Associate Director, Leadership & Field Engagement

Aspen Institute; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 135,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision benefits

Retirement benefits

Paid leave

Job summary

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit focused on leadership and social impact, based in Washington, DC. The Institute seeks an Associate Director for its College Excellence Program to strengthen leadership in community colleges, guide curriculum and learning initiatives, and collaborate with presidents and faculty to scale reforms that improve student outcomes.

The role involves strategy development, cross‑functional leadership, and managing projects with budgets up to $10 million, including

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in education with college leaders and teams.
• Deep commitment to student success and scalable reforms.
• Extensive experience in higher education reform and teaching/learning.
• Strong executive presence with written and oral communication skills.
• Track record managing complex, high‑stakes initiatives with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to mentor program staff and coordinate across divisions.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Co-create and implement character-development projects to improve post-completion student outcomes.
• Translate field insights into actionable frameworks, publications, and scaled strategies.
• Design and manage learning communities and peer-exchange networks for college leaders and teams.
• Lead grant reporting and stewardship to ensure alignment with funding objectives.
• Direct projects from concept to completion within budget and timelines.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate project staff to ensure quality and growth.

Skills

Leadership

Higher education reform

Curriculum design

Faculty development

Grant management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit focused on leadership and social impact, based in Washington, DC. The Institute seeks an Associate Director for its College Excellence Program to strengthen leadership in community colleges, guide curriculum and learning initiatives, and collaborate with presidents and faculty to scale reforms that improve student outcomes.

The role involves strategy development, cross‑functional leadership, and managing projects with budgets up to $10 million, including