Work with Us

Company Overview | Close Up’s mission is to inform, inspire, and empower young people to exercise the rights and accept the responsibilities of citizens in a democracy. As a non-profit/non-partisan leader in civic education since 1971, we believe that a strong democracy requires active and informed participation by all citizens; therefore, we seek to reach participants of every race, creed, geographical community, socio-economic level, and academic standing.

Position Overview | The Manager of Partnerships will join the New Products team to develop, market, and grow school-based programs and partnerships, professional development, classroom resources, and other projects and new opportunities for Close Up. This is a multi-faceted position that requires great sales, packaging, and networking skills, as well as a strong interest in education and knowledge of school systems. As a Manager, this position will require great independence and initiative, an ability to lead new projects and work collaboratively and cross-departmentally, and a strong desire to expand Close Up’s reach, brand, and mission. Some travel is required. The Manager of Partnerships reports to the Head of New Products & Programs.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with school-based programs and partnerships.
• Effectively communicate and work with multiple departments at Close Up to prepare and execute each program or project.
• Maintain a deep understanding of Close Up and our offerings through interdepartmental communication and training.
• Develop and implement new strategies for expanding Close Up’s programming, Professional Development opportunities, virtual programs, and any new products.
• Work closely with the Head of New Products to exceed quota and develop and expand partnerships and new projects.
• Participate in 8 weeks of paid field training where you will be working directly with students on our experiential learning programs in DC.

Qualifications

• Five years of professional sales, marketing, and management experience (preferably in an education or a non-profit organization).
• Experience working interdepartmentally, taking initiative, and launching new projects.
• Enthusiasm for Close Up’s mission to empower young people to become engaged citizens.
• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university.
• Exceptional relationship building skills both internally and externally.
• High level of ownership, accountability, and initiative.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Willingness to travel for meetings, trainings, and conferences.
• Authorized to work in the U.S. for any employer.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination as required by company policy.

Compensation and Benefits | Close Up provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes three robust medical insurance plans, dental insurance (more than 90% of the premiums are company paid), and vision. Close Up pays 100% of the premiums for life/AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, and offers flexible spending and dependent care accounts, a 403(b) retirement savings program, paid vacation/sick/holidays, paid parental leave, metro subsidy or free garage parking, free on-site gym, and a positive work environment.

If you are excited about the prospect of becoming a part of Close Up, a nonprofit that has impacted more than 900,000 students over 50 years, we welcome you to apply by sending your resume and cover letter to resumes@closeup.org.

No phone calls or recruiters, please.

Close Up Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Position Overview | Responsible for assisting the Senior Night Monitor in maintaining safety and decorum of participants, who are staying at designated Close Up hotels. Scheduled work hours are between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, unless otherwise stated.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Assists the Senior Night Monitor and program staff in maintaining decorum by patrolling and monitoring student lounges, hallways, lobby, stairwells and hotel environs as required.
• Performs nightly student room checks.
• Monitors student adherence to Close Up rules and policies.
• Reports any problems, concerns and/or emergencies immediately to the Senior Night Monitor.
• Submits an accurate timesheet online biweekly.
• Arrives promptly at hotel with correct uniform and ID badge.
• May include other duties as assigned by Program Services Manager.

 Minimum Qualifications

• Authorized to work in the U.S. for any employer without sponsorship.
• Willing to undergo a background check in accordance with local law/regulations.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination as required by company policy.

This position is part-time, part-year (seasonal). The current contract period is from March 6 – June 30, 2022. The hourly rate is $13.50 and is non-exempt from OT.

If you are excited about the prospect of becoming a part of Close Up, a nonprofit that has impacted more than 900,000 students over 50 years, we welcome you to apply and submit your resume here.

No phone calls or recruiters, please.

Close Up Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Position Overview | Responsible for registering participants, providing excellent customer service, assigning room numbers, computer data entry, printing reports, and communicating efficiently and effectively with Close Up Program Leaders. Scheduled work hours vary but usually last the entire day and are generally on weekends.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Greets the participants in a friendly manner.
• Distributes participant nametags, schedules, and Close Up memorabilia.
• Works together with Concierge staff to ensure all participants feel welcome by demonstrating excellent customer service skills.
• Coordinates with the hotel front desk and distributes room keys to participants in an orderly fashion.
• Inputs information into Close Up’s database system to be printed and distributed to the Close Up program staff, Night Monitors and hotel front desk employees.
• Communicates any problems or concerns to the Close Up program staff at the hotel.
• Submits an accurate timesheet each week.
• Arrives promptly at hotel with correct uniform and ID badge.
• Travel to their assigned Close Up hotel.

Minimum Qualifications

• Authorized to work in the U.S. for any employer without sponsorship.
• Willing to undergo a background check in accordance with local law/regulations.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination as required by company policy.

This position is part-time, part-year (seasonal). The current contract period is from March 6 – June 30, 2022. The hourly rate is $13.50 and is non-exempt from OT.

If you are excited about the prospect of becoming a part of Close Up, a nonprofit that has impacted more than 900,000 students over 50 years, we welcome you to apply and submit your resume here.

No phone calls or recruiters, please.

Close Up Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Do you like to travel and want to be paid to do so? Are you excited about unlimited earning potential with a solid base salary? Are you a “people person” that enjoys building relationships? Close Up Foundation is looking to hire an energetic Outreach Coordinator and you might be the perfect fit for this position.

Company Overview | Close Up Foundation is the nation’s leading non-profit civic education organization dedicated to helping students become more effective and informed citizens. To fulfill this mission, Close Up works with over 20,000 students and teachers each year in Washington, DC, New York, and various other historic sites, bringing them face-to-face with their elected officials, policy experts, and peers from across the country.

Position Overview | Outreach Coordinators are tasked with building networks and relationships with educators and community leaders to increase participation in Close Up’s Washington, DC-based programs. You will work within a defined territory, and by phone calls, virtual and in-person meetings, you will forge connections with school districts and community organizations to achieve planned participation goals. Your role at Close Up will directly affect our impact on youth nationwide. Every day brings something new, and training is provided to ensure you succeed! The position is based out of Close Up’s Virginia office, but includes the option for partial remote work.

Responsibilities

• Actively manage and grow a dedicated territory that includes a large, pre-existing network of customers.
• Prospect and identify new schools and organizations through a variety of generation activities including emails, cold calls, and in-person meetings.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with current and new accounts.
• Maintain a deep understanding of Close Up and our offerings through interdepartmental communication and training.
• Achieve and exceed annual objectives and quotas.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university or six years of experience in sales, education or non-profit work.
• Exceptional relationship building skills both internally and externally.
• High level of ownership, accountability, and initiative.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Willingness to travel for meetings, trainings, and conferences.
• Authorized to work in the U.S. for any employer.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination as required by company policy.

Benefits

• Base salary plus uncapped bonus/commission
• Corporate AMEX card for travel
• Health, Vision and Dental Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts – Health & Dependent Care
• Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, and Parental Leave
• Short/Long-term Disability and Life/AD&D Insurance
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Cell Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program

Please apply here. Upload a brief statement or cover letter describing why this position is the right fit for your skills and experience.

Close Up Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.

No recruitment needed.

Company Overview │ Close Up is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, civic education organization that aims to inform, inspire, and empower young people to become active participants in our democracy. We believe a strong democracy requires engagement by all citizens. Therefore, we seek to reach youth from all communities and all backgrounds, regardless of race, religion, gender, socioeconomic level, or academic standing. Since 1971, we have partnered with schools nationwide to serve nearly one million students and educators through experiential programs in our nation’s capital and in local communities, virtual after-school and summer programs, professional development for educators, and curriculum and resource design.

Position Overview │ The Fundraising Development Manager is critical to developing Close Up’s capacity to secure support that sustains the organization and expands its long-term impact. The person in this role will report to the Chief External Affairs Officer and collaborate with Close Up leadership. This individual will sustain and grow the portfolio, manage workflow, supervise the preparation of narrative and financial materials, and develop systems to increase efficiency. The Foundation’s fundraising efforts often have a focus on increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The ideal candidate has strong philanthropic networks and demonstrated success in fundraising. They are driven and capable of translating our mission into compelling cases for support.

This position is based in the Washington, DC, area but there is telework flexibility.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate new donations from individuals, foundations, grantors, and corporations.
• Manage the grant calendar and develop letters, pitches, proposals, and reports for funders.
• Work with leadership to develop donor and prospect cultivation and solicitation, and implement a fundraising strategy.
• Manage development staff and workflow to ensure timely submission of proposals, reports, and other funder-related deliverables.
• Collaborate with the Communications and Marketing Teams to develop collateral and opportunities to amplify donor support.
• Support senior leadership with introductory calls and preparation for meetings with potential donors.
• Follow and understand the latest trends and developments in politics and civic education.
• Participate in paid field training, in which you will work directly with students on our experiential learning programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university.
• 5-7 years of experience in fundraising, business development, and/or sales.
• A track record of success in meeting ambitious fundraising goals.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.
• The ability to work both independently and collaboratively across the organization.
• A creative thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Detail-oriented with exceptional organizational and time-management skills.
• Willingness to travel to support prospecting and engaging donors.
• Previous experience in education preferred.
• Passion for Close Up’s mission and civic education.

Compensation and Benefits │ Close Up provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes three robust medical insurance plans, dental insurance (more than 90 percent of premiums are company-paid), and vision coverage. Close Up pays 100 percent of the premiums for life/AD&D insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance, and offers flexible spending and dependent care accounts, a 403(b) retirement savings program, paid vacation/sick days/holidays, paid parental leave, a Metro subsidy or free garage parking, a free on-site gym, and a positive work environment.

If you are excited about the prospect of joining Close Up and this position sounds like a great fit, please apply here.

No phone calls or recruiters, please.

The Close Up Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Organization Overview | Close Up’s mission is to inform, inspire, and empower young people to exercise the rights and accept the responsibilities of citizens in a democracy. As a non-profit/non-partisan leader in civic education since 1971, we believe that a strong democracy requires active and informed participation by all citizens; therefore, we seek to reach participants of every race, creed, geographical community, socio-economic level, and academic standing. We reach about 25,000 participants annually through our in-person, placed-based programming, teacher professional development, virtual programs, and classroom curriculum.

We Believe:

1. Democracy requires members who are able to reflect on their own values and interests as well as the values and interests of others, communicate their ideas and visions, and take active steps to advance their political goals.
2. Young people must learn and practice the dispositions and skills needed to become lifelong active and engaged participants in democracy.
3. Engaging young people in public policy discussion and deliberation of current controversial issues will give them the skills and desire for lifelong participation in the democratic process.
4. By remaining nonpartisan and exposing young people to a variety of perspectives, we encourage them to consider a range of ideas and form their own opinions.
5. Encountering and engaging with those who may have different backgrounds provides young people with a more nuanced understanding of how policy decisions will affect all within a community.

Position Overview | The Manager of Student Programs is a strong culture and relationship builder who actively engages and builds relationships with Close Up staff, ensuring that each program retains academic integrity by meeting its stated mission and goals. They work closely with the Director of Student Programs to work on long-term planning and immediate responses to ensure the quality of programs and the experience of participants.

Primary Responsibilities

Program life moves very quickly. The Manager of Student Programs can expect to be faced with a variety of complex situations simultaneously and must prioritize based on importance and urgency.

• Aid in the management and growth of program staff (Program Leaders, Student Program Specialists, Program Instructors, Program Assistants)
• Develop meaningful relationships with staffers to ensure a high level of trust and engagement.
• Provide on-call and on-site assistance to resolve a variety of issues while running student programs.
• Serve as the administrator of record (Program Leader) for assigned Close Up programs and be present on these programs and being on call 24/7 during the program (about 25%)
• Maintain continuous evaluation and feedback to program staffers for professional development.
• Assist in administrative tasks of program logistics including maintaining program materials, and overseeing staffing.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university
• 3-5 years of management experience in a school, camp, or other educational setting
• Expertise with coaching/mentoring a team of professionals especially early career staffers, performance management, employee relations, crisis/conflict management, and team building
• Passion for working with diverse students in grades 6-12
• Willingness to travel for program responsibilities (less than 15%)
• Authorized to work in the U.S. for any employer
• Proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination as required by company policy
• Willingness to submit to a post-offer criminal background check according to federal regulations

Other (Preferred) Qualifications

• Camp or residential life experience
• Exceptional planning, prioritization and execution skills
• Ability to communicate in a direct and sensitive fashion with all stakeholders
• Calm under pressure and ability to manage stress and balance others
• Energetic and possess stamina and endurance
• Professional demeanor and strong work ethic
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently as well as lead, support and encourage a team

Training | The Manager of Student Programs will have an extended training period during which they will be trained in and execute the roles that they would eventually aid in the management of including: Program Instructor, Program Leader and Program Assistant. This would happen gradually and overlap with becoming integrated into the leadership team.

Compensation and Benefits | The Manager of Student Programs’ starting salary range is $55,000 to $65,000 per year. In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, Close Up provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes three robust medical insurance plans, dental insurance, and vision discount (more than 90% of the premiums are company paid). Close Up pays 100% of the premiums for life/AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, and offers flexible spending and dependent care accounts, a 403(b) retirement savings program, paid vacation/sick/holidays, paid parental leave, metro subsidy or free garage parking, free on-site gym, and a positive work environment.

Work Conditions and Physical Demands | Standing: Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time; Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another; Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; those activities where detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly; Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and making fine discriminations in sound; Visual acuity: Performing an activity such as preparing and analyzing data; viewing a computer terminal; reading; Environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside, potentially in extreme heat or cold, at times at a high noise level.

If you are excited about the prospect of becoming the Manager of Student Programs, we welcome you to apply and explore how you can be part of an amazing team who has led more than 900,000 students over 50 years through a once-in-a-lifetime Close Up experience. Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@closeup.org.

Close Up Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Organization Overview | Close Up’s mission is to inform, inspire, and empower young people to exercise the rights and accept the responsibilities of citizens in a democracy. As a non-profit/non-partisan leader in civic education since 1971, we believe that a strong democracy requires active and informed participation by all citizens; therefore, we seek to reach participants of every race, creed, geographical community, socio-economic level, and academic standing. We reach about 25,000 participants annually through our in-person, placed-based programming, teacher professional development, virtual programs, and classroom curriculum.

We Believe:

1. Democracy requires members who are able to reflect on their own values and interests as well as the values and interests of others, communicate their ideas and visions, and take active steps to advance their political goals.
2. Young people must learn and practice the dispositions and skills needed to become lifelong active and engaged participants in democracy.
3. Engaging young people in public policy discussion and deliberation of current controversial issues will give them the skills and desire for lifelong participation in the democratic process.
4. By remaining nonpartisan and exposing young people to a variety of perspectives, we encourage them to consider a range of ideas and form their own opinions.
5. Encountering and engaging with those who may have different backgrounds provides young people with a more nuanced understanding of how policy decisions will affect all within a community.

Position Overview | The Program Leader is passionate about working with diverse students in grades 6-12 in a residential week-long academic program. As the manager of the program, the Program Leader balances the many needs of program by ensuring the safety of participants, maintaining the academic integrity of program, managing program staff and working cross functionally within the organization and external vendors to provide excellent customer service to our participants and to respond to emergent problems on program.

As part of the Program Leaders Team, they recruit, hire, help train and manage a staff of Program Instructors. Program Leaders stay up to date on Close Up Curriculum and work with Coaching & Training Specialists to develop their staff. Program Leaders utilize their expertise of curriculum and program to contribute to the overall design and execution of program. While not on program, Program Leaders assist on projects and tasks that facilitate program implementation and generally further Foundation goals.

Program Leaders have direct contact with participants who may not have received a COVID-19 vaccination, therefore, Program Leaders wear masks and practice other COVID-19 safety precautions as required by company policy.

Primary Responsibilities | Program life moves very quickly. The Program Leader should expect to be faced with a variety of complex situations simultaneously and must prioritize based on importance and urgency.

• Serve as the administrator of record for assigned Close Up programs and be present on these programs and being on call 24/7 during the program
• Ensure Close Up policies are followed by program staff and participants
• Provide logistical and academic leadership for a staff of about 10 including giving feedback and written evaluations
• Work with internal Foundation staff to produce the best possible program outcomes
• Provide customer service to our partners, students, teachers, and parents
• Maintain and improve external vendor relations in collaboration with other departments
• Recruit, hire and manage program staff in conjunction with other Program Leaders
• Other program-related tasks as assigned/necessary
• Seek to innovate and improve program for participants and staff

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited college/university (preferably in political science, history, education, social science or related field)
• At least one year of experience delivering and/or managing educational programs
• At least one year of supervisory experience, coaching and managing a team
• Willingness to travel overnight for program responsibilities
• Authorized to work in the U.S. for any employer
• Proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination as required by company policy
• Willingness to submit to a post-offer criminal background check according to federal regulations

Other Qualifications

• Passion for working with diverse students in grades 6-12
• Experience in a school, camp, or other educational setting
• Interest in current public policy issues, history, politics, government and experiential education
• Familiarity with Washington, D.C.
• Strategic thinker who can prioritize multiple tasks at once and use sound judgement in decision making process
• Ability to prepare for and react to challenging situations with program participants and staff
• Excellent communication skills including speaking and presentation skills
• Attention to detail and organized
• Calm under pressure and ability to manage stress and balance needs of others

Schedule | Program Leaders are typically assigned to about 25 programs per year, concentrated between October through June. While assigned to a program, the Program Leader’s schedule is not your standard 9 to 5 work week. It mirrors the program schedule to which a Program Leader is assigned, generally a 50-60-hour week. Program schedules typically run from 8am through 11pm most days, and programs usually start in the afternoon on Sundays and run through Thursday night. In addition to an annual leave benefit there are built in breaks in our program schedule for end of year holidays.

Training | The Program Leader will have an extended training period during which they will be trained in and execute the roles that they would eventually aid in the recruitment, hiring and management of including: Program Instructor and Program Assistant.

Compensation and Benefits | The starting salary range is $44,000 to $49,000 per year. In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, Close Up provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes three robust medical insurance plans, dental insurance, and vision discount (more than 90% of the premiums are company paid). Close Up pays 100% of the premiums for both life/AD&D insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance, and offers flexible spending and dependent care accounts, a 403(b) retirement savings program, paid vacation/sick/holidays, paid parental leave, metro subsidy or free garage parking, free on-site gym, and a positive work environment.

Work Conditions and Physical Demands | Standing: Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time; Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another; Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; those activities where detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly; Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and making fine discriminations in sound; Visual acuity: Performing an activity such as preparing and analyzing data; viewing a computer terminal; reading; Environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside, potentially in extreme heat or cold, at times at a high noise level.

If you are excited about the prospect of joining Close Up and this position sounds like a great fit, please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@closeup.org.

Close Up Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

COMPANY OVERVIEW | As a civic education non-profit, our mission is to inform, inspire, and empower young people to exercise their rights and accept the responsibilities of citizens in a democracy.  For more than 50 years, we have fulfilled that goal by serving over one million students and teachers across the country through travel and virtual programs, professional development for educators, and classroom resources designed to empower young people for a lifetime of active citizenship.

POSITION OVERVIEW | Close Up is seeking an Account Relations Manager to provide direction and leadership to and is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Account Relations department.  The Account Relations team supports and assists staff internally across the Foundation and externally with our customers. Their duties include communicating customer service objectives to Account Coordinators and other department personnel, compiling data to make assessments of their department’s progress, supporting program implementation by assisting with logistics, teacher orientations and/or teacher reflections, and coordinating with upper management to find ways to enhance their customer service objectives among their employees.

The ideal candidate is someone who is highly organized, flexible, innovative, works well independently, and is also a strong team player. Candidates must have strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as strong interpersonal skills. If you are looking for a collaborative and fast-paced environment, with a great salary and benefits, you are in the right place!

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Other duties may be assigned, as needed.)

• Ability to manage, motivate and lead a team for effective results.
• Ensure all customer questions and issues are handled quickly and resolved.
• Collaborate across all departments to resolve customer issues.
• Assist in-person with program welcome, orientation and logistics for teachers and students.
• Provide administrative support to finance, sales and marketing including, but not limited to: research, basic financial operations, general inquiries, website chat functions and in/out-bound calls.
• Work interdepartmentally to determine best use of account coordinators throughout the year, while ensuring all tasks and responsibilities are fulfilled.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university with two or more years of experience in customer service, or related field or 5+ years of experience in customer service or relate field.

• Must have excellent written, communication, and organizational skills.
• Advanced computer and Microsoft 365 skills a plus.
• Passion for Close Up’s mission and civic education.
• Technical writing skills a plus.
• Ability to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination in compliance with company policy
• Willingness to submit to a post-offer criminal background check in accordance with federal regulations
• Authorization to work in the U.S. for any employer.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

• Highly organized with ability to manage conflicting priorities.
• Superior expertise with active listening, responding appropriately in writing and verbally.
• Takes pride in being reliable and results-oriented.

POSITION TYPE AND EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK | This is a full-time position, including weekends.

BENEFITS | In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, Close Up provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes three robust medical insurance plans, dental insurance, and vision discount (more than 85% of the premiums are company paid). Close Up pays 100% of the premiums for life/AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, and offers flexible spending and dependent care accounts, a 403(b) retirement savings program, paid vacation/sick/holidays, paid parental leave, metro subsidy or free garage parking, free on-site gym, and a positive work environment.

 PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT | Physical demands:  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear. The employee must lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Work environment:  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.

Please click here to apply. Upload a brief statement or cover letter describing why this position is the right fit for your skills and experience, along with your resume.

No phone calls or recruiters, please.

Close Up Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Organization Overview | Our mission is to inform, inspire, and empower young people to exercise the rights and accept the responsibilities of citizens in a democracy. As a non-profit/non-partisan leader in civic education since 1971, we believe that a strong democracy requires active and informed participation by all citizens; therefore, we seek to reach participants of every race, creed, geographical community, socio-economic level, and academic standing. We reach about 25,000 participants annually through our in-person, placed-based programming, teacher professional development, virtual programs, and classroom curriculum.

We Believe:

1. Democracy requires members who are able to reflect on their own values and interests as well as the values and interests of others, communicate their ideas and visions, and take active steps to advance their political goals.
2. Young people must learn and practice the dispositions and skills needed to become lifelong active and engaged participants in democracy.
3. Engaging young people in public policy discussion and deliberation of current controversial issues will give them the skills and desire for lifelong participation in the democratic process.
4. By remaining nonpartisan and exposing young people to a variety of perspectives, we encourage them to consider a range of ideas and form their own opinions.
5. Encountering and engaging with those who may have different backgrounds provides young people with a more nuanced understanding of how policy decisions will affect all within a community.

Position Overview | The Coaching and Training Specialist works as a member of the Coaching and Training team within the Curriculum department. This is a key position that requires working both in office and in-field settings, the ability to accurately and effectively articulate Close Up’s pedagogy and educational mission to a variety of external and internal constituencies, and the capacity to continuously maintain a high level of educational expertise to contribute to various projects undertaken by Close Up. The Coaching and Training Specialist team primarily supports Close Up’s DC based programming with middle and high school students through the coaching and training of over 50 program instructors. This position reports to the Manager of Coaching and Training.

In cooperation with other members of the team, the Coaching and Training Specialist has the following responsibilities:

Training Design and Facilitation

• Design initial instructional training for 40-50 Program Instructors; training components include methodology, program curriculum, and facilitating controversial issue discussions
• Create and facilitate all training sessions for Program Instructors
• Develop trainings for specialized programs
• Plan and deliver professional development sessions throughout the program season to supplement initial training
• Program Instructor Coaching and Observation
• Provide ongoing in-field formal observation and informal coaching for a cohort of instructional staff
• Work with curriculum staff to ensure continued growth of program instructors
• Collaborate with the coaching and training team to identify trends among instructional staff
• Other Responsibilities
• Deliver Close Up programs, including DC based student programs, virtual student programs, and professional development
• Keep abreast of best practices in coaching, training, and adult education

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university; major in education, history, political science, international relations, or related field preferred
• At least one year of experience training adult learners or leading group facilitation
• Demonstrated ability to assess own performance and adjust accordingly
• Ability to convey complex information to a variety of audiences clearly and concisely
• Willingness to provide positive and constructive feedback

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to cultivate trust and build rapport, including providing both positive and constructive feedback that supports individual growth
• Ability to manage a flexible, yet demanding schedule
• Familiarity with teaching with controversial issues, facilitation techniques, and cooperative learning strategies
• Excellent communication skills, including speaking and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of civic education trends and practices
• Knowledge of government structures and processes

Working environment

• The Coaching and Training position will frequently be on student program. Program schedules typically run from 8am through 10pm, and programs usually start late afternoon on Sundays and run through Thursday night. There is flexibility within the program schedule.
• Frequent evening and weekend work required for DC-based program execution, observation and evaluation during the program season (January-June), occasional weekend and evening work September-December.
• This position is based at the Close Up office in Alexandria, VA, but includes frequent time in DC on student program.
• Some travel outside DC metro area.

Compensation and Benefits | In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, Close Up provides an excellent and competitive compensation and benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D & short- and long-term disability insurance, a 403(b) program, generous paid time off, Metro transportation subsidy, flexible spending health care and dependent care accounts, free gym access, and a positive work environment.

To apply, submit an email to resumes@closeup.org including a cover letter explaining why you’d make a great Coaching & Training Specialist and attach your résumé. Only candidates selected to interview will be contacted. Employment offers are contingent upon receipt of proof of COVID-19 vaccination and a favorable criminal background check.

No phone calls or recruiters, please.

Close Up Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.