Project Manager, Center, Foreign Policy Brookings Institution

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.

The Foreign Policy program at Brookings is the leading center of high-quality, policy-relevant scholarship advancing actionable solutions to the major challenges to international peace and security. Brookings Foreign Policy scholars and staff draw on their deep expertise to engage in in-depth, nonpartisan research and analysis aimed at informing policymakers and the public debate and developing concrete policy recommendations to address the world’s toughest problems.

Position Location: This position is hybrid. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC office with the option of at least two days of remote work each week.

Please Note: This is a term-limited position. The appointment is expected to run through December 2028, contingent upon project needs and continued funding.

The Project Manager in the Brookings China Center plays a central role in the execution of a major new project on the United States and China that will be led by the China Center and will include participation by experts across Brookings. The Project Manager will be responsible for supporting the planning and managing the execution of all research products, events, and internal administration.

This is a complex role which includes soliciting and managing inputs from research groups across Brookings and from outside the institution, and managing and executing convenings, travel, budgets and spending, contracts and invoices, and internal and external communications. The Project Manager collaborates with a broad range of research teams and functional offices and contributes to impact by maintaining high brand standards, upholding institutional policies, and managing important internal and external relationships.

• Serves as primary liaison and manager of the Project’s research groups; organizing regular meetings, coordinating participation in planning, and ensuring consistency and alignment across the Project.
• Manages the day-to-day operations of the Project, including research and publication efforts, events, outreach, budget and grant management, scheduling, and other Project-related activities as needed.
• Creates and manages implementation plans that foster the Project’s operations, growth, and impact. Enforces deadlines as necessary. Contributes to strategic planning and leads in setting operational processes and Project implementation.
• In coordination with Development and Finance teams, serves as the primary Project contact for fundraising efforts and products, including developing proposals and reporting on allocated labor costs, contracts, and Project strategy and outcomes.
• Monitors spending, ensures appropriate use of funds, and arranges, executes, and tracks contracts.
• Coordinates logistics, timelines, and administrative support for scholars participating in the Project, including scholars across Brookings, visiting fellows, outside authors, and other contributors.
• Supervises contributions to the Project of Research Assistants, Interns, and other staff as appropriate.
• Oversees Travel logistics (international and domestic), which may include study tours, fieldwork, stakeholder engagement trips, and product dissemination travel, often in coordination with other…