GW Trustworthy AI Program Director

George Washington University; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Tuition Benefits

Retirement Plan

Job summary

The George Washington University in Washington, DC invites applications for a Program Director to lead GW TAI, a university‑wide initiative focused on trustworthy AI research and engagement. The Director partners with the Executive Director to translate vision into actionable programs across schools, units, and external partners.

Responsibilities include strategic leadership, portfolio management, governance, budget oversight, and stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in a related discipline and at least 7 years of relevant experience.
• Experience leading cross‑functional, university‑wide initiatives.
• Strong written and verbal communication with senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive partnership and strategic leadership to GW TAI.
• Lead cross‑cutting initiatives with timelines, governance, and accountability.
• Coordinate across schools, faculty, administrators, and external partners.
• Oversee operations, budgeting, and program records to enable growth.
• Represent GW TAI in internal and external meetings and maintain stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Executive partnership

Proj. & program management

Budgeting & staffing

Communication

Education

BA/BS in related discipline

7+ years professional experience

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

I. DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

Job Description Summary:

The George Washington University (GW) is seeking a Program Director for the University-wide Trustworthy AI initiative (GW TAI ). Located in the heart of Washington, DC, GW faculty and students have access to a unique combination of resources and experiences, including opportunities to partner with companies in the region’s rapidly growing technology corridor and to engage with government, industry, and other external stakeholders. GW TAI is a major initiative to advance knowledge, educate leaders, and impact society through research and engagement focused on AI in systems and for society.

Position Summary

The Director serves as the senior staff leader for GW TAI and as the principal strategic and operational partner to the Executive Director. The Director helps translate the Executive Director’s vision and priorities into coordinated action across the university, ensures that major initiatives move from concept to execution, and provides the day-to-day leadership, follow-through, and institutional coordination needed for GW TAI to operate effectively and grow. The Director works with faculty leadership, university administrators, staff, students, and external partners; anticipates issues and opportunities; prepares decisions and recommendations for the Executive Director; and advances priorities on the Executive Director’s behalf as appropriate.

Key Responsibilities

• Executive partnership and strategic leadership. Serve as the Executive Director’s trusted partner for planning, prioritization, execution, and follow-through. Help establish annual and multi-year priorities, prepare leadership briefings and decision materials, track commitments and key milestones, surface risks and dependencies, and ensure timely resolution of issues that span programs or organizational units.
• Initiative and portfolio management. Lead the planning and execution of high-priority, cross-cutting TAI initiatives. Develop workplans, timelines, governance structures, success measures, and accountability mechanisms; coordinate contributors across schools and functional areas; and maintain visibility into progress, resource needs, and outcomes.
• University-wide coordination and governance. Act as a central point of coordination for TAI across GW. Build strong working relationships with faculty leaders, researchers, school leadership, academic and administrative offices, communications teams, development and corporate relations staff, and other relevant units. Organize leadership meetings, establish effective decision processes, document decisions, and drive cross-university follow-up.
• Operations, budget, and resource stewardship. Direct the administration and operations of GW TAI , including planning and monitoring, resource allocation, contracts and purchasing coordination, fellowship administration, program records, reporting, space and materials, and operational policies and processes. Develop scalable systems that support growth, accountability, and efficient execution.
• Programs, research community, and student engagement. Provide strategic oversight for TAI’s core constituent programs and community-building activities, including seminars, summer incubators, mentorship programs, fellowships, convenings, and other faculty- and student-facing initiatives. Guide the development of new programming and ensure that program design, delivery, and evaluation align with TAI priorities.
• External partnerships and representation. In partnership with the Executive Director and faculty leadership, cultivate and manage relationships with government, industry, nonprofit, philanthropic, and academic partners. Represent GW TAI in selected internal and external meetings, develop partnership opportunities, coordinate institutional responses and follow-up, and help position TAI as a visible and credible convener in trustworthy AI.
• Communications, visibility, and impact. Oversee coordinated communications and marketing for TAI in partnership with relevant university teams. Ensure that web content, program materials, presentations, reports, and stakeholder communications clearly convey TAI’s strategy, activities, and impact. Develop metrics and reporting that support leadership decision-making and demonstrate progress to internal and external stakeholders.
• Issue resolution and executive escalation. Serve as a senior escalation point for complex program, operational, or stakeholder issues. Resolve matters within delegated authority, frame options and recommendations for the Executive Director when decisions are required, and ensure that sensitive or high-impact issues are handled with sound judgment, discretion, and appropriate coordination.
• Team and organizational leadership. Lead, coordinate, and develop TAI staff, temporary employees, student workers, fellows, and project teams as assigned. Clarify roles and accountabilities, set expectations, coach contributors, and build a high‑performing, responsive operating culture. As the initiative grows, the Director may assume direct supervisory responsibility for additional staff.

Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications:

Qualified candidates will hold a BA/BS in a related discipline plus 7 years of relevant professional experience. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education. Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field preferred. Relevant fields may include public policy, public administration, business, higher education administration, technology, engineering, computer science, or a related discipline.
• Relevant experience. Professional experience in program leadership, organizational management, higher education, research administration, technology initiatives, public policy, or a related environment; experience leading complex, multi‑stakeholder initiatives strongly preferred.
• Strategic and executive partnership. Demonstrated ability to serve as a trusted partner to senior leadership, translate broad goals into actionable plans, prepare decision materials and recommendations, manage competing priorities, and drive disciplined follow‑through with limited supervision.
• Cross‑functional leadership. Proven ability to lead through influence across organizational boundaries and work effectively with senior administrators, faculty, researchers, staff, students, and external stakeholders.
• Program, project, and financial management. Strong experience with program and project management, including strategic planning, budgeting, resource allocation, risk management, evaluation, reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Communication and representation. Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including experience preparing executive‑level materials, delivering presentations, facilitating high‑level meetings, and representing an organization with internal and external audiences.
• External engagement. Demonstrated ability to build and sustain productive relationships with government, industry, nonprofit, philanthropic, academic, or other external partners. Experience in AI, technology, research, higher education, or public policy is highly desirable.
• Leadership and judgment. Demonstrated leadership, sound judgment, discretion, diplomacy, initiative, responsiveness, and a high degree of professionalism. Experience supervising staff, project teams, or cross‑functional teams is preferred.

GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.

II. POSITION INFORMATION

Campus Location:

Campus Location: Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.

College/School/Department:

College/School/Department: Academic Affairs

Family

Family Research and Labs

Sub-Family

Sub-Family Centers/Institutes

Stream

Level

Level Level 4

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time

Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule:

Work Schedule: M-F, 9am-5pm with some exceptions (events might happen in the evening or weekends)

Will this job require the employee to work on site?

Will this job require the employee to work on site? Yes

Employee Onsite Status

Telework:

Required Background Check

Required Background Check Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

Internal Applicants Only?

Internal Applicants Only? No

Posting Number:

Posting Number: R002473

Job Open Date:

Job Open Date: 10/27/2026

Job Close Date:

Background Screening Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

EEO Statement:

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Are you currently employed with The George Washington University?
  • No
  • Yes
• * For current GW employees, have you completed your Introductory Employment Period (IEP)? (As a reminder,employees in their IEP are not eligible to apply for other internal university staff and research positions until the IEP is complete.)
  • Yes, IEP complete
  • No, still in IEP
  • N/a - not a current GW employee
• * What is your salary range expectation?

  (Open Ended Question)

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Human Resource Management & Development

2013 H Street, NW, 3rd Floor Washington, DC 20006