Impact Storyteller

EEO Statement:

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Disclaimer:

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. Remote positions at the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) require quarterly in-person meetings at our office location in Arlington, VA. IHS employees are required to visit the office for a minimum of two weeks per year.

Impact Storyteller

Job Summary:

The Impact Storyteller is responsible for executing the storytelling process to communicate IHS’s impact in a compelling and strategic way. Reporting to the Senior Director of Communications, the Impact Storyteller drives the creation, structuring, and dissemination of narratives that showcase IHS’s influence on advancing a more liberal society. This individual will work closely with internal stakeholders to identify, develop, and align stories within a broader impact framework. By leveraging strong writing skills, journalistic curiosity, and the ability to synthesize complex information, this individual crafts compelling, high-level narratives that effectively communicate the Institute’s impact and strategic vision.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Communications to develop and refine the storytelling strategy that aligns with the broad vision, goals, and objectives of IHS.
• Identify and craft compelling stories that illustrate IHS’s impact, aligning them with the organization’s broader impact framework.
• Oversee the full storytelling lifecycle, from research and content development to working alongside the Director of Marketing to facilitate strategic distribution across email, web, social, and other key channels.
• Collaborate with internal academic research analysts as well as the Development, Leadership, and Communications & Marketing team to source meaningful stories.
• Conduct interviews and investigative research to uncover key details and perspectives that shape a narrative.
• Develop and refine tiered storytelling that progressively highlights IHS’s contributions, effectively illustrates the Institute’s influence, and enhances audience engagement.
• Maintain consistency in narrative voice and messaging across all organizational impact content.
• Build a pipeline of stories that can be used for donor engagement, public relations, and digital communications.
• Ensure strategic alignment in how IHS’s work is communicated internally and externally.
• Develop at least four Case Studies annually to be featured in IHS’s annual report and marketing materials.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• 5 years of experience in writing, journalism, or communications; nonprofit experience highly preferred.
• Strong research and investigative skills with an ability to craft engaging narratives from complex information.
• Experience conducting interviews and synthesizing findings into compelling stories.
• Ability to think strategically about storytelling and its role in donor engagement and organizational positioning.
• Familiarity with academic and policy-oriented work is a plus.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills with strong attention to detail.
• Experience collaborating with marketing, development, and research teams.
• Proficiency with content management and storytelling tools.
• Knowledge of, and appreciation for, Classical Liberal ideas.

To apply, qualified candidates must submit the following materials (through additional documents):

• Resume
• Writing sample/portfolio materials
• Cover letter detailing your interest in this role and how your experience aligns with the IHS' mission

The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) is a think network advancing the principles and practices of freedom in the academy, public policy, and civil society.

Founded in 1961, IHS believes that the liberal tradition has yielded unprecedented freedom and human flourishing. And in this moment, when the forces of illiberalism on both the left and right are gaining ground at an alarming pace, our vision is to spark a new spirit of liberal freedom.

Our Work

• Cultivating a pool of intellectual talent for partners in policy, civil society, philanthropy, and the academy through $1.5 million in fellowship and career development programs.
• Catalyzing scholarship and academic networks to strengthen the fields of foundational and applied research that matter most to a free society.
• Equipping freedom-focused research centers, think tanks, foundations, and civil society organizations with the research and experts they need to maximize their impact in policy and in communities across the country.

IHS Benefits:

We have a flexible, professional, open office environment that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship and provides substantial opportunity for professional growth. Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. IHS provides exceptional benefits to all employees, including health and dental insurance coverage (which includes paying 100% of the health and dental insurance premium for individuals), health savings accounts, long-term disability and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement savings program, a parking permit and 12 free tuition credit hours annually at George Mason University.