About the Mercatus Center
The Mercatus Center at George Mason Universityis a university-based research center dedicated to advancing knowledge about how markets and institutions foster prosperity and human flourishing. Through research, academic programs, and public engagement, Mercatus supports scholars and students working at the intersection of economics, philosophy, and public policy.
Job Summary
The Mercatus Center at George Mason University seeks a bright, motivated, and detail-oriented Program Associate to join the Research and Programs team. This role supports the Mercatus Center’s academic research and fellowship programs through event coordination, program logistics, scholar support, communications, and administrative operations.
The Program Associate will work closely with program leads, scholars, students, and staff to help ensure the successful execution of events, research initiatives, and day-to-day program activities. This position is ideal for someone who is highly organized, proactive, and interested in higher education, public policy, and classical liberal ideas.
The team encourages professional development through mentorship, skill-building opportunities, and university coursework. This role is particularly well suited for candidates interested in long-term growth in research administration, academic programming, or public policy.
This position reports to the Program Manager, Research & Programs, and works primarily from the Mercatus Center’s Fairfax office on George Mason University’s main campus in Fairfax, VA.
Primary Responsibilities
- Provide administrative support for fellowship and other academic and student programs including but not limited to: staffing events (which include evening and weekend events), preparing materials, assisting with recruiting efforts, and helping with the scheduling and administrative needs of program leads and scholars
- Contribute to office management for the Fairfax office by sharing reception desk duties and assisting in day-to-day operations including facilities maintenance, office and kitchen supply inventory, and presenting a professional office appearance
- Draft program notes and reports and execute special projects, coordinating subtasks with other Research and Programs staff as appropriate
- Assist with creating website content, as well as copy editing manuscripts, journal articles, and other research products
Additional Opportunities Based on Candidate Interests and Experience
Depending on the candidate’s background and interests, the role may also include opportunities to:
- Support program evaluation efforts through data collection, survey analysis, and database management across multiple software platforms and data sources
- Analyze participant feedback and program outcomes to help evaluate and communicate the impact of Research and Programs initiatives
- Contribute to media and communications projects for the F.A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, including podcast production, graphic design, social media content, and related digital media initiatives
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple short- and long-term projects independently
- Ability to show initiative and improve existing processes while helping develop new systems and workflows
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong writing and editing abilities
- Interest in economics, classical liberalism, and public policy
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in a professional administrative support, program management, or event coordination role
Candidate may also possess experience in one of the following areas:
- Experience with data collection, survey platforms, or database management
- Familiarity with data analysis software such as Stata or Python
- Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite products such as Premiere Pro or Illustrator
- Experience with podcast production, graphic design, or social media content creation
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 Mercatus’ mission
- Salary requirement
- Resume