Managing Director, Global Economy & Development (Job ID: 2025-3666) (Washington)
Brookings Institution, Washington
Overview
Join one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks!
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level.
We bring together leading experts in government and academia from all over the world, rooted in open-minded inquiry and representing diverse points of view, who provide the highest quality research, policy recommendations, and analysis. Research topics cover a full range of public policy issues in economics, foreign policy, development, governance and metropolitan policy.
With fair and transparent business practices, clear communication, mutual respect, and a collaborative atmosphere that offers both professional and personal development opportunities, Brookings offers an inclusive and welcoming workplace that values the efforts of all contributors.
About Global Economy and Development - The Global Economy and Development program at Brookings aims to shape the policy debate on how to improve global economic cooperation and fight global poverty and sources of social stress. The programs research agenda is related to policies and trends affecting developing countries including global poverty, universal education, the global middle class, fragile states, globalization, inequality, foreign assistance and development effectiveness.
Position Location : This position is hybrid. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC office with the option of two days of remote work each week.
Responsibilities
Ready to contribute to Brookings success?
The Managing Director reports to and serves as a strategic partner to the Vice President and Director of Global Economy and Development (Global), a $20M, 75-person policy research program at Brookings. This leadership position builds the programmatic capacity and systems necessary to support Global's mission and strategic priorities. The Managing Director serves as a key advisor on a wide range of strategic and operational issues, oversees and manages the program's finance, administrative, and personnel functions, and leads change management efforts across the program. They are responsible for translating the Vice President and Director's strategic goals into operational plans and ensuring that the program's teams have the support required to achieve their strategic objectives. They serve as a point of contact to all staff in Global and throughout Brookings and represent Global on the Institution's management team.
Program Financial Management
Oversee all strategic financial management and day-to-day operations to ensure the budget is aligned with the program vision, short- and long-term goals, and needs; monitors and problem-solves on areas of risk; oversees the effective management of all incoming and outgoing resources, as well as their internal allocation.
Serve as the programs Senior Financial Officer (SFO) to approve contracts, grant and gift agreements, proposal budgets, financial reports, staffing and compensation changes, affiliate appointments, and other transactions.
In close collaboration with the Assistant Director of Finance and Contracts Manager, work with finance staff to draft, approve, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and other transactions, ensuring compliance with internal policies.
Provide leadership, guidance, and coaching to the program's finance team and ensure the staff can consistently provide accurate and timely financial reports and products; mentor and support finance staff in Global, providing expertise and support for problem-solving, know-how, and portfolio management.
Deploy financial expertise and acumen to roll-up Global expenses and revenue forecasts for the Vice President and Director and Central Finance.
Oversee the development and implementation of the strategic finance systems required to support Global's programmatic success and sustainability, including complex, multi-year budgeting, forecasting, planning, and expense tracking.
Work with the research Vice President and other team members to ensure financial modeling and scenarios are integrated into the program's strategic planning and advise on best use of program funds.
Provide quality stewardship of the program's resources and accurate and insightful reporting to internal and external stakeholders.
Collaborate with development staff to implement efficient systems in all aspects of the funding cycle that ensure effective and timely communication, alignment, and reporting and communication to donors and internal systems that track grant spending rates and related expenses.
Program Leadership, Strategy, and Operations
Partner with the Vice President and Director on Global's overall direction, strategies, and objectives, and assist in crisis prevention and management through effective communication and leadership.
Represent the program's interests and priorities effectively in internal discussions, meetings, and committees across the Institution and externally, and serve as a stand-in for the Vice President and Director, as needed; represent Global on the Institution-wide Management Team.
Partner with the Vice President and Director in establishing and upholding a culture across Global's centers and initiatives that promote the values of Brookings' and diversity, equity, and inclusion priorities.
Partner with and advise Globals business directors in their day-to-day efforts, problem-solving, and long-term priorities, working closely on a broad range of issues.
Develop and execute operational plansconsistent with Global's budgetary goalsworking with operational staff, research support staff, and scholars across initiatives and centers that further the program's strategic objectives.
Provide broad-based project management support to Global's centers and initiatives, to include research, policy, events, outreach, communications, staffing, budgeting, grant management, and other related activities as directed by the Vice President and Director.
Serve as a trusted resource, thought partner, and problem-solver for scholars and staff, and as point of contact for Global.
Lead Global's strategic financial, operational, and human capital planning for launching new research projects, centers, initiatives, and projects and all activities related to phasing out those that have been completed.
Ensure Globals operations and services are efficient, high-quality, and responsive; develop, build support for, and implement consistent, transparent, and collaborative business planning and processes for the program; establish trusted mechanisms for soliciting and receiving formal and informal stakeholder feedback about operational performance and its impact on people, research teams, and strategic priorities.
Serve as a key advisor and point of contact on institutional policies and strategies, including conflict of interest, research independence, and internal partnerships; advises Vice President and Director to support decision-making and approves on their behalf, as delegated.
Lead and/or support change management efforts within the program, including by partnering with the Vice President and Director and stakeholders across the institution to advance organizational and cultural change.
Conceptualize, draft, and review documents, reports, data, and other analyses to support strategic planning, internal reviews, and other management and vision-related documents for Global and Brookings-wide stakeholders, including the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), the Executive Office, and the Board of Directors.
Program Personnel Management
Oversee all administrative and personnel management operations for the program, ensuring high-quality and responsive services are provided to all Global staff.
Provide vision to ensure excellence in the Programs HR efforts, including organizational development, recruitment, performance management, staff retention and engagement, learning and professional development, and organizational culture development efforts; mentor Senior Program Manager in their leadership and implementation of these efforts and problem-solve,
Oversee staff engagement initiatives and promote effective communication of department and institution-wide goals to all staff.
Champion Brookings' Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity priorities and activities and Global's program-specific plans and activities.
Develop and actively maintain a strong partnership with Brookings' central human resources, Office of the General Counsel, and financial services departments to ensure the needs of the program are met and in compliance with Brookings' related policies and practices.
Oversee and proactively engage on complex staffing/management issues or conflicts as they arise.
Oversee the annual review process for staff and scholars and provide support to the Vice President as needed.
Qualifications
Ready to make an impact? In this role, you will support Brookings values of collegiality, respect, inclusion, diversity and community, and bring the following qualifications:
Education/Experience Requirements
Bachelor's degree required; graduate degree strongly preferred. Public policy, economics, or business background and experience preferred. Minimum