The Tobin Project: Opportunities

Overview of the Organization

The Tobin Project was established a little more than two years ago with the aim of influencing the intellectual climate and, ultimately, public policy. It was named for Nobel Laureate James Tobin. Professor Tobin once observed that the “most important decisions a scholar makes are what problems to work on.” Our work is centered around influencing those decisions – so that academic research can better address many of the core policy challenges facing the nation.

We feel privileged to be working with more than a hundred leading scholars in a wide range of disciplines from over thirty universities across the country. Our work on the role of government, risk, inequality, and national security touches many of the topics that will be central to policy debates in the coming years.

Moving to the Next Stage

We have recently secured another round of substantial financial backing from foundations and individual philanthropists and are presently in a dynamic capacity-building phase. As we move to the next stage, we’re seeking entrepreneurial team members who are passionate about bridging academia and public policy and have the creativity and energy to craft new ways of helping scholars and policymakers tackle our biggest challenges. New opportunities include:

Director Of Policy
Director Of Publications
Director Of Collaborative Technologies
Program Fellows & Program Managers
Summer Positions
Research Assistants

Director of Policy

The Tobin Project’s Policy Director will foster links between scholars and policymakers so that scholarly work increasingly reflects pressing problems in the policy world and that lawmakers and other policy experts become more familiar and involved with the newest research of the nation’s leading scholars. The successful candidate will demonstrate proven relationship-building and writing skills, and the capacity to call on policymakers and other policy and advocacy group leaders on a wide range of topics. S/he will hold an advanced degree in a law, business, or policy-related field and will have a deep and personal commitment to the mission of the Tobin Project.

Director Of Publications

The Tobin Project’s Director of Publications will develop and implement a strategy to help increase the presence and influence of academic ideas in the public debate, utilizing both traditional and innovative channels. S/he will be a superb writer and editor with an intimate understanding of the current landscape of academic and popular media. S/he will have experience in publishing, editing, or production and will be driven by a deep and personal commitment to the mission of the Tobin Project.

Director Of Collaborative Technologies

The Tobin Project’s Director of Collaborative Technologies will oversee the creation of new techniques for facilitating cooperation among scholars and policymakers. S/he will work closely with leading scholars, Tobin Project staff, and outside partners to develop and launch new collaboration and research-sharing tools. Successful candidates will have experience or deep interest in new trends and technologies in “peer production,” open educational resources, and social networking. S/he will be an entrepreneurial leader with a facility with emerging technologies and product development and a commitment to the mission of the Tobin Project.

“The Tobin Project is a chance to give people serving in public office the benefit of our nation's best thinkers.”

– United States Senator Jeff Bingaman

Program Fellows and Program Managers

The Tobin Project works to influence scholars’ research agendas, and Program Fellows and Program Managers have primary “in-house” responsibility for developing the mechanisms for doing so. They work closely with Tobin scholars in designing and implementing these efforts, which take the form of unique conferences, workshops, book projects, papers, etc. They also have responsibility for involving policymakers and policy advocates in these projects — both as sources of vital research questions and as audiences for new research findings and frameworks.

Program Fellows will, in addition to crafting programs that develop research agendas, pursue elements of these agendas with their own post-doctoral research and writing. They should have a deep understanding of policy-related literatures.

Program Managers will be outstanding writers and researchers, ideally with relevant work experience and a masters degree in a public policy related field. Candidates with outstanding undergraduate records (but without graduate degrees) are also encouraged to apply.

Program Fellows and Managers would focus on one of the project’s core areas:

Economic Role of the State
Inequality & Mobility
National Security
Political Theory & Law
Risk, Government & Society

“The project is named for Jim Tobin because he understood something both simple & powerful: that American universities can be an engine of progress in our democracy.”

– United States Representative Rosa DeLauro

Summer Positions, Research Positions, and Part-Time Roles

Our annual summer program for students in undergraduate and graduate programs provides substantial exposure to the Tobin Project and more broadly to academic research and policy work. Summer team members have in the past worked on projects in our research areas as well on policy, development, and managerial efforts. We have research assistant positions available throughout the year. From time to time, we have part-time positions available in our various areas. Outstanding candidates who are interested should inquire about these as well.

Applications and Nominations

Applications and nominations should be sent to Mitchell Weiss at opportunities@tobinproject.org. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications should include a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume or CV, and where you learned of the position. Program Fellow and Program Manager applications should include writing samples and academic transcripts (which can be unofficial). In order to expedite the internal sorting and reviewing process, please type your name and the desired position as the only content in the subject line of your e-mail.

The Tobin Project is an equal opportunity employer.

The Tobin Project
One Mifflin Place – Suite 240
Cambridge, MA 02138

617.547.2600
www.tobinproject.org
opportunities@tobinproject.org

Tobin Project, Inc. is a non-partisan organization recognized as a public charity under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.