The Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

To achieve our mission of a more free, just, and equitable society, we commit to working proactively to advance the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our myriad endeavors such as the recruitment, compensation, training, and advancement of staff. The best people-serving institutions make this commitment, and we seek to be a leader in the ways that we do so and learn from others. Visit our website to learn more about our commitment and recent actions taken toward building and nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment.


Program Description:

The communications and Marketing Department creates compelling content to elevate and position the Aspen Institute as a values-based organization that ignites human potential through dialogue, leadership, and action to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. The department also serves as an in-house agency that provides communications and marketing support to the Institute’s 40+ programs, initiatives, public events, fundraising efforts, and the president’s office. Learn more at aspeninstitute.org.

Basic Function:

The Director of Content Strategy is responsible for translating our goals into an actionable and measurable plan to engage audiences with our content. They will collaborate with the department’s leadership to set editorial voice and vision, identify key platforms and channels, and lead a small team of creators to produce and curate stories across digital, print, and video. They will create a culture of continuous improvement by acting on insights in audience data and feedback.

The ideal person for this role will be at ease at multiple altitudes: strategic, creative, and tactical. They are entrepreneurial and self-starting. They are comfortable with complexity and enjoy synthesizing many data points into elegantly simple concepts. They will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure consistent brand messaging. They are obsessively audience-focused and data-driven. They live inside the Internet and understand how great stories travel.

The expectation is for this role to be in our Washington, D.C. or NYC office a minimum of two times a week to collaborate with colleagues.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Content Strategy and Planning

• Develop and execute a data-driven content strategy that aligns with the department’s objectives, target audience, and key performance indicators (KPIs).

• Lead the creation of high-quality and compelling content for the organization’s digital channels, including the website, social media, email newsletters, and other digital platforms.

• Lead growth for the organization’s digital channels, including the website, social media, email newsletters, and other digital platforms.

• Oversee the editorial calendar for all digital channels, ensuring timely and consistent content delivery.

• Collaborate with the Creative Services and Media Engagement teams to align content efforts with broader marketing campaigns and initiatives.

• Proactively and continuously seek insights in analytics and user feedback to improve performance.

Team Coordination

• Manage, mentor, and support content producers.

• Coordinate with the content producers to ensure seamless content integration across all digital channels.

Collaboration and Communication

• Collaborate with internal teams, leaders, and programs to gather insights and information for storytelling purposes.

• Work closely with the Creative Services and Media Relations teams to ensure consistent brand messaging and engaging storytelling.

• Lead and participate in regular pitch and assignment meetings, contributing creative ideas and insights.

• Partner with the Managing Director to align content efforts with the overall editorial vision and strategy.

Brand Voice and Guidelines

• Maintain brand voice and ensure editorial, visual, and video content consistency.

• Monitor industry trends and best practices to stay ahead of content marketing developments and innovations.

• Ensure all content aligns with brand guidelines and maintains a consistent brand tone.

Content Development and Production

• Lead the development of communications materials and campaigns that support the Institute's priorities.

• Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders and subject matter experts to source relevant information and insights for content creation.

Knowledge, Education, and Experience:

• 7+ years of content strategy, content marketing, or experience, preferably in a high-profile brand, non-profit, or PR agency.

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, or related field preferred.

• Proven track record in crafting and implementing data-driven content strategies that boost audience engagement and brand visibility.

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing content teams, offering mentorship, and cultivating a collaborative work atmosphere.

• Demonstrated exceptional writing and editing skills, a keen eye for detail, and a strong understanding of storytelling techniques.

• Proficiency in diverse content formats (written, visual, video) and adaptability across platforms.

• Strong grasp of digital marketing principles, including SEO, social media, and email marketing.

• Robust analytical abilities to interpret data, glean insights, and make data-backed decisions for content optimization.

• Strategic thinker capable of aligning content strategies with organizational goals and audience preferences.

• Expertise in integrating content efforts with broader marketing campaigns and initiatives.

• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills for cross-functional collaboration with teams, stakeholders, and thought leaders.

• Experience facilitating effective pitch and assignment meetings to drive content ideation and development.

• Demonstrated leadership skills for motivating content creators, nurturing creativity, and maintaining high standards.

• Proficient in project management skills to oversee multiple content projects and meet deadlines.

• Strong knowledge of industry trends and best practices in content marketing, digital communication, and storytelling.

• Passion for storytelling, journalism, and staying attuned to current events and cultural shifts.

• Agility to transition seamlessly between strategic planning and execution.

• Possesses curiosity, empathy, hustle, and grit.

• Ability to travel up to 15% of the year.

• Ideal candidate is comfortable with ambiguity, uncertainty, and adaptability to change.

The Aspen Institute offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, and prescription benefits, retirement benefits, and paid leave.

The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.