Director, IDDP

Housed within the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, the Institute for Data, Democracy, and Politics (IDDP) seeks to help society understand critical challenges that arise at the intersection of digital technology, media, and democracy, in turn informing sound policy solutions. IDDP is committed to supporting rigorous, evidence- based research that advances democratic values.

The Director, IDDP is responsible for overseeing the Institute’s day-to-day operations, but also for helping to secure its long-term viability.

In collaboration with the faculty directors, the director will advance IDDP’s long-term vision and viability. This includes representing IDDP’s mission and research to a broad set of audiences, including academics, media, and public officials, as well as planning and executing public-facing programming. The director will also set development goals and build and strengthen relationships with existing and new funders. Finally, the director will play a leading role in strategic planning.

In consultation with the faculty directors and coordination with primary staff, the director will oversee the day-to-day operations of IDDP. This will include supervising staff’s execution of their primary responsibilities, such as managing the budget, grant management, and the Institute’s daily functioning. This will also entail regularly interfacing with IDDP’s faculty directors and principal researchers to identify strategic projects and outreach priorities that align with and further the Institute’s mission.

Responsibilities for the Director include:

Ensuring Implementation of the IDDP’s Goals and Developing Strategy for Long-term Viability

• With consultation from the faculty directors, develop long-term growth initiatives for IDDP, to include identifying and pursuing new sources of funding, cultivating relationships with new donors and foundations, and securing funding through development and grant writing;
• Oversee and steward grant obligations; and
• Collaborate with the faculty directors to:
• Develop vision, strategy, and annual goals for IDDP;
• Organize symposia, conferences, panels, roundtables, and other gatherings of scholars, practitioners, non-profit leaders, philanthropic leaders, private sector leaders, and public officials; and
• Make the research of principal researchers and affiliated scholars accessible, impactful, and useful for relevant organizations and other stakeholders.

Administration of IDDP

• Direct the day-to-day operations of IDDP, including supervising the staff team;
• Develop strong relationships and maintain pathways of communication with GW and CCAS leadership, members of their offices, and other relevant university departments;
• Interface as needed with Human Resources, Procurement, Finance, and other essential GW departments;
• Work with the staff to develop systems for tracking objectives and key results;
• In coordination with relevant IDDP, CCAS, and GW staff, oversee the development of and execution of a communications plan to disseminate work product, activities, and future plans of IDDP to funders, researchers, policymakers, the public, and other stakeholders;
• Oversee and steward IDDP’s financial position, budget, and long-term financial health;
• Collaborate with faculty directors (along with GW’s and CCAS’s development offices) to create goals and implement strategies for fundraising and maintaining donor relationships; and
• Work with primary IDDP staff, GW’s Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations, and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research to oversee the tracking of grant obligations, allocation of expenditures to grants, grant report submissions, and compliance with GW and CCAS policies.

Partner Management

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with relevant staff at the current funding organization(s), the Knight Institute, as well as potential and future funders;
• In coordination with IDDP’s faculty directors and relevant principal researchers, help facilitate collaborations with other GW projects, initiatives, centers, institutes, and programs (e.g., the Multiracial Democracy Project; Trustworthy AI in Law & Society; the Milken School of Public Health; the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences); and
• Coordinate with IDDP’s faculty directors and relevant principal researchers to help facilitate collaborations with peer academic centers at other universities (e.g., UNC, NYU, the University of Washington, the University of Texas at Austin, Stanford University, Georgetown, and a number of others) on relevant projects and convenings.

Ambassador for IDDP

• Represent IDDP as an inspiring and credible ambassador with diverse audiences, including democracy leaders, tech policy leaders, policymakers, community partners, philanthropic leaders, media, funders, and other actors whose partnership will be integral in transitioning IDDP’s research and thought leadership into actionable policy change and practice innovations;
• With consultation with faculty directors, develop and foster strategic relationships, including recruiting public and private sector partners; and
• In coordination with faculty directors, develop IDDP’s values and promote a culture and environment that reflects those values and those of GW.

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

Minimum Qualifications:

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 10 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 8 years of relevant professional experience. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated leadership skills as well as the ability to think, plan, and execute strategically.
• Experience with fundraising and development.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage team members handling multiple projects of varying complexity simultaneously with attention to detail and a high level of excellence and professionalism.
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks.
• Experience developing and managing budgets.
• Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills; this includes utilizing cultural competence and emotional intelligence, employing tact and discretion to handle confidential and sensitive information, facilitating meetings that address complex issues, and fostering a constructive and respectful work environment.
• Ability to combine strategic thinking with operational follow-through.
• Experience building and maintaining good working relationships with diverse constituencies, stakeholders, and community partners, standing oral and written communication skills, including public speaking.
• Experience with donor and foundation relations, donor cultivation, and identifying new sources of funding.
• Demonstrated record of securing funding through development and grant writing.
• Experience planning and coordinating events and initiatives, including logistics, promotion, and outreach.
• Knowledge of internal and external communication plans, such as social media, newsletters, and web content.
• Experience working with universities, academic research, civil society organizations, technology companies, and major foundations.
• Understanding of the environment and culture of a research university.
• Understanding of social science research methods, including quantitative, qualitative, interpretive, and/or computational approaches.
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally from Washington, DC to represent IDDP as needed at conferences and stakeholder meetings.
• Strong understanding of the social impact of modern digital technology.
• Leadership experience in: fundraising, development, philanthropy, successful grant writing, non-profit, advocacy, government, civil society organizations, policy, or project management within technology corporations, and/or an academic research department, institute, or center.
• Experience leading knowledgeable subject matter experts.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

The Limited term of this appointment is approximately 4 years (ending on 12/31/2029) at this time, with the potential to extend the appointment terms or become a permanent position.

Quick Link for Posting: https://www.gwu.jobs/postings/119478