Open Positions
Deputy Director
About the Adam Smith Society:
The Manhattan Institute seeks exceptional candidates for the position of Deputy Director for its Adam Smith Society (Smith Soc), a national organization for business school students and professionals, akin to the Federalist Society for law students and attorneys. Smith Soc’s mission is to work with MBA students and professionals to promote debate and discussion around the social, moral and economic benefits of capitalism.
In its nine years of operation, Smith Soc has grown to include 34 campus chapters at leading business schools in the U.S. and Israel, as well as nine professional chapters throughout the U.S. and overseas. With more than 10,000 MBA students and professionals in our network, Smith Soc provides the education that so many business students and leaders never get: exposure to Adam Smith, Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman and many others.
The spread of liberty and prosperity throughout the world owes much to innovators and business leaders – those who took risks and embraced the freedom to create and build. Captains of industry have historically not only driven economic growth but have also been forceful advocates for the free-enterprise system. The future state of our economic system will depend on the continuance of this tradition by the next great generation of business leaders. The Adam Smith Society seeks a candidate who wants to be part of defending and promoting the free enterprise system that has brought humanity to unprecedented levels of prosperity, for the greatest number of people, in history.
About this position:
The Deputy Director will report directly to the Executive Director of the Adam Smith Society and will assist in managing all aspects of the Society. This position will be responsible for ensuring the exceptionally high quality and targeted content for all Smith Soc programming and events. This will include managing Smith Soc’s annual conference and other national events, supervising three direct reports and overseeing the organization’s data integrity. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the philosophical foundation upon which the Adam Smith Society is built.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Content Management & Curation
- Identify, research and vet all speakers and content associated with Smith Soc programming.
- Ensure that speaker backgrounds and perspectives align with Smith Soc mission.
- Establish and cultivate new relationships with potential speakers including top CEOs, academics, journalists and policy thinkers to expand Smith Soc speakers’ bureau.
- Maintain, grow and keep current Smith Soc speakers’ bureau list.
Management
- Manage a team of three direct reports across programming, operations, events and marketing.
- Support program team in motivating Smith Soc chapter leaders to help achieve organizational goals and drive conversions from student to professional members.
- Develop relationships and interact with student and professional members to better serve and cultivate membership.
- Directly manage a limited portfolio of Smith Soc student and/or professional chapters.
- Ability to facilitate and moderate conversations in small membership event settings.
- Assist Executive Director in coordination and management of internal relationships across Manhattan Institute departments that support Smith Soc programming and operations.
- Lead the team’s technology implementation to manage programming and membership data.
Programming
- Provide direct oversight of program team that manages all student chapters, producing more than 200 events per year.
- Take leadership roles in conception and execution of national events including national conferences, treks and trainings.
- Conceptualize and curate unique member experiences.
Strategy Development
- Assist Executive Director in developing strategy and growth plans for Smith Soc.
Qualifications:
The successful candidate may come from a variety of backgrounds including private industry, government or public affairs, Capitol Hill, think tanks or academia, and should possess these attributes:
- 5-8 years of work experience, including some management experience.
- Relevant graduate degree (Master’s, MBA, PhD) or demonstrated experience in working with issues relevant to the Smith Soc mission.
- Content knowledge and mission-driven: The Deputy Director must not only have a passion for the mission but must also have – formally or otherwise – a strong grasp of the underlying philosophical foundations of free enterprise. The successful candidate needs to understand what Smith and other seminal thinkers, as well as contemporaries, have said and be able to conceptualize and curate programming around these concepts in line with the Smith Soc mission. The successful candidate will have a strong grasp of the issues and ability to assess appropriate speaker fits for our programming and messaging.
- Entrepreneurial and creative: Candidate must take an entrepreneurial approach to the position and organization, employing a creative approach to conceive effective programming and pursue organizational strategy.
- Goal-oriented: Candidate must be driven to achieve organizational objectives including chapter development, programming and membership.
- Teamwork and leadership: Candidate must manage and motivate the program team, as well as work across organizational departments to effectively execute Smith Soc mission and programming.
- Highly organized: Candidate must be able to effectively manage time in order to juggle multiple responsibilities.
- Willingness to travel: Some travel for chapter and national events required, an estimated 2-3 trips quarterly.
- Experience with running events preferred, but not required.
- Technology savvy, experience with content management systems (CMS), or willingness to be trained.
This position is based at the Manhattan Institute’s main office in midtown Manhattan. Interested candidates who do not currently reside in the New York City region should be willing to relocate immediately. A virtual office option will not be considered.
The Manhattan Institute offers a competitive salary and benefits package including medical, dental, disability, paid vacation and retirement plan match.
Apply:
Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials in one PDF document:
- Resume
- Cover letter clearly articulating your intellectual interest in the Smith Soc mission, how your background fits with the responsibilities of the role, a brief overview of your management experience, and your salary requirements
- Three references, including name, email and phone
Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: https://talentmarket.org/candidates/apply-for-your-dream-job/
Questions can be directed to Katelynn Barbosa, Talent Engagement Manager at Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: katelynn@talentmarket.org.
Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.
Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide free consulting and recruiting services to free-market think tanks, policy organizations, research centers, and capacity-building institutions dedicated to advancing the principles of limited government and free enterprise.
Internships
Our internship program offers college or graduate students the opportunity to work in a diverse range of policy research, communications, and fundraising roles. Our interns work both independently and with the Society's staff, and often are involved in multiple complex projects simultaneously. Eagerness to learn, good organization skills, and strong interpersonal skills are essential traits in all Smith Society interns.
Please submit an application online using the online form below. We require one letter of a recommendation and a resume, which can also be submitted below. We will only consider complete applications. Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to interview every candidate. Please consider your application received once submitted, and we will be in touch if you are selected for an interview. All questions should be directed to internships@manhattan-institute.org
The Adam Smith Society Internship
Responsibilities:
- Help to maintain and expand the Society's social media presence (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
- Assist with the logistics of event planning and execution
- Research on potential speakers and venues
- Assist in the organization of membership tracking documents
- Other duties to assist staff as necessary (i.e., coordinate mailings, prepare meeting packets, etc.)
Skills:
- Interest in the intersection between business and public policy
- Relentless attention given to creation of error-free work products
- Ability to work independently and on multiple projects at once
- Excellent writing and proofreading skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and social media platforms. Graphic design experience and experience working with membership organizations a plus
Deadlines:
- Fall Internship (lasting from early September - mid/late December): July 31
- Spring Internship (lasting from early January - mid/late May): November 15
- Summer Internship (lasting from early June - mid/late August): March 15
Click here to apply for a Manhattan Institute Internship
Click here for additional Manhattan Institute Internship opportunities
Other Opportunities
Please check this space periodically for additional career opportunities with the Smith Society. For career opportunities with the Manhattan Institute, please visit this page.