Marketing Project Manager

Cato is seeking an experienced solutions-oriented Marketing Project Manager to join our growing Marketing team.

In this role you will help bring Catos ideas and initiatives to life. Reporting within the Marketing department but working across the Institute you will help lead and coordinate complex cross-functional initiatives involving policy scholars senior leadership web/digital teams communications and creative partners. Youre skilled at assembling the right team driving accountability managing timelines and keeping stakeholders aligned from concept through execution. You excel at building structured project plans that span multiple teams and ensuring that strategy creative and execution come together seamlessly.

This is a highly visible fast-paced role; you will work closely with senior leaders and colleagues across Cato to deliver work that advances our mission.

The position is hybrid based in Washington DC and includes two in-office days and three remote days per week.

The projected salary range for this role is $70000 - $110000 per year.
Compensation is based on the successful candidates educational background experience and skills.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION YOU MUST COMPLETE THE TALENT MARKET APPLICATION!

About Cato

The Cato Institute is a public policy research organizationa think tankdedicated to the principles of individual liberty limited government free markets and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.

Founded in 1977 Cato owes its name to Catos Letters a series of essays published in 18th-century England that presented a vision of a society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple timeless principles of that revolution individual liberty limited government free markets and peace animate Catos research to this day.

The Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Roles & Responsibilities

Project Leadership & Strategy

• Lead planning management and execution of major marketing initiatives including nationwide campaigns policy launches product marketing and thought-leadership programs
• Translate strategic priorities into clear actionable project plans with defined scope milestones and KPIs
• Conduct project scoping and requirements gathering; ensure alignment among stakeholders across Cato departments
• Advise senior leadership on project status risks and strategic considerations

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate work across stakeholders including policy scholars designers writers digital teams communications and external partners
• Ensure all participants understand goals roles timelines and expectations
• Serve as the primary point of contact to streamline communication among diverse contributors

Project Execution & Workflow Management

• Build and maintain project schedules workflows and critical paths to ensure timely delivery
• Identify bottlenecks and proactively remove obstacles to maintain momentum.
• Oversee creative briefs content development review cycles revisions and approval processes
• Maintain standards for process clarity documentation and alignment across teams

Project Administration

• Use Catos project management platform to plan assign track and report on cross-functional work
• Maintain dashboards roadmaps and reporting tools for team and executive visibility
• Promote best practices for task management project tracking and workflow optimization within the platform

Quality Control & Performance Evaluation

• Uphold standards of quality across all creative editorial and digital deliverables.
• Conduct post-project evaluations to identify lessons learned and improve future workflows
• Help measure campaign performance

Creative & Content Integration

• Ensure strategic alignment between messaging creative assets and distribution channels
• Support development of briefs that define audiences objectives messaging pillars and success measures
• Collaborate closely with creative teams to keep deliverables accurate high-quality and on mission

Stakeholder Management

• Keep stakeholders informed through structured updates clear documentation and proactive communication
• Manage expectations related to project scope timing and resource requirements
• Lead productive meetings stand-ups and cross-team coordination sessions

Process Improvement

• Identify and implement opportunities to streamline workflows and improve team efficiency
• Contribute to building a project management discipline within Cato through templates standards and best practices

Required Qualifications

• 5 years of project management experiencepreferably in marketing communications or a creative agency environmentwith extensive use of project management software (e.g. Wrike) to manage complex cross-functional workflows.
• Demonstrated interest in public policy and in Catos mission to advance a free and open society
• Proven success leading multi-team projects involving marketing/advertising content generation creative content production and PR/communications
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities simultaneously
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to summarize document and present project information clearly and persuasively
• Skilled at leading meetings setting agendas documenting decisions and driving accountability
• Strategic thinker with a proactive problem-solving mindset and the confidence to lead across departments and seniority levels
• Collaborative approachable and comfortable operating in a fast-moving high-visibility environment
• At least an understanding of and comfort level with AI tools to optimize workflow efficiency
• Bachelors degree in Marketing Communications Business Administration Public Policy Political Science or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project management certification(s) (e.g. PMP) and/or MBA
• Experience working closely with policy nonprofit or mission-driven organizations

Benefits

All Cato employees are provided with:

• Medical dental and vision insurance
• Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Generous vacation and sick days
• Paid parental leave
• Employer-provided life and disability insurance
• 401(k) employer match
• Transit/ Parking benefits
• Pet discount plan

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. This position does not offer visa sponsorship.

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

• Cover letter including:
• An introductory paragraph describing three distinct reasons you are drawn to Catos mission
• Salary requirement and if they differ from the ranges listed above why you feel it is warranted.
• Resume

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: can be directed to Angela Hight Project Manager at Talent Market who is managing the search process:

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls please.

Talent Market is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom free enterprise free trade free speech property rights rule of law and limited regulation.