Vice President of Policy and Programs

Title Vice President of Policy and Programs

Location ( Hybrid) Washington , DC preferred / Open to candidates located within the United States who are willing to travel 25 percent to participate in DC-based work

Salary $175 ,000 – $210 ,000 + benefits

Timeline The position is open until filled. Expected start date : Q1 2026.

The Washington Center for Equitable Growth seeks a V ice P resident of P olicy and P rograms -a strategic and creative leader , who is energized by our work of promoting evidence-based economic policies that reduce inequality and lead to economic growth. In this role, you will deve lop strategies and drive the p rogramming for the organization, be a key thought partner to the P resident and CEO, and represent the organization with other advocates, academic researchers, policymakers, media, and philanthropy . A s a member of the E xecutive T eam, you will serve a critical management function, overseeing three organizational departments , liaising with the Board of Directors , and helping foster an efficient, p roductive , and inclusive workplace culture.

This is an opportunity to shape and evaluate the kinds of policies that create meaningful and positive change for working people and families. Join us! Learn more about our open positions here .

About Us

The Washington Center for Equitable Growth (Equitable Growth) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan economic policy or ga nizati on that connects economic evidence and policy to promote shared prosperity and growth in the United States . We do this by seeding policy-relevant research agendas and fu ndi ng research, elevating schola rs and t heir work within the policy world, and translating evidence for policy makers . Our vision is a dynamic U.S. economy in which prosperity is broadly shared, economic policy is driven by evidence, and workers and families are thriving .

L ocated in Washington , DC, Equitable Growth has an annual budget of ​ ​ $7.5 million , a staff of 25 people, and hundreds of partners with whom we collaborate across an ecosystem of academics, policymakers, and advocates . We work in a wide variety of issue areas that affect equitable economic growth, such as inequality and mobili ty, labor and organizing , macroeconomic policy, antitrust and competition, tax and fiscal policy, an d family economic security. Founded in 2013, Equitable Growth has seeded more than ​ ​ $12.6 million to more than 400 scholars in the United States through its competitive  grants program . Learn more about our work here .

About the p osition

The V ice P resident of P olicy and P rograms is a key organizational leader who furthers Equitable Growth's vision by shaping and driving the overall strategy for our programmatic work, including policy, communications, and our academic grantmaking and academic network engagement . Reporting directly to the P resident and CEO , and serving as a critical thought partner to her and other leaders across the organization, this position is part of the E xecutive T eam. The VP manages the Senior Director of Communications and Marketing , the Director of Academic Programs , the Deputy Director of Policy , and the Chief Economist . The VP works closely with the directors of each of the programs and with other Equitable Growth leadership, including the Board of Directors, to ensure that our programs are strategically connected, grounded in organizational values, and working toward common goals. Responsibilities include :

Program matic strategy, direction , and management

• As a member of the Executive Team, set the organizational strategy and organizational goals
• Work with the rest of the E xecutive and S enior L eadership T eams to develop, implement , and assess progress toward our organizational and program strategies , while reflecting our commitment to approaching our work with integrity, transparency, and rigor
• Provide direct supervision for the leaders of three program teams (Academic Programs, Communications and Marketing , Policy and Advocacy ), as well as the Chief Economist, ensuring cohesion across teams for strategic objectives and mutual accountability
• Foster innovation by creating a generative and creative space for team members to bring new ideas and assess their feasibility and alignment with strategy and resources
• Be responsive to ongoing needs across the national ecosystem, building longer-term initiatives , as well as looking for moments of opportunity in the world to seize for critical impact
• Work with staff to develop systems to ensure consistent, high-quality project management
• Collaborate with stakeholders, building alignment and energy to drive shared policy priorities
• Model an organizational culture that creates community and welcomes dialogue and learning

Upcoming organizational projects to include :

Organizational l eadership

​ ​ ​ Qualifications

Bonus q ualifications : We are open to drawing candidates from a wide range of professional and educational backgrounds. Other not required , but welcomed , experiences are : work experience in federal, local , or state government, experience as an academic or working with academics, experience as an organizer or campaigner, experience managing multiple kinds of program teams.

Start d ate, l ocation,  c ompensation , and b enefits

This is a hybrid position based out of our Washington, DC office. It is preferred that candidates reside in the Washington area, but we are open to candidates who reside elsewhere in the United States as long as they can commit to being available during E astern T ime business hours (our meetings are typically conducted between 9 : 00 a . m . and 5 : 00 p . m . ET); regular travel to Washington, DC (estimated at 25 percent ) .

Our goal is to have the VP begin their role during the first quarter of 2026 .

The annual compensation for this position is $175 ,000 – $210 ,000 , depending on experience.

Additionally, employees receive a comprehensive benefit s package, including the following items and more :

Staff at Equitable Growth are members of a union, NPEU-IFPTE Local 70, excluding management and certain other categories. This position is in management.

Application i nstructions and h iring p rocess

This position is open until filled, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

​ ​ ​ APPLY AT THIS LINK by uploading these items :

Nonprofit talent agency People Power is the search partner for this hire. We appreciate your time and interest in contributing your talents to Equitable Growth's mission. Thank you! You will receive an email auto-reply to your application. We wish we could respond personally to all applicants, but only those chosen to interview will be contacted. Please do not contact Equitable Growth directly to inquire about the status of your application .

Note : We will not be responding to inquiries from December 22, 2025 to January 5, 2026 , but will respond to any messages received during that time when we return to office after winter break.

Selected applicants will be invited to an initial 30-minute screening interview with People Power via phone. Those who continue in the process will have an opportunity to meet with a variety of Equitable Growth team members and will be invited to a 30- minute introductory conversation with Equitable Growth leadership and two longer - form interviews with leadership and staff teams.

We welcome your interest and feedback. If you meet the minimum requirements for this position and would like to make a

The Washington Center for Equitable Growth is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an equal opportunity employer. We strive to model an organizational culture of belonging and inclusion, creating community in ways that value and respect each other's humanity and the diversity of lived experience , while welcoming dialogue across viewpoints and positions to ensure that all can contribute authentically. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or disability.

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