Careers

The Foundation is currently accepting applications for the following open positions.

Program Director, Economics

Position posted: 5/26/2026

Reports to: President

Status: Full-time, exempt

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a not-for-profit, mission-driven grantmaking institution dedicated to improving the welfare of all through the advancement of scientific knowledge. Founded in 1934 by Alfred Pritchard Sloan Jr., then-President and CEO of General Motors, the Foundation makes grants in four broad areas: direct support of research in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and economics; initiatives to increase access and opportunity in graduate science education; projects that develop or leverage technology to empower research; and efforts to deepen public engagement with science and scientists.

Headquartered in Rockefeller Center in New York City, the Foundation holds assets of approximately $2.2 billion and commits roughly $80–$95 million in grants annually. It is one of the largest private funders of economic research in the United States, with a grantmaking history that has had measurable impact on the rate and direction of academic activity in economics. The Foundation’s mission is guided by a commitment to impartial, evidence-based inquiry—free of ideology and driven by the highest standards of rigor.

The Economics Program

The Sloan Economics Program funds fundamental, rigorous economic research that serves as a public good—expanding knowledge of key economic forces, developing new evidence and methodologies, informing decision-makers, and improving economic and social welfare in the United States. The program’s goal is to provide conceptual breakthroughs, technical advances, and fundamental research that strengthen and accelerate U.S. economic progress.

Current research priorities include:

The Economics of Science and Technology, including industrial strategy, emerging technologies, regional development, scientific careers, funding practices, and the productivity of the scientific enterprise.
The Economics of Caregiving, including data and research on the U.S. care economy and its implications for labor markets and policy.
The Economics of Transportation and Infrastructure, examining how transportation systems and mobility shape economic outcomes.
Economic Measurement, supporting new datasets, methodologies, and computational tools that advance the quality of empirical economics.
Strengthening the Economics Profession broadly, through support for conferences, training programs, and research resources of general use.

These priorities reflect our current grantmaking, not a ceiling on ambition. The incoming Program Director will have meaningful latitude to evolve the program's direction as the research landscape and their own intellectual judgment suggest.

Grants made in the Economics program are especially policy-relevant (though not advocacy), motivated by nonideological questions, causally rigorous, statistically sound, and oriented toward generating catalytic results in high-quality journals or durable contributions to research infrastructure.

Position Overview

Reporting to the President, the Program Director for Economics will serve as the intellectual and operational leader of the Foundation’s Economics program. The Program Director will develop and execute a coherent grantmaking strategy, build and sustain a portfolio of high-impact grants, and represent the Economics program to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, grantees, peer funders, professional associations, and the broader research community.

Grantmaking at the Foundation is a shared and collaborative endeavor. The Program Director will be an active member of the program committee—composed of Program Directors and the President—reading and evaluating proposals across all Foundation programs, contributing economic expertise to colleagues’ work, and drawing on colleagues’ insights to strengthen the Economics program. The Foundation is especially interested in identifying opportunities for interdisciplinary grantmaking and opportunities connecting different program areas.

The Program Director will manage a team of two, a Program Associate that is an early career Ph.D. and a Program Coordinator.

Key Responsibilities

Set Strategy and Develop the Grantmaking Portfolio

Develop and periodically revisit the vision, priorities, and strategic direction of the Economics program, in consultation with the President and Program Director colleagues and in light of emerging opportunities in the field. The Program Director will have genuine latitude to reshape the program's priorities, wind down grantmaking approaches that have run their course, and pursue emerging opportunities in collaboration with Program Director colleagues at the intersection of different program areas where Sloan can make a distinctive contribution.
Identify gaps in the research landscape where Sloan’s resources can make a significant and durable difference—particularly where private-sector, government, or other foundation funding is insufficient.
Build the grant portfolio through outreach to leading researchers, attendance at academic conferences, and broad engagement with the economics community worldwide.
Assess the impact of existing grantmaking strategies and propose changes where appropriate.

Manage Grants and Grantee Relationships

Oversee all aspects of grantmaking in the program, from initial letter of inquiry through proposal review, grant approval, ongoing monitoring, and closeout.
Maintain close, productive relationships with grantees—providing guidance and serving as an engaged partner throughout the life of each grant.
Apply rigorous, meticulous standards in the preparation and scrutiny of grant proposals and program evaluations, consistent with the Foundation’s lean staff structure.
Lead periodic formal evaluations of grantmaking programs and of the Economics program as a whole.
Determine appropriate metrics of program success—whether growth in the field, publication impact, policy uptake, or changes in research infrastructure—and draw insights from outcomes.

Build Collaborative Relationships

Participate fully in the collective intellectual life of the Foundation, including the weekly program committee and cross-program proposal review.
Collaborate with other Program Directors on grants at the intersection of economics and science policy, energy, environment, higher education, technology, and public understanding of science.
In particular, demonstrate interest in collaborating with other Program Directors on cross-program grantmaking at the intersection of economics and other fields, such as supply chain analysis, the economic and policy dimensions of science and technology, research infrastructure, and other related cross-program topics.
Develop and sustain an advisory body of leading scholars to provide strategic guidance, benchmark quality, and surface emerging research opportunities.
Represent the Economics program externally to peer foundations, government agencies, professional associations, disciplinary societies, and the media.
Foster collaborative grantmaking with other funders where appropriate.

Advance Access and Opportunity in Economics

Champion the Foundation’s commitment to reducing all barriers that inhibit fair access and opportunity to scientific and economics training and careers.
Ensure the grantmaking process, including proposal development, reviewer selection, and program evaluation, includes meaningful and concrete attention to removing unjust barriers to access and opportunity.
Work in coordination with the Higher Education program to surface and support opportunities that advance fair access and opportunity for all talent within economics and related fields.

Qualifications and Experience

The Foundation seeks an intellectually ambitious and collegial leader who combines deep scholarly engagement in economics with the judgment, creativity, and administrative capacity to build and manage a major grantmaking program. The Foundation is open to a variety of professional backgrounds and recognizes that no single candidate will possess every qualification listed below.

The successful candidate will bring many of the following:

A doctoral degree in economics or a closely related field; a record of scholarly achievement equivalent to that of a tenured professor is strongly preferred.
Deep knowledge of the economics research landscape—including leading researchers, major institutions, funding trends, and the methodological frontier—across multiple subfields.
A demonstrated commitment to rigorous, impartial empirical research; excellent scientific taste and judgment; a keen sense for what constitutes a significant and tractable research question.
Experience conceiving, designing, and implementing strategic initiatives—whether in academia, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector.
Strong familiarity with U.S. universities, research institutions, and the academic career pipeline.
Intellectual breadth and curiosity; an entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to think across disciplinary boundaries.
Exceptional written and oral communication skills; ability to engage credibly with both specialists and broad audiences.
A natural affinity for relationship-building, teamwork, and collaborative work; genuine generosity of spirit toward colleagues and grantees alike.
Facility with data, econometrics, and empirical methodology; interest in research infrastructure and economic measurement is preferred.
Both intellectual curiosity and humility—the desire to help others realize success and the ability to derive intellectual enrichment from the creative process of grantmaking.

Work Arrangements and Compensation

This is a full-time position based at the Foundation’s offices at Rockefeller Center in midtown Manhattan. Staff are expected to work in the office Tuesday through Thursday; remote work is available on Mondays and Fridays except when job commitments require in-person presence. The Foundation offers competitive compensation and exceptional benefits commensurate with the seniority of the role.

The salary range for this position is $375,000 – 425,000

How To Apply

Applications should be sent to [email protected]. Please attach a single PDF containing both a cover letter and curriculum vitae, named “Last Name - Program Director.pdf.”

Program Coordinator, Energy and Environment

Position posted: 5/27/2026

Reports to: Program Director, Energy and Environment

Status: Full-time, exempt

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a philanthropic, not-for-profit grantmaking institution based in New York City. Established in 1934 by Alfred Pritchard Sloan Jr., then-President and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors, the Foundation makes grants in three broad areas: direct support of research in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and economics; initiatives to increase access and opportunity in graduate science education; projects to develop or leverage technology to empower research; and efforts to enhance and deepen public engagement with science and scientists.

Position Overview

The Program Coordinator provides operational and administrative support for all grants related to the Energy and Environment program, along with other grants, activities, and initiatives undertaken by a Program Director. This includes coordinating the logistics of the grant process, from initial inquiries to proposal review to final reporting, managing the details of open calls, and ensuring grant reports are submitted in a timely manner. This position involves a high volume of nuanced communication and engagement with multiple stakeholders, proposers, and grantees across every step of the process. This position requires high-level attention to detail, operating under tight deadlines with accuracy, and rapidly managing programmatic needs. Meeting all deadlines and working quickly and efficiently is critical to the success of the person in this position. This position handles ongoing administrative support for a Program Director as needed, and this position also coordinates occasional activities including advisory board meetings, internal seminar visits, and external events, where appropriate.

The person who will fill this role will be expected to work in the office Tuesday – Thursday and may work remotely on Mondays and Fridays, except when job related commitments require the person to be in the office.

The Foundation offers a generous benefits package. The salary range for this position is $85,000 - $93,000.

No visa sponsorship will be provided for this position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities may include, but will not be limited to the following:

Grants Management

Track the progress of proposals from initial processing through proposal review to final reporting.
Communicate directly with existing and prospective grantees, proposal reviewers, university offices, and others to answer questions, clarify priorities and procedures, track the submission of materials, maintain the accuracy of data, and ensure completeness of proposal and grant documents.
Assist Program Director and Program Associate with organizing, coordinating, and producing proposal materials, ensuring completeness and accuracy before distribution
Review reports from grantees, assist in maintaining program impact tracker, and update grant files in the grants management system
Manage extensive logistical and operational components of open calls for proposals
Work with other Foundation departments to ensure timely delivery and processing of grant-related information
Maintain program inquiries inbox, including tracking and declining inquiries, reviewing inquiries with Program Director and Program Associate on regular basis, and drafting declinations
Collaborate with colleagues to produce, verify, proof, and track documentation prepared for the Board of Trustees
Support Program Director on other grantmaking activities in other domains

Administrative Duties

General office and grant-related work, such as filing, maintaining program records, preparing correspondence, responding to requests for information, handling phone calls, and various other tasks as assigned
Planning and execution of on- and off-site convenings including advisory committee meetings, workshops, working dinners, and other small events
Contribute to program budget preparations and tracking spending over time
Carry out discrete data collection and research projects related to the program and other grantmaking initiatives as needed
Coordinate and track of items for annual reports, website, program newsletter, and other communication channels
Collaborate on managing administrative aspects of special projects and initiatives with Program Director and Program Associate
Ensure timely completion of expense report processing for Program Director, reviewers, vendors, and other consultants

Communications

Regularly proofread key program documents and draft correspondence related to all aspects of grantmaking
Work with the Program Associate to collect content for program newsletter and for other internal and external communication channels
Work with communications staff to keep website pages current

Qualifications

The ideal candidate would hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Experience with philanthropy, grants administration, or non-profit operations preferred. Experience, interest, and/or prior education in energy systems is preferred and welcome but not required. Required qualifications include:

2-4 years administrative work experience
Ability to work proactively with minimal direct supervision and manage multiple projects, while being a committed team player
Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills
Ability to read and understand organizational and project budgets
Ability to assimilate a high volume of detailed information quickly and accurately in a fast-paced environment
Willingness to work with a broad constituency and on multiple tasks, at times under deadline pressure
High degree of proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (particularly Excel and Word); Salesforce experience and experience with SM Apply are preferred
Integrity, intelligence, discretion, flexibility, and sense of humor
Understanding of and commitment to the goals of the program and the Foundation
Demonstrate tact and sensitivity in key proposer and grantee interactions
Capable of meeting strict deadlines and handling a large number of detailed tasks independently

How to Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

To apply, please send a cover letter and CV/resume to [email protected] with “LAST NAME – Program Coordinator” in the subject line.

Office Coordinator

Position posted: 4/22/2026

Reports to: Director of Human Resources and Administration

Status: Full-time, exempt

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Position Overview

The Office Coordinator plays a critical role in office operations and works on-site Monday – Thursday at the Foundation’s office located in Rockefeller Center, New York City, and remotely on most Fridays. This is an ideal entry point for someone eager to build a career in operations — you’ll gain broad exposure to administrative operations, HR support, and board-level event logistics. The role rewards people who are proactive, highly organized, and take pride in keeping things running smoothly without being asked.

The Foundation offers a generous benefits package. The salary range for this position is $68,000 - $75,000.

Duties and Responsibilities

Office operations and reception

Serve as the primary point of contact for staff needs and general inquiries; ensure the reception area is staffed and welcoming during all business hours.
Manage incoming calls, greet visitors, and register guests with building security.
Handle all incoming and outgoing mail and deliveries; sort, route, and notify recipients promptly.
Keep common areas organized, operational, and presentable at all times.
Order and restock office supplies, copy room materials, and pantry items.
Maintain and troubleshoot on-site equipment (copiers, coffee machines, refrigerators).

Events and meeting logistics

Coordinate logistics for the weekly senior staff meeting — catering, Zoom links, and attendance tracking.
Plan and execute on-site logistics for three Board of Trustees Meetings a year, including catering, scheduling and training waitstaff, and ordering supplies.

Vendor and facilities management

Maintain productive relationships with external vendors including building management, security, repair contractors, caterers, and suppliers.
Serve as a primary contact with building property management on operational matters as needed. Ensure that all vendors are compliant with building rules and regulations.

Finance and administration

Collect receipts for purchases, process incoming invoices, and reconcile credit card statements.
Draft, mail, and file grant proposal declination correspondence.
Maintain a routine account of current activities, tasks, and projects for the Administrative Team.

HR support

Assist the Director of Human Resources and Administration with HR activities as directed.
Support full-cycle recruitment logistics: posting vacancies, screening resumes, and scheduling interviews.
Coordinate welcome and farewell events for new hires and departing staff; provide onboarding instruction on administrative procedures.

Safety and emergency preparedness

Manage front door locking schedules and alert staff to local events that may affect building security.
Maintain emergency Go Bags, register security access cards, conduct monthly AED checks, and coordinate annual fire extinguisher inspections.

Qualifications

2–3 years of relevant work experience
Highly organized and detail-oriented
Strong time management and multitasking ability
Proactive self-starter who communicates openly
Clear written and verbal communication skills
Comfortable with accountability
Reliable and punctual
Proficiency in MS Excel, Word, and Outlook

How to Apply

To apply, please send a cover letter and CV/resume to [email protected] with “LAST NAME – Office Coordinator” in the subject line.

Program Associate, Higher Education

Position posted: 4/10/2026

Reports to: Program Director, Higher Education

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Position Overview

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s Higher Education program seeks a dynamic Program Associate to support grantmaking, external engagement, and strategy development. This is a full-time, three-year position with the possibility of a two-year extension.

The goal of Sloan’s Higher Education program is to expand fair access and opportunity in STEM higher education so that all talent is included and can thrive. To this end, the program funds institutions and organizations that seek to strengthen undergraduate STEM education; widen pathways to and through STEM master’s and doctoral programs; transform graduate education through evidence-informed approaches; and support efforts to include all talent in the STEM professoriate.

This is a term-limited position (three to five years); a minimum two-year commitment is expected.

The Associate will work from Sloan’s Rockefeller Center offices Tuesday–Thursday and may work remotely Monday and Friday, except when in-office presence is required.

The Foundation offers a generous benefits package. The salary range for this position is $95,000 - $105,000.

No visa sponsorship is provided for this position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Day-to-day responsibilities include:

Meeting with prospective and current grantees;
Reviewing and providing feedback on grant proposals;
Collaborating with the Program Coordinator and fellow Program Associates;
Managing multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously;
Supporting grant management, including review of reports and financial statements;
Triaging inbound requests and letters of inquiry; and
Drafting internal grant documents.

Because much of the Foundation’s work involves iterative revision of proposals and internal memoranda, the Program Associate must communicate complex ideas clearly and help others do the same. Over time, the Associate will take on primary responsibility for elements of the grant workflow, sourcing external reviewers, and developing grants under the Program Director’s supervision.

Working closely with the Program Director on strategic planning and implementation, the Associate will also:

Research new grantmaking opportunities and map the landscape of potential grantees, reviewers, and collaborators;
Draw on internal and external reports, landscape scans, and research literature to identify evidence-based approaches for potential investment; Build connections across grantees and strengthen program communications, including managing the program’s newsletter; and
Work with the program coordinator and the Sloan Scholarship Program administrator and grantees to plan events, meetings, and campus site visits.

Moderate travel is expected; the Program Associate must exercise sound judgment when representing the Foundation at meetings, conferences, and workshops.

Qualifications

A PhD (or equivalent experience) is preferred; this position is well suited to a recent PhD graduate in higher education or a related field with an interest in philanthropy.
Deep familiarity with higher education research and related literature is important. Candidates should have subject matter expertise in access and opportunity in STEM higher education—including knowledge of persistent barriers and areas of opportunity for the inclusion of all talent in undergraduate and graduate STEM education and the STEM professoriate, including in the field of economics.
Familiarity with Minority Serving Institutions, two-year colleges, and access-focused institutions as pathways to graduate education is desirable, as is knowledge of promising practices aligned with the program’s goals.
Relevant expertise may include systemic change in graduate education, undergraduate STEM pedagogy and emergent technologies, or Indigenous science and methodologies.
Strong written and verbal communication skills are required, as are organizational ability, self-motivation, and comfort working independently. Candidates must be able to navigate ambiguity, learn new tools quickly, and thrive in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment.
Humility and a genuine commitment to serving grantees and the field are essential.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

To apply, please send a cover letter and CV/resume to [email protected] with “LAST NAME – Program Associate, Higher Education” in the subject line.

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Program Associate, Science and the Arts

Position posted: 2/17/2026

Reports to: Vice President and Program Director of the Public Understanding of Science and Technology program

Status: Full-time, exempt

Position Scope

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation seeks a highly motivated and well-organized individual with a minimum of 3-4 years of work experience to join its national grantmaking programs as a Program Associate for Science and the Arts, based in our offices at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

The Program Associate for Science and the Arts reports to the Vice President and Program Director of the Public Understanding of Science and Technology program. This position supports all aspects of the program and has significant responsibility in the development, analysis, and evaluation of proposals, grants, and activities. As a key part of a small, self-directed, and high-performing team that includes the Associate, VP, and a Program Coordinator, the Associate is the “right hand” of the VP and ensures that the program runs effectively and efficiently.

This role provides program management experience, access to prominent leaders and institutions, and exposure to new initiatives in science and the arts across diverse forms of media and technology.

This is a full-time, three-year staff position with the possibility of extension for an additional two years.

Employees of the Foundation are expected to work in the Sloan offices at Rockefeller Center in mid-town Manhattan during normal work hours from Tuesday to Thursday. Working remotely is an option on Mondays and Fridays except when job commitments require presence in the office.

Duties and Responsibilities:

This position has multiple areas of responsibility:

Proposal and Grants Management:
- Collaborate closely with the VP to review all incoming letters of inquiry and proposals
- Create timeline for each proposal cycle based on internal deadlines and keep all proposal processes on track to meet deadlines
- Manage proposal review process, including selecting and reaching out to potential reviewers and providing guidance
- Attend weekly staff meetings and follow up with VP on relevant action items
- Draft staff and board memos for proposals
- Review all grant reports and track grant payments
- Communicate with grantees about reporting deadlines, upcoming events, grant progress, etc.
- Collaborate with VP to create and track grants budget
- Assist VP in managing correspondence, internal deadlines, preparing materials (memos, board materials, PowerPoint presentations, etc.)
- Coordinate with the Program Coordinator and ensure the administrative aspects of the program are completed, such as travel logistics, scheduling meetings, and arranging on-site meetings
- Collaborate with VP to prepare and track program and travel budgets
- Serve as a thought partner on new and evolving initiatives within the program
Communications:
- Manage all program-specific social media channels
- Review press releases and grantee marketing materials in collaboration with the VP
- Monitor the web for grantee news
- In close consultation with VP, prepare triannual program updates and email newsletter
- Work with communications staff and VP to keep website pages up-to-date
- Liaise with PR consultants
External Events and Travel:
- Regularly attend Sloan-supported events outside of work hours, such as plays, readings, film screenings, panel discussions, and exhibitions (1-3 events per month)
- Occasional travel to conferences and film festivals (2-3 trips per year)
- Coordinate with grantee partners on all event logistics and planning
Other:
- Track news and developments in relevant areas (e.g. updates on grantees in the news for upcoming films, podcasts, television, etc.) and keep VP apprised of updates and trends
- Be a collegial and engaged member of the 35-person Sloan staff

Qualifications

The successful candidate works well under deadlines and is an intelligent and disciplined self-starter with outstanding organizational skills and a detail orientation.
A bachelor’s degree or equivalent in liberal arts, the sciences, or other related field, and 3-4 years of work experience is required.
Experience in film, theater, the arts and/or the sciences preferred. A multidisciplinary background is helpful but not required.
Rigorous thinking and an energetic, proactive approach are essential.
Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills are necessary.
Computer skills including proficiency in Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Acrobat. Knowledge of MailChimp, Photoshop, and/or InDesign helpful.
Facility with social media channels is required, including but not limited to Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Professional experience with these channels a plus.
Experience or interest in science or other educational content on YouTube and/or TikTok a plus
Ability to independently learn new applications, including the Salesforce grants management database. Experience with databases is a plus.
Self-motivation and self-confidence to work on projects with minimal supervision
Ability to work with colleagues and grantees of different backgrounds, ages, and experience
Ability to thrive in a quiet, self-directed office environment

The salary range for this position is $90,000 - $100,000.

How to Apply

Please submit a personalized cover letter and resume/CV via email to [email protected] with “LAST NAME – Program Associate, PUST” in the subject line.

Careers

/about/careers

Careers The Foundation is currently accepting applications for the following open positions.  Program Director, Economics Position posted: 5/26/2026 Reports to: President Status: Full-time, exempt Alfred P. Sloan Foundation The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a not-for-profit, mission-driven grantmaking instituti…