Director, Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is the sole nonprofit organization created by President Reagan himself, charged with advancing his legacy and principles – individual liberty, economic opportunity, freedom and democracy, peace through strength, and national pride. The Foundation is a non-partisan organization which sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA, the Reagan Center for Public Affairs, the Presidential Learning Center, The Air Force One Pavilion, and the award-winning Leadership Academy, as well as the Reagan Institute, which carries out the Foundation’s work in Washington, DC.

The Reagan Library houses over 60 million pages of gubernatorial, presidential, and personal papers, over 1.6 million photographs, a half million feet of motion picture film, 25,000 audio recordings, 22,000 video recordings, and over 83,000 objects chronicling the lives of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. It also serves as the final resting place of America’s 40th President and his First Lady.

About The Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity

The Ronald Reagan Institute’s Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity (CCEO) works at the nexus of civics education and economic policy, answering President Reagan’s call for an “informed patriotism” to ensure a more prosperous future for America. The challenges America faces require an educated citizenry and a multifaceted and nonpartisan approach. As such, the CCEO looks to create a collective impact on American society through partnerships, programs, projects, and activities that help support the three levers of change – civics, education, and economic opportunity. Placing America’s future at the center of our work, the CCEO looks for 22nd century solutions and innovative ways to “renew the American spirit and sense of purpose.”

Job Overview

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute seeks a full-time, experienced Director to lead the Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity (CCEO). This person will lead the organization’s national programming, policy development, and events in the areas of education policy, economic policy, and civics. In order to build out the “opportunity” dimension of CCEO, the next Director will be expected to bring a deep understanding of both President Reagan’s economic policy legacy and the current landscape of ideas supporting free enterprise, entrepreneurialism, and growth. These activities include program design and development, research and planning, convening, and development/fundraising support. This individual will be a proactive take-charge team-player who is a leader, strong communicator, and project manager. Finally, this individual should be mission-driven and solutions-oriented to ensure the American experiment continues to thrive.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Director will be expected to perform the following specific duties and responsibilities related to this position and any duties hereafter assigned:

• Lead strategic planning for the Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity (CCEO) convenings, including The Reagan Institute Summit on Education (RISE), a bipartisan education policy summit that assesses the health of the American education system.
• Support smaller convenings (RISE collaboratives) that delve deeper into policy issues, and other education and civic learning initiatives and national programming.
• Stand up and lead major new economic policy convenings, bringing together policymakers, scholars, and business leaders to discuss cutting-edge growth ideas rooted in President Reagan’s legacy.
• Oversee planning and content development of the American Opportunity Bootcamp, an annual economics intensive for college students and young professionals.
• Work with Institute leadership to find areas where the Center can have the most impact and develop research reports, task forces, surveys, etc., to advance better public policy.
• Develop and execute strategies for educating thought leaders and policymakers on the knowledge produced through Center projects and events.
• Research includes list building, spreadsheet maintenance, relationship tracking, preparing internal and external memos and presentations, quantitative and qualitative reports, and written remarks.
• Work and collaborate with Development staff as needed to manage donors’ needs, including event invitations, proposals, and reports.
• Manage relationships with important think tanks, policy institutes, Hill staff, and individuals, and coordinate with the Chief of Staff for events.

Qualifications/Characteristics

The ideal candidate for this role will:

• Be a mission-driven individual passionate about expanding opportunity for all Americans through education reform and growth-oriented economic policy ideas; inspired by President Reagan’s call for “an informed patriotism” as communicated in his Farewell Address.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Supervisory experience required.
• Must be a self-starter and possess an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Must be highly organized, detail-oriented, collaborative, and collegial.
• Must be able to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and manage time efficiently.
• Ability and willingness to learn – and stay updated – on the Reagan Foundation and Institute’s operations, projects, and programs.
• Work may be required on evenings or weekends for special events.
• Driven and eager to make a real impact.

Reporting Relationships

This position will report to the Director of the Ronald Reagan Institute in Washington, DC, and will work closely with the RRI team (Associate Director of Programs and Program Coordinator) and the Education team in California.

Salary/Benefits/Location

This full-time position offers an annual salary based on experience, excellent benefits, including paid vacation, a health/dental plan, and a generous 403(b) retirement plan.

This is an exempt, full-time position. The position is located onsite at our office in Washington, D.C., with hybrid options available with advance approval. From time to time, travel may be required to participate in meetings and/or events at the Foundation office in Simi Valley, California or elsewhere.

How to Apply

Please provide a resume and a thoughtful cover letter (including salary history and requirements) to [email protected] with the position title in the subject line: Director, CCEO. Please no telephone calls.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.