Director, American Democracy Project

ABOUT AASCU 

AASCU represents over 350 public colleges, universities, and systems united in the mission to expand student access and success, promote experiential learning, and advance economic and community development. Our member institutions are at the forefront of academic innovation, serving a diverse student population committed to excellence in public higher education.  

ABOUT THE DIVISION  

The Division of Academic Innovation and Transformation (AIT) provides programming, services, and expertise to assist members in their academic missions. Through grant-funded scaling initiatives, leadership development programs, and large and small convenings, the Division supports institutional transformation in the areas of civic and global engagement, student success, teacher education, and other career preparation for workforce development. Through innovative programming and strategic partnerships, the Division is dedicated to preparing students who are responsible and engaged global citizens.  

SUMMARY OF POSITION 

The Director’s core responsibilities are primary leadership of AASCU’s American Democracy Project (ADP). For over 20 years, AASCU’s nonpartisan American Democracy Project has helped state colleges and universities prepare informed, active citizens who engage different viewpoints and perspectives.  

The Director will have responsibility for the planning, coordination, and implementation of ADP. The Director works as part of a team of professionals in the Division of Academic Innovation and Transformation, providing support to help members achieve their goals to prepare globally engaged citizens. As such, the Director works collaboratively across the division and organization. 

The Director oversees civic engagement programming for AASCU and ADP campuses and supports the Assistant Vice President in building civic engagement strategy for the AIT division and the ADP network. The Director is also responsible for outreach to AASCU campuses to build awareness and support continued ADP network growth, as well as for building and maintaining relationships with campuses. In collaboration with the Assistant Vice President, the Director develops and manages relevant external partnerships and cultivates and maintains the relationships with ADP funders and sponsors. The Director also manages all aspects of ADP convenings in close coordination with internal and external meeting partners. 

Additionally, the Director is responsible for project management and the execution of AASCU’s ADP webinars, in-person and virtual meetings, ADP newsletters, and events. This may include designing the project workflow and collaborating across AASCU divisions to ensure program objectives are met. 

The Director is responsible for supervising external contractors and indirectly supervising colleagues on a project-by-project basis. This is a full-time position that reports to the Assistant Vice President of Civic and Global Engagement. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

Required: 

• Master’s degree or equivalent graduate credential. 
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in civic or democratic engagement in higher education or a related field. 
• 8 years in higher education with a minimum of 5 years of experience in civic or democratic engagement. 
• Proven project management skills, including program support and development, preferably in higher education or the association industry, and direct management and coordination of civic engagement programming at an association or in higher education. 
• Direct experience collaborating with faculty, developing curriculum and professional development initiatives for faculty and higher education staff, including webinars, institutes, and/or conferences. 
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and strong intercultural communication skills. 
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and possess excellent project management and problem-solving skills, particularly scheduling and planning workflows cross-departmentally. 
• Proven success in cultivating relationships with partner universities, organizations, colleagues, and community members to expand collaborative efforts and implement and evaluate progress. 
• Superior presentation, writing, and verbal communication skills. Strong proofreading and editing skills and experience with academic journals are a plus. 
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills, including cultivating strong relationships cross-departmentally and with high-level external stakeholders (e.g., senior-level higher education administrators). 
• Ability to work independently, with minimal supervision, as well as work collaboratively as a member of a team. 
• Ability to stay abreast of trends in higher education and civic engagement fields to design innovative and relevant programming.  
• Proven success in convening faculty, staff, students, and/or higher education leaders. 
• Ability to deliver quality work on tight deadlines, with strong organization and priority-setting skills. 
• Ability to effectively represent AASCU at external events, including clear and consistent communication of the organization’s beliefs, mission, and strategy.  
• Ability and willingness to travel periodically, when needed, including at off-site meetings. 
• Commitment to upholding AASCU’s mission, vision, and values.  

Preferred:  

• Experience leading a successful national-level civic or democratic engagement initiative. 
• Experience leading large-scale programming across multiple higher education institutions. 
• Some experience leading programs and initiatives that explore civic engagement in a global context. 
• Experience planning and running large national in-person and virtual conferences, including program planning, coordination, and training for speakers, facilitators, and moderators. 
• Experience and success in fundraising and sponsorship that support national civic engagement programming and events. 
• Proven success in cultivating funder and sponsor relationships that contribute directly to funding renewal. 

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS, AND LOCATION 

The salary range for this exempt position is between $110,000 and $125,000 plus a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision insurance; fifteen paid holidays plus additional annual leave; above market contribution to company sponsored 403(b) retirement plan; on-site fitness facility, 24/7 building security, secured bike storage and more. Additionally, available underground public parking is accessible for all employees at their own expense.   

This is a full-time position located at AASCU’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. AASCU employees who work within commuting distance to our offices are expected to work on a hybrid in-person work schedule of two days in the office and three days optional remote. This schedule is subject to change based on work and organizational demands.