Program Manager – Cato Courses

Cato Institute

Cato Courses Program Manager leading growth and production of educational platform at Cato Institute. Collaborating with alumni and educational organizations to enhance learning opportunities.

Posted 7/3/2026full-timeWashington • District of Columbia, Washington • 🇺🇸 United StatesJuniorMid-Level💰 $60,000 - $85,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Launch and lead the Cato Courses Scholarship Program from the ground up, including eligibility criteria, application design, selection process, recipient communications, and ongoing reporting on program outcomes.
Assist scholars, instructional designers, and outside contributors in producing new courses, contributing to scripting, review cycles, asset gathering, AI-conversation design, quiz development, and final quality control before publication.
Audit existing courses on a regular cadence for factual accuracy, pedagogical clarity, accessibility, and alignment with Cato’s editorial standards.
Build and steward ongoing relationships with course alumni and with allied educational organizations, student groups, and affiliated programs.
Work closely with Educational Programs, Sphere Education Initiatives, marketing, web, design, and scholarly staff to keep course launches, scholarship cycles, and promotional efforts on schedule and on message.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in education, communications, public policy, political science, or a related field preferred, but not required
2 to 4 years of professional experience in program management, educational programs, scholarship administration, or content production
Experience designing and running an application-based program (scholarship, fellowship, grant, or admissions) is a strong plus
Familiarity with online learning platforms, learning management systems, or course-authoring tools
Squarespace experience is a plus
Basic comfort using AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, and similar) in daily work
Comfort with CRM and analytics tools (Salesforce and Google Analytics preferred)
Demonstrated interest in libertarian or classical liberal ideas consistent with the Cato Institute’s mission.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
Generous vacation and sick leave
Paid parental leave
Employer-provided life and disability insurance
401(k) with employer match
Transit/Parking benefits
Pet discount plan

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Program ManagementCourse DesignContent ProductionApplication DesignQuality ControlFactual Accuracy AuditingAccessibility StandardsAI-Conversation DesignQuiz DevelopmentReporting

Soft Skills

Relationship BuildingCollaborationCommunication