Work with Us

Company Overview │ Close Up is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, civic education organization that aims to inform, inspire, and empower young people to become active participants in our democracy. We believe a strong democracy requires engagement by all citizens. Therefore, we seek to reach youth from all communities and all backgrounds, regardless of race, religion, gender, socioeconomic level, or academic standing. Since 1971, we have partnered with schools nationwide to serve more than one million students and educators through experiential programs in our nation’s capital and in local communities, professional development for educators, and curriculum and resource design.

Position Overview | We are seeking a dynamic, relationship-driven educational outreach coordinator of major accounts to join our team. In this role, you’ll be responsible for managing and growing relationships with educators, schools, and community leaders to drive participation in Close Up’s Washington, D.C., student programs. You’ll work with assigned accounts to support existing partners, identify new opportunities, and expand Close Up’s presence across the K–12 education space, including public schools, charter schools, private schools, and education associations. In addition to managing these accounts and assisting with recruitment efforts, you’ll help uncover new pathways to deliver Close Up’s many civic education offerings, from professional development for educators to customized programs for students. This is a fast-paced, mission-driven role where no two days are the same. You’ll engage with schools via phone calls, video calls, and in-person visits while collaborating closely with internal teams to support your accounts and ensure success. Training and ongoing support are provided.

This position is based at Close Up’s office in Arlington, Virginia, with the option for a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities  

• Manage, maintain, and grow a portfolio of existing school and district partners.
• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with educators, administrators, and community leaders within the territories of your accounts.
• Identify and pursue new recruitment opportunities and partnerships in your region(s).
• Promote Close Up’s suite of civic education programming to increase student and teacher participation.
• Provide excellent customer service and regular follow-ups, and ensure you are always responsive to our customers’ needs.
• Collaborate cross-departmentally to ensure alignment and high-quality program delivery.
• Achieve and exceed assigned goals and performance benchmarks.
• Represent Close Up at conferences, school visits, and regional events.

Qualifications  

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university or six years of experience in sales, education, or nonprofit work.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, both internally and externally.
• High level of ownership, accountability, and initiative.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Willingness to travel for meetings, trainings, and conferences.
• Authorization to work in the United States for any employer.

Compensation and Benefits | In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, Close Up provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes two robust medical insurance plans, dental insurance (over 90 percent of premiums are company-paid), and vision coverage. Close Up pays 100 percent of the premiums for life/AD&D insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance, and offers flexible spending and dependent care accounts, a 403(b) retirement savings program, paid vacation/sick days/holidays, paid parental leave, a Metro subsidy or free garage parking, free gym access, and a positive work environment. Base salary plus bonus is awarded based on performance and Foundation goals.

Please upload a resume and cover letter describing why this position is the right fit for your skills and experience.

Close Up Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.

No recruiters or phone calls, please.

Company Overview │ Close Up is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, civic education organization that aims to inform, inspire, and empower young people to become active participants in our democracy. We believe a strong democracy requires engagement by all citizens. Therefore, we seek to reach youth from all communities and all backgrounds, regardless of race, religion, gender, socioeconomic level, or academic standing. Since 1971, we have partnered with schools nationwide to serve more than one million students and educators through experiential programs in our nation’s capital and in local communities, professional development for educators, and curriculum and resource design.
Position Overview | Civic program instructors are passionate about history, politics, government, current public policy issues, and experiential education for diverse students in grades 6-12. They lead daily program components for groups of students from across the United States, using our nation’s capital as a living classroom. NOTE: This is an in-person position.

Responsibilities | Each week, Close Up’s civic program instructors are a catalyst for engaging middle and high school students from across the country in experiential programs in Washington, D.C. (with opportunities to travel to New York City, Florida, and other historical sites as well). Throughout each day, they hop on and off buses, guiding students through all program lessons and site visits in the D.C. area and other program locations. They lead an assigned “workshop” of 25 students over the course of the week as they have issue-centered discussions and deliberations; visit historical sites, monuments, museums, and government institutions; and attend meetings with policy experts and elected officials with the goal of empowering students for a life of active citizenship. Instructors are responsible for fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where students can explore multiple perspectives and engage in respectful discourse across ideological differences.

Qualifications | Candidates must meet all criteria for this role.

• Bachelor’s degree (preferably in political science, history, education, social science, or a related field).
• Proven public speaking skills, showcased through a brief teaching sample during the interview.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and connect with diverse groups of students.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to adapt to dynamic program requirements.
• Authorization to work in the United States for any employer.
• Passage of a post-offer criminal background check according to federal regulations for working with students.

Compensation and Benefits | The initial contract period is February 2- June, 30, 2026. At the conclusion of the initial contract period, there may be an opportunity to join the Foundation in a full-time/full-year role. Compensation includes:

• An annualized salary of $41,592.
• All meals while working on student programs.
• Mass transit subsidy or free garage parking.
• Cell phone reimbursement (up to $50 per month).
• Paid sick days.
• Medical and dental insurance with low-cost premiums, vision coverage, and no-cost life/AD&D insurance.
• Paid training (120 hours) in Close Up curriculum, methodology, and programming, followed by ongoing professional development.
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
• The opportunity to earn a free graduate credit upon completion of the contract with an accompanying research paper.

Scheduled Hours | The civic program instructor schedule does not follow traditional working hours. Each week mirrors the student program schedule to which an instructor is assigned, generally a 50-hour week.

• Program schedules typically run from 8am through 10pm, and programs usually start in the late afternoon on Sunday and conclude on Thursday night.
•  Most programs are based in Washington, D.C., but there are opportunities to travel to Florida and to historical cities including New York, Philadelphia, and Williamsburg.

If you are excited about the prospect of empowering youth in civic engagement, we welcome you to apply and explore how you can join an amazing network of civic program instructors who have led more than one million students through the once-in-a-lifetime Close Up experience over 50+ years.

APPLT TODAY >

Close Up Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.

No recruiters or phone calls, please.

.

Company Overview │ Close Up is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, civic education organization that aims to inform, inspire, and empower young people to become active participants in our democracy. We believe a strong democracy requires engagement by all citizens. Therefore, we seek to reach youth from all communities and all backgrounds, regardless of race, religion, gender, socioeconomic level, or academic standing. Since 1971, we have partnered with schools nationwide to serve more than one million students and educators through experiential programs in our nation’s capital and in local communities, professional development for educators, and curriculum and resource design.

Position Overview │ Hospitality greeters assist in the meet-and-greet operation at airports and hotels for all Close Up programs. They act as a first point of contact for groups of students and teachers arriving in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area for civic education programs, as well as a final point of contact when groups depart at the end of the program.

This is a part-time position based in the Washington, D.C., area.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Act as a greeter at the airport or hotel for our Close Up groups arriving in the D.C. metropolitan area and departing from our hotel properties at the end of the program.
• Provide direction and guide our groups of students and teachers to their assigned transfer vehicle upon arrival or departure.
• Provide field support to Close Up operation control agents in case of any travel issues.
• Assist Close Up groups with lost items and/or delayed luggage upon airport arrival.
• Interact with other Close Up departments and employees to ensure open lines of communication throughout arrival/departure weekends when issues arise.

Qualifications | To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities.

• Knowledge of the airline and hospitality industries.
• At least two years of experience with a background in customer service.
• Ability to read and interpret weekly bus orders, spreadsheets, and email correspondence.
• Ability to communicate effectively on the phone with customers, Close Up managers, and coworkers.
• Ability to solve problems in a timely manner using great verbal communication skills.
• Ability to use good judgment and prior work experience/knowledge of the industry to effectively resolve issues that would be cost-effective to the Foundation.

Work Environment | While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to outside weather conditions throughout the different seasons. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Frequent walking through airports and/or hotels with large groups of students to meet transportation services is required.

To apply, please upload a resume and brief statement describing why this position is the right fit for your skills and experience.

Close Up Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.

No recruiters or phone calls, please.

Company Overview | Close Up is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, civic education organization that aims to inform, inspire, and empower young people to become active participants in our democracy. We believe a strong democracy requires engagement by all citizens. Therefore, we seek to reach youth from all communities and all backgrounds, regardless of race, religion, gender, socioeconomic level, or academic standing. Since 1971, we have partnered with schools nationwide to serve more than one million students and educators through experiential programs in our nation’s capital and in local communities, professional development for educators, and curriculum and resource design. 

Position Overview | The program leader is passionate about working with diverse students in grades 6-12 in a residential, week-long academic program. As the manager of the program, the program leader ensures the safety of participants, maintains academic integrity, manages program staff, and works cross functionally within the Foundation and with external vendors to provide excellent customer service to our participants and to respond to emergent problems. As part of the program leader team, this person helps recruit, hire, train, and manage a staff of program instructors. The program leader stays up to date on Close Up curriculum, works with curriculum and training specialists to develop their staff, and utilizes their own expertise to contribute to the overall design and execution of program. When not out on program, program leaders assist with projects and tasks that facilitate program implementation and generally further Foundation goals. 

Primary Responsibilities | Program life moves very quickly. The program leader should expect to face a variety of complex situations simultaneously and prioritize those situations based on importance and urgency. 

• Serve as the administrator of record for assigned Close Up programs, be present on these programs, and be on call 24/7 during the program. 
• Ensure Close Up policies are followed by program staff and participants. 
• Provide logistical and academic leadership for a staff of about ten, which includes giving feedback and written evaluations.  
• Work with internal Foundation staff to produce the best possible program outcomes.  
• Provide excellent customer service to our partners, students, teachers, and parents. 
• Maintain and improve external vendor relations in collaboration with other departments. 
• Recruit, hire, and manage program staff in conjunction with other program leaders.  
• Complete other program-related tasks as assigned/necessary. 
• Seek to innovate and improve program for participants and staff. 

Minimum Qualifications  

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (preferably in political science, history, education, social science, or a related field). 
• At least one year of experience delivering and/or managing educational programs. 
• At least one year of supervisory experience coaching and managing a team. 
• Willingness to travel overnight for program responsibilities. 
• Authorization to work in the United States for any employer. 
• Willingness to submit to a post-offer criminal background check according to federal regulations.   

Preferred Qualifications

• Passion for working with diverse students in grades 6-12. 
• Experience in a school, camp, or other educational setting. 
• Interest in current public policy issues, history, politics, government, and experiential education. 
• Familiarity with Washington, D.C.  
• Strategic thinker who can prioritize multiple tasks at once and use sound judgment in decision-making. 
• Ability to prepare for and react to challenging situations with program participants and staff. 
• Excellent communication skills, including speaking and presentation skills. 
• High level of organization and attention to detail. 
• Ability to be calm under pressure, manage stress, and balance needs of others. 

Schedule | Program leaders are typically assigned to about 25 programs per year, concentrated between October and June. While assigned to a program, the program leader’s schedule is not your standard 9-5 work week. The work week mirrors the program schedule to which a program leader is assigned, generally a 50-60-hour week. Program schedules typically run from 8am through 11pm most days, and programs usually start in the afternoon on Sunday and run through Thursday night. 

Training | The program leader will have an extended training period during which they will train in and execute the roles that they will eventually manage, including those of the program instructor and program assistant. This happens gradually and overlaps with becoming integrated into the program leader team.    

Compensation and Benefits | The starting salary range is $48,000 to $52,000 per year. In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, Close Up provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes two robust medical insurance plans, dental insurance, and vision discount (over 90 percent of premiums are company-paid). Close Up pays 100 percent of premiums for both life/AD&D insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance, and offers flexible spending and dependent care accounts, a 403(b) retirement savings program, paid vacation/sick days/holidays, paid parental leave, a Metro subsidy or free garage parking, a subsidized gym membership, and a positive work environment. 

Work Conditions and Physical Demands | Standing: Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time; Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another; Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; those activities where detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly; Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and making fine discriminations in sound; Visual acuity: Performing an activity such as preparing and analyzing data; viewing a computer terminal; reading; Environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside, potentially in extreme heat or cold, at times at a high noise level.  

To apply, please upload a resume and cover letter describing why this position is the right fit for your skills and experience.  

Close Up Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. 

No recruiters or phone calls, please.