Senior Director, AI Studio

The Urban Institute; Washington; On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

The Urban Institute is seeking a founding Senior Director for its AI Studio to establish a national, practice-oriented hub that applies AI to public policy and social impact. You will lead strategy, partnerships, and multidisciplinary teams to deliver evidence-based AI engagements.

You will shape the Studio's portfolio, expand philanthropic and government collaborations, and advance responsible AI methodologies with Urban’s policy expertise and data science capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of leadership experience in building or leading high-impact programs or units.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with sound judgment and bias toward action.
• Experience at the intersection of strategy, technology, public policy, research, philanthropy, or social impact.
• Ability to cultivate a broad network of AI, technology, research, and policy leaders.
• Proven success securing funding and strategic partnerships.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Experience leading diverse teams and navigating ambiguity.
• Commitment to evidence and responsible use of technology.

Responsibilities

• Develop and drive the Studio's long-term strategy, growth trajectory, and work portfolio.
• Build a sustainable pipeline of philanthropy- and partner-supported initiatives.
• Identify opportunities where AI can meaningfully improve systems and translate them into engagements.
• Position Urban as a national thought leader at the intersection of AI, public policy, and social impact.
• Cultivate partnerships with governments, philanthropies, nonprofits, technology companies, researchers, and civic innovators.
• Convene diverse stakeholders to develop solutions grounded in real-world needs.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams delivering responsible, user-centered AI initiatives.
• Advance methods for evaluating AI systems and their effects.

Skills

Leadership experience

Entrepreneurial mindset

Strategy & policy

Fundraising/partnerships

Networking

Communication

Team leadership

Ambiguity tolerance

Evidence-based approach

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Advanced degree

Job description

About Urban Institute:

The Urban Institute is a research-to-impact institution founded on one simple idea: To improve lives and strengthen communities, we need practices and policies that work. From advancing well-being to fostering shared prosperity, leaders across sectors are working every day to create brighter futures for all people and communities. For more than 50 years, Urban has delivered evidence and solutions that drive meaningful change, and this remains our charge today.

Our Mission

To drive impact by equipping changemakers with evidence and solutions.

Our Values

Collaboration, Fairness Inclusivity, Independence, and Integrity

For more information on the Urban Institute, please visit https://www.urban.org.

What You'll Do:

The Senior Director will establish the Studio as a trusted partner for governments, nonprofits, philanthropies, and technology organizations seeking practical, evidence-based AI solutions grounded in public policy expertise.

The primary goal of the Senior Director will be to build and lead a portfolio of applied AI engagements that produces measurable benefits for partners, strengthens Urban’s capabilities, generates reusable methods and evidence, and establishes a sustainable operating model for the Studio. This is a rare opportunity to help build one of the nation’s leading applied AI teams focused on public purpose, drawing on Urban’s policy expertise, technical capabilities, and trusted reputation among its partners.

As the founding leader of the AI Studio, you will:

• Develop and drive the Studio's long-term strategy, growth trajectory, and work portfolio.

• Build a sustainable pipeline of philanthropy- and partner-supported initiatives in collaboration with Urban's leadership and development teams.

• Identify where AI can meaningfully improve systems, services, and outcomes, and translate those opportunities into ambitious, actionable engagements.

• Position Urban as a national thought leader at the intersection of AI, public policy, and social impact.

• Cultivate partnerships with governments, philanthropies, nonprofits, technology companies, researchers, and civic innovators.

• Convene diverse stakeholders, including technologists, social scientists, practitioners, and community leaders, to develop solutions grounded in real-world needs.

• Collaborate across Urban by leading multidisciplinary teams delivering responsible, user-centered, and evidence-driven AI initiatives.

• Advance new approaches for evaluating AI systems and measuring their effects on people, organizations, and communities.

• Explore opportunities to develop public goods, reusable tools, and shared infrastructure that can amplify impact beyond any single project.

• Build organizational capabilities that help Urban and its partners navigate rapid technological change.

What Makes This Role Unique:

The AI Studio's differentiator is not technology alone. Urban combines deep policy expertise, rigorous research methods, trusted relationships, and technical capabilities in ways few organizations can match.

The Senior Director will have the opportunity to:

• Shape how governments and mission-driven organizations adopt AI.

• Work in collaboration with nationally recognized policy experts and researchers.

• Build new partnerships across philanthropy, technology, and the public sector.

• Create evidence about what works and what does not in applied AI.

• Help ensure AI delivers measurable public benefit, especially for communities often left behind by technological change.

• Establish a start-up studio within an organization that has over 50 years of impact that can influence the future of responsible AI implementation nationwide.

The Urban Institute AI Studio is a new center within Urban’s Technology and Data Science Department. The Senior Director reports to the Vice President of Technology and Data Science & Chief Information Officer and will draw on AI and data science experts within the department and subject-matter experts and practitioners across Urban’s policy divisions.

The Ideal Candidate:

The strongest candidates will bring a combination of entrepreneurial leadership, technological fluency, strategic vision, and a commitment to public impact. They will have demonstrated success building initiatives, securing resources, cultivating funder and public sector partnerships, and translating ambitious ideas into tangible results.

Candidates may come from technology, philanthropy, government, consulting, research, or mission-driven organizations, but they will share a belief that AI's greatest value lies not in the technology itself, but in its ability to solve meaningful problems and improve people's lives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required.

• Advanced degree preferred.

• 10+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience, with a track record of building, scaling, or leading high-impact programs, initiatives, or business units.

• An entrepreneurial mindset coupled with sound judgment and a bias towards action.

• Demonstrated experience at the intersection of strategy, technology, public policy, research, philanthropy, or social impact.

• Demonstrated ability to cultivate and leverage a broad network of AI, technology, research, and policy leaders to accelerate innovation, attract resources, and expand organizational impact.

• Proven success securing funding, developing strategic partnerships and engaging leaders across sectors.

• Strong understanding of emerging technologies and their potential applications in addressing public and social challenges.

• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across teams and stakeholder groups.

• Experience leading diverse teams of experts and fostering a culture of innovation, learning, and execution.

• Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, identify opportunities, and convert vision into action and tangible outcomes.

• Deep commitment to evidence and the responsible use of technology in service of the public good.

What You’ll Experience:

No matter your role with Urban, you will contribute to meaningful work that makes a difference for people and communities across the country. We are committed to working in a manner defined by our mission and values.

Urban’s greatest asset is our people.

The salary for this position is generally expected to fall within $200,000 - $250,000 range. Final compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, market factors, and internal considerations. Salaries are just one component of Urban Institute’s total compensation package. Urban is committed to supporting our staff’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being through a robust benefits package for yourself, eligible dependents, and domestic partners. It includes generous paid time off, including nine federal holidays, medical (including prescription), dental and vision insurance, and transit benefits. Urban is unique in that we offer 403(b) retirement plan participation immediately after you’re hired and a generous employer contribution after six months of service and 500 hours, with immediate vesting. You’ll also have access to a health advocate, personal finance coaching, an Employee Assistance Program, and educational assistance for undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned. This posting is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements. Urban management reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

The Urban Institute is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender or gender identity, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, veteran status, pregnancy or family responsibilities, matriculation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected status under applicable law. The Urban Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you have a physical and/or mental disability and are interested in applying for employment and need special accommodations to use our website to apply for a position, please contact Talent Management at [e-mail]. Reasonable accommodation requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.