Call for Applications
Do you work in middle management at a think tank and juggle research work and project proposals? Do you lead a team and would like to train in personnel management? We are very happy to announce that the Think Tank Lab’s new Think Tank Leadership and Management Training is set to launch. We’re thrilled to invite you to join our pilot cohort this fall for an immersive training program.
You will learn how to balance the priorities of your role: effectively leading teams, orchestrating complex projects, and navigating stakeholder landscapes. The program is designed to address these challenges head-on by providing comprehensive training tailored to the needs of middle managers in think tanks and to promoting your careers in the sector.
Program and Learning Objectives
The Think Tank Leadership and Management Training is based upon a competency framework geared toward enhancing critical leadership skills in the “business of expertise” as it relates to the think tank (or “applied research”) environment. During the program, you will learn to employ practical management skills and will be asked to reflect on both sectoral change and your leadership responsibilities.
Through a combination of expert input and hands-on exercises, you will gain useful tools to excel in your role and practical methods for agile think tank work. The training offers a great opportunity to connect with peers and industry experts and to exchange insights on common challenges.
After participating, you will be able to:
- Understand sectoral change and its implications for the “business of expertise” and the role of think tanks;
- Develop and position impactful research strategies in an evolving market of ideas;
- Design effective research projects in a think tank environment (planning, budgeting, managing, and evaluating);
- Define and advance your role within and beyond your organization;
- Shape organizational development – bottom up, top down, and across teams;
- Catalyze team success by guiding, supervising, and mentoring your team members and giving them feedback and assessments effectively.
Benefits for your think tank:
- Developing an understanding of successful leadership
- Adapting effectively to new demands
- Setting impulses for organizational change in the think tank landscape
Participants
Professionals from think tanks and policy-oriented research institutions whose positions entail team leadership and are based in Germany are eligible for the training program. The participants should have managing research projects among their responsibilities.
Tuition Fee
Participation in the Think Tank Leadership and Management Training costs EUR 790.00 (excl. statutory VAT). This tuition fee covers all expert lectures and learning materials as well as lunches and coffee breaks. The fee does not include travel and accommodation. Participants are responsible for arranging and covering these costs themselves.
Training Dates
- Module I – Sectoral Change and Managing Research Projects
4:00 p.m. on October 9 to 6:00 p.m. on October 11 at MERICS (Berlin)
- Two Online Peer-Learning Sessions – Working on Leadership Challenges
Dates TBC, Virtual
- Module II – Organizational Change and Leading My Team
4:00 p.m. on November 20 to 6:00 p.m. on November 22 at DGAP(Berlin)
How to Apply
To apply, please fill in the ONLINE APPLICATION FORM and upload the following documents:
- A CV indicating your professional experience in think tanks/research institutions.
- A letter of support by your current employer. A template can be found here.
The application deadline is June 30, 2024.
The participants of the 2024 cohort will be announced no later than July 15, 2024.
Contact
Wanda Nick
MERICS Lead Think Tank Lab
Email: leadership.training@thinktanklab.org
Web: www.thinktanklab.org
