Academic Programs Manager

Explore meaningful roles with organizations advancing conservative ideas, strengthening communities, and developing the next generation of women leaders.

The John Jay Institute is a Christian organization dedicated to preparing principled leaders for public service. Through intensive residential fellowships, seminars, mentorship, and intellectual community, John Jay forms emerging leaders in the Western political and theological traditions, equipping them to serve wisely and faithfully in society’s leading institutions.

The John Jay Institute seeks a talented and entrepreneurial Academic Programs Manager to help expand our footprint and lead the next stage of growth in the Institute’s fellowship programs. The Academic Programs Manager will work closely with the President to manage and expand John Jay’s educational programs, with particular responsibility for two significant initiatives: the relaunch of the Saratoga Fellowship, John Jay’s program for junior military officers, and the development and launch of the new Phileo Summer Seminars for college students.

This is an opportunity for an early-career professional with strong organizational instincts, intellectual curiosity, and an interest in institution-building to take substantial responsibility for programs at a growing educational organization. It is an opportunity for someone who sees the value of both the life of action and the contemplative life to fuse these two pursuits and cultivate the next generation of Christian leaders.

The Academic Programs Manager will:

• Help plan, relaunch, and manage the Saratoga Fellowship, including program development, recruitment, logistics, partnerships, and alumni engagement.
• Help develop and launch the Phileo Summer Seminars, a new summer program introducing college students to the intellectual and formative work of the John Jay Institute.
• Support the administration and continued development of the Institute’s flagship John Jay Fellowship.
• Build and maintain relationships with colleges and universities, student organizations, military communities, alumni, partner institutions, and other organizations that can help identify outstanding prospective fellows.
• Represent the John Jay Institute at conferences, campus visits, professional gatherings, and other external events.
• Support recruitment initiatives, application and admissions processes, program communications, and participant logistics.
• Help cultivate relationships with current fellows and alumni and identify opportunities to strengthen their long-term connection to the Institute.
• Assist with the planning and execution of lectures, conferences, alumni gatherings, and other Institute events.

• 3–5 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in program management, public policy, hands‑on education, student programs, or a related field.
• Excellent organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• The confidence and professionalism to represent the John Jay Institute publicly and develop relationships with institutional partners, prospective fellows, alumni, and supporters.
• A demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently.
• An entrepreneurial disposition and enthusiasm for building programs rather than simply maintaining them.
• An interest in the intellectual mission of the John Jay Institute and the questions of political philosophy, theology, history, culture, and public life that animate its programs.
• A willingness to travel periodically for conferences, recruitment, and Institute events.
• Familiarity with John Jay Institute fellowships; being an alum of the John Jay Fellowship or Saratoga Fellowship is preferred but not required.