ITIF Job Openings: Cummunications Director and Innovation Economist

2 Information Technology & Innovation Foundation Job Openings:

Communications Director and Innovation Economist

Communications Director:

ITIF  is seeking a Communications Director.  We believe that innovation is central to spurring economic growth and addressing key societal challenges and that public policies should actively work to support innovation.  ITIF works to help policymakers around the world understand the critical importance of innovation. We focus on technology policy issues such as broadband, e-commerce and e-government, privacy and copyright, research policy, trade and innovation, green energy innovation, and other policy issues. We produce publications, hold events, meet with policymakers, speak at forums and engage in other activities to shape technology policy.

This is a position reporting to the President of ITIF.  It is an exciting opportunity for someone who would like to not only deepen their policy expertise, but also influence the public debate on these critical issues.

Essential Responsibilities:

§  Plan and execute strategic communications program to raise ITIF’s profile and position it as a thought leader among U.S. and international policy-makers and the news media.

§  Build relationships with the news media — including business, technology and policy reporters and commentators at national newspapers, trade publications, broadcast outlets and blogs.

§  Write op eds, press releases, blog posts and other products designed to expand the coverage for ITIF’s policy work.

§  Engage in outreach to Capitol Hill to help members and staff better understand ITIF policy work.

Qualifications Requirements:

§  A minimum of seven years’ experience with increasing levels of responsibility for planning and executing communications programs.

§  Proven ability to handle multiple communications projects at once.

§  A track record of getting strong results with media relations, including getting op-eds placed and generating coverage for research reports and events.

§  Strong journalist writing and editing ability are essential.

§  Existing relationships with technology, business, and policy reporters and knowledge of technology policy issues would be a plus.

§  Thorough understanding of digital communications is a must, including the fundamentals of Web site management and e-mail list maintenance. Practical experience using social media to raise the profile of an organization and/or influence policy debates would be a plus.

§  Strong understanding of public policy is essential. Working knowledge of technology-policy issues and experience on Capitol Hill would be a plus.

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Innovation Economist:

ITIF has a temporary opening (one year) with the possibility of renewal for additional years for an economist with a research interest in neo-Schumpeterian economics, with a particular focus on the economics of global warming and the role of innovation in addressing it.

Essential Responsibilities:

§  Plan and conduct a policy research program focused on the limitations of the conventional neo-classical doctrine in providing effective solutions to climate change and the role of innovation and innovation economics in addressing climate change.

§  Write policy reports, blog posts, op-eds, and other policy materials on the role of innovation in addressing climate change.

§  Speak at forums and events.

§  Organize policy conferences, roundtables, and other events on the role of innovation in addressing climate change.

§  Engage in outreach to Capitol Hill to help members and staff better understand the role of innovation in climate change.

Qualifications Requirements:

§  A minimum of a Master’s Degree and ideally a Ph.D. in Public Policy or Economics, ideally with a focus on the economics of growth and/or environmental economics.

§  An ability to write for policy audiences and an understanding of the public policy process.

§  Strong understanding of various, competing economic schools of thought, with solid understanding of neo-Schumpeterian economics (e.g., innovation economics, endogenous growth theory, evolutionary economics).

§  Strong understanding of the process of technological innovation.

§  Experience with clean energy technologies is a plus.

Please include a writing sample for the Innovation Economist position.

ITIF offers a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits. Send resume with cover letter, writing sample, and salary requirements to: Director of Personnel, ITIF, 1101 K Street, NW, Suite 610, Washington, DC, 20005. Fax (202) 638-4922 or email mail@itif.org. View our website at www.itif.org.