goals of the Enough Project. This individual will be responsible for coordinating outreach with current and potential donors and foundations, identifying prospective new donors, and preparing all funding proposals and grant reports in close coordination with Enough management and program staff.
Director of Infrastructure Policy
The Center for American Progress is a progressive think tank dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through ideas and action. We are creating a long-term, progressive vision for America—a vision that policymakers, thought leaders, and activists can use to shape the national debate and pass laws that make a difference. The Center seeks a Director of Infrastructure Policy who will direct the Center’s work on infrastructure investments.
Economic Policy Analyst
American Progress has an immediate opening for an economic policy analyst. The ideal candidate will have a background in labor economics and employment and social policy in the United States, including U.S. policies around employment, hours of work, leave policies such as family and medical leave and paid sick days, as well as discrimination. The job will entail conducting and assisting with research on labor and workplace policy issues in the United States, including data analysis, conducting literature reviews, writing reports, columns, and blogs, and engaging with other researchers and advocates.
Economist/Senior Economist
American Progress has an immediate opening for an Economist or Senior Economist. We are open to applicants who are widely experienced in a range of fields, and who have in-depth expertise in at least one the following fields: macroeconomics, labor economics, inequality and economic mobility, public finance, and/or innovation and growth. This person would conduct their own research, help in conducting the necessary quality control for work of colleagues at American Progress, consult on commissioned work, and serve as a spokesperson on broader economic issues.
We are interested in both experienced Ph.D. economists as well as recent advanced degree graduates.
Enough Policy Associate
Enough, a project of the Center for American Progress, has an immediate opening for a policy associate. The policy associate will be responsible for researching the political and conflict dynamics primarily in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and secondarily in areas affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), analyzing U.S. government, international, and corporate policy related to these conflicts, and contributing to Enough’s strategy papers, reports, and other publications. This is a position requiring research and report-writing experience, strong analytical skills, good interpersonal skills, and a strong understanding of conflicts in central Africa.
Executive Director
The Equitable Growth Research Council, housed at the Center for American Progress, is a new, independent, and nonpartisan research and education project that seeks to better understand and address the effects of economic inequality in the United States and around the world. An important part of the Council’s mission includes providing grants to academic economists and social scientists to support new research on inequality, mobility, growth, and related issues. An Executive Director is needed immediately to help build the organization, supervise and manage day-to-day activities, and guide long-term strategic planning. Since the Council is a new organization, we are seeking candidates that are entrepreneurial, good problem solvers, highly professional, and interested in helping address the range of challenges associated with building a new organization.
Investigative Reporter, ThinkProgress
American Progress has an immediate opening for an Investigative Reporter to work at ThinkProgress and assist with data collection, research, reporting, and writing.
Online Organizing Associate, Campus Progress
American Progress has an immediate opening for an Online Organizing Associate for Campus Progress to assist with Campus Progress’s online organizing efforts and social media outreach. This position requires managing a large workflow of projects efficiently. Applicants should enjoy detail-oriented work and troubleshooting. The position will have a core set of responsibilities with the opportunity to pursue projects tailored to the individual’s interests and areas of expertise.
Campus Progress is American Progress’s dynamic effort to help young people make their voices heard on key issues and to empower new generations of progressive leaders. Campus Progress engages in policy, advocacy, and communications on issues including affordable education, LGBT rights, immigration reform, climate change, and voting rights.
Policy Advocate
American Progress has an immediate opening for a Policy Advocate within the Campus Progress team. This person would assist in developing policy recommendations while both tracking and aiding their progression from concept to reality. The work will be focused within the broad domestic areas of economic justice, human rights, and democracy.
Policy Analyst, Postsecondary Education
American Progress has an immediate opening for a Policy Analyst for Postsecondary Education.
The Policy Analyst will monitor policy proposals pending before Congress and will conduct policy-relevant long-term analysis as well as rapid response. The Policy Analyst will work with the Associate Director/Director of Postsecondary Education to formulate progressive policy alternatives. The Policy Analyst will support the research and policy development of the Associate Director/Director of Postsecondary Education in areas including higher education and workforce development policy.
The Policy Analyst will also work on issues pertaining to the Higher Education and Workforce Investment Acts as well as related legislation. The position will require strong analytical, communication, and management skills.
Senior Field Researcher—Juba
Enough, a project of American Progress, has an immediate opening for a full-time Senior Field Researcher to track and analyze developments related to the ongoing conflicts in Sudan and South Sudan. The Senior Field Researcher will be based in South Sudan and will provide research and analysis on the political and security situation there and on conditions relating to the situation in Sudan and South Sudan. He/she will provide analysis to corroborate and contextualize information obtained through the Satellite Sentinel Project and other sources of information. The Senior Field Researcher will provide input on policy recommendations and advocacy as led by the team at Enough’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Note: This position was initially advertised as a short-term consultancy. Enough is now seeking a full-time staff member, with benefits, to fill this role permanently. Salary is negotiable, commensurate to experience.
Senior Graphic Designer
American Progress is looking for a versatile and creative Designer for a senior position with the Art Team. The Designer will work as part of a team that creates reports, infographics, web graphics, advertisements, marketing materials, websites, email designs, interactive media, and video storytelling. He or she will help American Progress communicate progressive ideas and arguments through clear, visually compelling design. The Designer’s primary responsibilities are the layout and production of print publications, as well as visuals and design for the web. He or she will serve as the point person for the Art department and will also be responsible for managing project workflow and meeting requests, as the Art Director is offsite.
Social Media Reporter, ThinkProgress
American Progress has an immediate opening for a Social Media Reporter for ThinkProgress to help us drive the progressive policy discussion online. The Social Media Reporter will play an important role in an expanding team focused on building the organization’s presence and impact in social media.
South Asia/Greater Middle East Research Assistant
American Progress has an immediate opening for a Research Assistant to provide research and administrative assistance on U.S. policy toward South Asia and the greater Middle East. Research topics may include analysis of the political, security, and economic effects of the U.S. transition in Afghanistan; the prospects for democratic consolidation in Pakistan; the U.S.-Indian bilateral relationship; or the post-Arab Spring balance of power in Egypt, among other issues.
Special Assistant to Enough Project Co-Founder John Prendergast
Enough, a project of the Center for American Progress, helps to prevent genocide and crimes against humanity. Enough seeks a candidate for Special Assistant to Co-Founder John Prendergast. The Special Assistant will primarily assist with administrative tasks and logistical support for Mr. Prendergast, along with other departmental duties. This position requires administrative and clerical experience.
Special Assistant, Energy and Environmental Policy
American Progress has an immediate opening for a Special Assistant for the Energy and Environmental Policy team with a dual focus on domestic and international clean energy and climate policy.
The Special Assistant is an essential member of the team and is largely responsible for providing administrative support and collaborating with other internal policy teams. This person will also organize meetings, manage event-related details, proofread and edit documents, and hire and supervise seasonal interns. This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, independent, and goal-oriented person who is interested in domestic and international clean energy and climate policy.
Special Assistant, Health Policy
American Progress has an immediate opening for the position of Special Assistant for Health Policy. The Center for American Progress’s Health Policy team is working to develop the next generation of solutions to drive down health care costs, evaluate implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and develop ideas on a range of issues such as long-term care and mental health care.
The Special Assistant is an essential member of the team and is largely responsible for providing administrative support and research. The Special Assistant will organize meetings, manage event-related details, proofread and edit documents, and provide research support on a broad range of health policy issues. The right candidate will have an interest in health policy; knowledge of and familiarity with the Affordable Care Act is preferred.
Special Assistant, LGBT Research and Communications Project
American Progress has an immediate opening for a Special Assistant to the LGBT Research and Communications Project. The Special Assistant will support the LGBT team in the production of timely policy research and analysis on a range of issues impacting LGBT Americans, including relationship recognition, workplace discrimination, LGBT health, youth homelessness, and LGBT family issues. The Special Assistant should have relevant academic and/or professional experience in these issue areas as well as a demonstrable understanding of the political process.
Special Assistant, Progress 2050
American Progress has an immediate opening for a Special Assistant for Progress 2050. Progress 2050 is a project of the Center for American Progress that develops new ideas for an increasingly diverse America. The United States will become a nation with no clear racial or ethnic majority by the year 2050. This expected transition provides the progressive movement with an exciting opportunity to help America live up to its ideals of equality and justice for all.
The Special Assistant is an essential member of the team and is largely responsible for providing administrative support as well as collaborating with other internal policy teams. This person will also organize meetings, manage event-related details, proofread and edit documents, and research a wide variety of socioeconomic policy issues, as well as hire and supervise seasonal interns. This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, independent, and goal-oriented person who is interested in the range of issues at American Progress from a community-of-color lens.
Vice President, Economic Policy
The Vice President for Economic Policy has principal responsibility for day-to-day management and must possess the substantive expertise to set the strategic direction for American Progress’s 25-member Economic Policy team that is committed to strengthening the middle class and restoring broadly shared economic growth. It is a broad and diverse team that covers fiscal policy, labor policy, infrastructure policy, macroeconomic research, and higher education, among other areas. The VP represents the Economic Policy team to other CAP and CAP Action Fund teams and to the organization’s senior leadership. The VP also serves as American Progress’s principal point of contact and manages the team’s relationships with other organizations, especially those in the economic policy arena.
Video Editor/Producer
American Progress is seeking a Video Editor/Producer to join our in-house Video team, which works to amplify and advance American Progress’s progressive ideas through compelling visual content. The Video Editor/Producer will be responsible for the technical aspects of American Progress’s video operations, including filming and editing live events, managing American Progress’s video archives, and recording and editing interviews with staff and visiting speakers. The position will also offer opportunities to produce original videos and animations on pressing policy issues. This is an exciting opportunity for the right person who can balance bread-and-butter production duties with long-term projects.