Program Director, Research and Operations, Rock Center

Abundance Network; United States; On-site; USD 115,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford Law School's Rock Center for Corporate Governance is seeking a Program Director to lead content and research publications, program operations, and stakeholder engagement. You will collaborate with the Director, professors, sponsors, and senior leaders, delivering high-impact programs and overseeing confidential matters with discretion.

The role emphasizes strong writing and analytical abilities, with fluency in AI tools for drafting, research, design, and internal workflows.

Qualifications

• Excellent oral, written, and analytical skills.
• Fluency in area of specialization and ability to communicate complex concepts.
• Ability to oversee and direct staff.
• Basic knowledge of managing budgets and developing financial plans.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage research programs, including stakeholder outreach and reporting.
• Identify new research opportunities and collaborations with data providers and industry partners.
• End-to-end content production: publications, proposals, briefings, event summaries.
• Source data, perform analysis, and build reports to drive content and thought leadership.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Leadership

Budget knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Stanford Law School Budgeted Salary Range Upon Hire: $115,000 - $150,000 per annum.

About the Center:

The Rock Center for Corporate Governance builds on Stanford Law School’s longstanding tradition of legal scholarship and advances programs and research on corporate governance in its broadest sense. Through research, events, and convenings, the Center advances its mission by fostering scholarship and generating public dialogue and education on cutting‑edge issues in corporate governance, capital markets, and law and finance. For example, in addition to programs and research relating to corporate governance, the Center supports research and education on the responsible governance and use of artificial intelligence (AI) within organizations via the Governance & Assurance in AI Networks (GAAIN) Initiative, as well as research and education relating to venture capital finance and startup formation through its campus Form & Fund programs. We additionally support aspiring legal academics through fellowships, which provide a modest number of Research Fellows the opportunity to advance their related research, while immersing themselves in the academic life of Stanford Law School.

Job Description:

The Program Director, will report to the Director of Private Capital Initiative and also work closely with Professor Honigsberg and Professor Bartlett. In this role, you will help drive the Center's mission across content and research publications, program operations, and stakeholder engagement.

You will work in close partnership with the Rock Center and Executive Education teams, holding the full picture of what the Center has in motion and moving work from idea to delivery. The role carries significant autonomy and direct exposure to faculty, sponsors, and senior leaders across industry, along with the judgment required for confidential and senior‑level matters. The substantive work is equally central. Strong writing and analytical skills are critical, and the Center is looking for candidates who are fluent with AI tools in their daily work: drafting, research, design, and building internal workflows.

Job duties will include:

Research and publications

• Develop and manage our research programs: stakeholder outreach, resource decisions, program improvements, and the recommendations that shape our policies
• Identify and bring in new research opportunities, including collaborations with outside data providers and industry partners
• Take content end‑to‑end: publications, proposals, briefings, and event summaries. Hold the quality bar on anything that goes out under the Rock Center’s name, and help launch our new publication.
• Source data, run the analysis, and build the reports that drive our content and thought leadership engine

Program operations and execution

• Plan and execute the Rock Center calendar of summits, roundtables, dinners, and executive sessions, owning scope, timeline, budget, vendors, and follow‑through
• Maintain and improve the systems that keep us running: CRM and contact management, registration and outreach workflows, project tracking, and reporting
• Contribute to program planning and the funding behind it, and help us maintain budget discipline
• Set priorities, track commitments across everything we have running, keep me ahead of what is coming, and make sure nothing slips
• Prepare agendas, briefings, and follow‑ups for meetings with faculty, sponsors, donors, and senior industry people
• Manage scheduling, correspondence, and confidential material that comes with that work

Stakeholder engagement

• Serve as a key point of contact for our law firm and fund partners, sponsors, speakers, data collaborators, and alumni
• Contribute to outreach strategy for communications, partnerships, development, and funding
• Work closely with Rock Center and Exec Ed colleagues, and with Law School and GSB communications, events, and finance teams.

Plan and administer both academic and research programs and services. Interpret principles and concepts generated by faculty, develop ideas and options for faculty review and decision, and then develop and implement instruction and research programs reflecting faculty interest. Special subject matter expertise in academic and/or research area is required for these jobs. Program management jobs without a research specialty may be better classified in Administrative Services Administrator series.

Core Duties

• Develop and manage research programs by conducting research activities, including outreach to varied stakeholders within the program, assigning resources and making program improvement recommendations that impact policies and programs.
• Identify, recommend and implement opportunities for new research.
• Source, collect and analyze data, create reports, review and explain trends; formulate and evaluate alternative solutions and/or recommendations to achieve the goals of the program or function.
• Teach and/or assist in the teaching and administration of courses. Develop curriculum. Develop curriculum‑rating survey, detailed feedback on courses and make recommendations for preliminary overview and changes.
• Write and/or edit complex content for proposals, research grants, peer‑reviewed publications, and other program activities.
• Contribute to and inform on strategic program/entity planning and related funding and financial sustainability.
• May advise students and/or coach/mentor clients.
• Develop or contribute to outreach strategy related to program communications, development, partnerships, and fundraising/funding.
• Coach and mentor program staff.

Minimum Education and Experience Required:

Bachelor’s degree and three years of relevant experience or combination of education, training, and relevant experience. Advanced degree may be required for some programs. For jobs with financial responsibilities, experience managing a budget and developing financial plans.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to develop program partnerships and funding sources.
• Excellent oral, written, and analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in area of specialization.
• Ability to oversee and direct staff.
• Basic knowledge of managing budgets and developing financial plans.

Certificates and Licenses Required:

For teaching jobs, advanced degree or certification may be required for some programs.