What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Associate, Business and Program Development position at Milken Institute?
About The Milken Institute
The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them. Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives. These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.
The Milken Institute’s events and programmatic activities, involve the exchange of ideas with leaders from around the world. The Institute hosts more than 200 events each year, with our annual flagship event, Global Conference, bringing together 4,500 participants from around the world, featuring more than 900 speakers throughout 200 sessions over the course of the event.
About The Position
The Milken Institute is seeking a Senior Associate, Business and Program Development to join our team in Santa Monica. This role involves supporting the development of and logistics around Finance programming at Milken Institute conferences and events, in particular Global Conference. They will assist a Director in organizing the Business and Program Development team around placement of speakers nominated by sponsors and partners on Finance panels. The role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to impactful global initiatives while developing expertise in program development, sponsor engagement, and event management. The ideal candidate will possess strong intellectual curiosity, an exceptional work ethic, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic environment. This role requires a proactive, detail-oriented professional with a "no job too small" mindset who is committed to excellence in every aspect of their work.
The candidate will report to a Director, Business and Program Development.
Responsibilities
Administrative and Logistical Support (70%)
This position will work in a professional office environment on a hybrid schedule consisting of three (3) days per week reporting in-person to the Santa Monica office location (Tuesday – Thursday), with the remaining two (2) days working remotely. Please understand, this schedule is subject to change at the Institute’s sole discretion.
This person will also be required to travel occasionally to other offices and/or venues to assist with events as needed, requiring occasional work outside of traditional hours. International along with domestic travel is possible. Additionally, this position requires interacting virtually on a regular basis with Milken Institute staff based in other locations in the United States and around the world.
Note
The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.
We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. Please note, we are not sponsoring visas at this time, being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.
Please submit resume and cover letter illustrating how your experience and skills will contribute to the department and any unique qualities you bring to the position. If applying via Indeed, please upload your resume and any supporting documentation as one attachment. Any application that does not include both a resume and cover letter will be rejected. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact our Human Resources department to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.
Our Culture
The Milken Institute is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.
Every person at the Milken Institute is treated with respect, supported with resources and training, and exposed to a broad range of experiences. We foster a space for growth with opportunities to share knowledge and passion with both clients and colleagues. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our leadership is actively involved in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and fostering a culture that creates opportunities for everyone.
Benefits
The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them. Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives. These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.
The Milken Institute’s events and programmatic activities, involve the exchange of ideas with leaders from around the world. The Institute hosts more than 200 events each year, with our annual flagship event, Global Conference, bringing together 4,500 participants from around the world, featuring more than 900 speakers throughout 200 sessions over the course of the event.
About The Position
The Milken Institute is seeking a Senior Associate, Business and Program Development to join our team in Santa Monica. This role involves supporting the development of and logistics around Finance programming at Milken Institute conferences and events, in particular Global Conference. They will assist a Director in organizing the Business and Program Development team around placement of speakers nominated by sponsors and partners on Finance panels. The role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to impactful global initiatives while developing expertise in program development, sponsor engagement, and event management. The ideal candidate will possess strong intellectual curiosity, an exceptional work ethic, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic environment. This role requires a proactive, detail-oriented professional with a "no job too small" mindset who is committed to excellence in every aspect of their work.
The candidate will report to a Director, Business and Program Development.
Responsibilities
Administrative and Logistical Support (70%)
- Audit and maintain internal CRM databases, such as Salesforce, to ensure data accuracy and completeness.
- Track and manage speaker availability requests and scheduling.
- Take detailed notes during team meetings and conference calls to ensure clarity and alignment.
- Facilitate screen sharing and other technical logistics during virtual meetings.
- Support the bi-annual Dialogues programs and other initiatives as needed.
- Draft and facilitate communications to the Business Development team around finance panel development and processes.
- Collaborate with internal teams to support development of Financial Markets track panels for conferences and summits.
- Assist with speaker placement coordination and relationship management.
- Contribute to the creation and refinement of event narratives by conducting research, writing, and editing.
- Support program execution, including speaker communications and pre-event conference calls.
- Motivated self-starter and hard worker displaying high productivity and follow-through in all areas of responsibility.
- Duties as assigned.
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- 2-3 years of relevant experience in finance, business development, project management, and/or marketing.
- Proven ability to manage complex projects and multitask in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
- Strong oral and written communication skills, with attention to detail.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; Salesforce experience is a plus.
- Intellectual curiosity and a basic understanding of the financial services industry.
- Flexibility to work across global time zones as needed.
- A proactive and enthusiastic approach to work, with the ability to build and maintain relationships at all levels, including with senior decision-makers.
This position will work in a professional office environment on a hybrid schedule consisting of three (3) days per week reporting in-person to the Santa Monica office location (Tuesday – Thursday), with the remaining two (2) days working remotely. Please understand, this schedule is subject to change at the Institute’s sole discretion.
This person will also be required to travel occasionally to other offices and/or venues to assist with events as needed, requiring occasional work outside of traditional hours. International along with domestic travel is possible. Additionally, this position requires interacting virtually on a regular basis with Milken Institute staff based in other locations in the United States and around the world.
Note
The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.
We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. Please note, we are not sponsoring visas at this time, being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.
Please submit resume and cover letter illustrating how your experience and skills will contribute to the department and any unique qualities you bring to the position. If applying via Indeed, please upload your resume and any supporting documentation as one attachment. Any application that does not include both a resume and cover letter will be rejected. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact our Human Resources department to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.
Our Culture
The Milken Institute is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.
Every person at the Milken Institute is treated with respect, supported with resources and training, and exposed to a broad range of experiences. We foster a space for growth with opportunities to share knowledge and passion with both clients and colleagues. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our leadership is actively involved in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and fostering a culture that creates opportunities for everyone.
Benefits
- Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
- Retirement Plan - 403b (5% match)
- Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
- Paid Time Off (Personal, Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
- Family Leave (Maternity & Paternity)
- Fertility Support
- Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
- Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
- Pet Insurance Discount
- Training & Development:
- LinkedIn Learning – over 15,000 self-guided classes offered
- Annual Mentor Program
- Wellness Resources:
- Employee Assistance Program
- CALM app membership
Salary : $75,000 - $85,000
