Senior Specialist, Research & Philanthropic Initiatives & Engagement

About The Role

The Senior Specialist, Research & Philanthropic Initiatives and Engagement serves as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to the Vice President, Philanthropy Strategy & Research, supporting the advancement of the National Student Clearinghouse's research and philanthropic initiatives, and organizational thought leadership priorities. This role helps translate organizational strategy into action by synthesizing insights across research, product, philanthropy, and external trends to inform executive decision-making, strategic initiatives, and stakeholder engagement. Working closely with the Vice President and cross-functional leaders, the Senior Specialist develops executive communications, thought leadership content, and engagement strategies that elevate the Clearinghouse's mission, data, and impact across the education and workforce ecosystem. As a senior individual contributor, the position operates with a high degree of influence, driving alignment, accountability, and execution across complex initiatives. The role serves as an extension of the Vice President by anticipating needs, connecting priorities across teams, managing strategic projects, and ensuring the organization's external presence and engagement activities are aligned with enterprise objectives.

Currently, this is a remote-first position, and this position may be required to periodically work on-site at our office and the frequency would depend on the department/division's requirements. Therefore, candidates must either reside within a reasonable distance to commute to our office or be willing to travel to our office in Herndon, when required.

How You Contribute

• Demonstrate the Clearinghouse's core competencies: Customer Focus, Optimizes Work Processes, Collaborates, Communicates Effectively, and Be Open and Authentic.
• Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the Vice President, Philanthropy Strategy & Research, helping assess opportunities, prioritize initiatives, and advance departmental and organizational objectives.
• Synthesize insights from research, philanthropy, product, policy, and organizational activities to inform executive decision-making, thought leadership priorities, and external engagement strategies.
• Manage special projects and strategic initiatives on behalf of the Vice President, coordinating stakeholders and facilitating progress toward desired outcomes.
• Represent and advance the Vice President's priorities across cross-functional teams, fostering alignment, collaboration, and accountability.
• Translate complex research, data, and organizational priorities into clear, compelling narratives, presentations, briefing materials, and other executive-level communications.
• Partner with the Vice President to identify emerging trends and key topics that strengthen the National Student Clearinghouse's position as a trusted source of data, insights, and thought leadership.
• Partnering with leaders across the organization to develop messaging, engagement approaches, and thought leadership strategies that reflect department priorities and perspectives.
• Support the development and advancement of strategic engagement opportunities with philanthropic, educational, governmental, and other mission-aligned partners.
• Prepare executive briefings and strategic recommendations to support high-impact meetings, presentations, and external engagements.
• Support the Vice President to plan and execute Research Community Advisory Board (RCAB) activities, developing agendas, meeting materials, strategic insights, and recommendations that drive productive discussions and inform organizational strategy.
• Drive cross-functional coordination of strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment of priorities, messaging, timelines, and deliverables across teams.
• Establish and maintain processes, tools, and operating rhythms that support visibility, accountability, effective communication, and execution of key initiatives.
• Monitor progress against strategic priorities, track commitments and deliverables, and ensure continuity and follow-through from concept through implementation.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned. Position may be required to perform other duties as required.

What You Bring To The Table

• Bachelor's degree in communications, business, marketing, or any related field. A combination of education and experience including military service will also be considered.
• 6 years of direct and relevant experience supporting strategic initiatives within a mission-driven or nonprofit environment, including strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, partnership development, executive support, influencing without formal authority, and leading cross-functional efforts to advance organizational priorities.
• Knowledge of strategic communications, thought leadership, and external engagement practices within mission-driven, research-focused, or nonprofit organizations.
• Ability to translate complex research, data, policy, and organizational insights into clear, compelling, audience-appropriate messaging for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience developing executive-level presentations, briefing materials, speeches, reports, and thought leadership content for diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical, synthesis, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to identify patterns, connect insights across diverse domains, assess complex internal and external dynamics, develop solutions to emerging challenges, and articulate implications for organizational strategy and priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a trusted strategic advisor to leadership, anticipating needs, framing key issues, influencing outcomes, and supporting decision-making without formal authority.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, develop operational plans, ensure execution, and maintain exceptional attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective stakeholder management and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to build relationships, engage cross-functional teams, foster alignment, and support cohesive organizational narratives and priorities.
• Ability to develop positioning and messaging strategies for external engagement opportunities, ensuring consistency with organizational goals, research insights, and strategic priorities.
• Demonstrated sound judgment, discretion, professionalism, and resourcefulness, including the ability to remain calm and effective under pressure while handling sensitive or high-visibility matters.
• Demonstrates the Clearinghouse's core competencies: customer focus, optimizes work processes, communicates effectively, collaborates, and is open and authentic.
• Must live within a commutable distance to Herndon, VA or in one of the Clearinghouse's approved States for hiring purposes.
• Must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
• Must be at least 18 years old.

Additional Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree
• Direct experience with strategic consulting with non-profit organizations.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or contributing to thought leadership initiatives, executive communications, and strategic external engagement efforts within mission-driven, nonprofit, research, or policy-oriented organizations.
• Experience partnering with senior leaders to support externally facing engagements, including convenings, speaking opportunities, stakeholder briefings, or philanthropic discussions.
• Proven experience working in environments that require translation of complex research, policy, or data insights into externally relevant narratives and engagement opportunities.
• Familiarity with the higher education, workforce, credentialing, philanthropic, or policy landscape, including awareness of key stakeholders, trends, and ecosystem dynamics.
• Experience operating in highly collaborative, cross-functional environments, supporting initiatives that span research, product, strategy, and external engagement teams.
• Experience supporting or contributing to initiatives with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities, ideally in a fast-paced or evolving organizational context.

Physical Demands

• Use of a computer for 8 or more hours a day.
• Use of a telephone and/or copy machine.
• Frequently required to sit for 7 or more hours per day.
• Occasionally required to use hands and fingers to operate, handle, and reach.
• Vision abilities include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to travel on a limited basis (approximately 10-15%) for occasional in-office meetings, team events, or business needs.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as life and disability insurance benefits, for employees and their qualified dependents.
• Health care, dependent care, and limited purpose flexible spending accounts, as well as a health savings account with annual employer contributions of $300 for employees and $600 for employees who are enrolled with their spouse and/or dependents.
• Voluntary supplemental health plans for Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage, and infertility coverage.
• Generous 401k matching contribution program with the opportunity to defer pre-tax and Roth contributions, as well as catch-up contributions for those who are eligible.
• Competitive paid leave program consisting of vacation, sick, and personal time, as well as paid holidays.
• Up to 3 weeks of paid parental leave during a 12-month period.
• Up to 5 days of paid military leave per calendar year.
• Vacation time accrues based on length of service; new full-time hires can accrue up to 13 days of vacation and up to 10 days of sick time per year.
• On an annual basis, new employees may use up to 32 hours of accrued sick time as personal time.
• The Clearinghouse observes at least 15 paid holidays per year, including company year-end close between Christmas and New Year's.