Director (or VP) of ProgramsIntercollegiate Studies Institute

Founded in 1953, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) is a nonprofit organization that educates for liberty, equipping future leaders to embrace and defend the principles and virtues that make America good, free, and prosperous.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President, the Director of Programs (or Vice President, DOE) will serve on the senior team as a highly visible leader, overseeing ISI’s national educational programs--including seminars, campus chapters, and conferences--for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as professional scholars, from ideation to execution and after-action assessment. Familiarity with and enthusiasm for the conservative political tradition, the Great Books, and the Western tradition is a must.

The Director will manage the Programs Team and steward resources to meet or exceed all strategic goals related to educational events, student and faculty recruitment, and talent identification and development.

This is a full-time, salaried position with benefits, including medical, dental, vision, 403(b), paid time off, parental leave, and more. The role is based at ISI’s F.M. Kirby Campus headquarters—a historic 20-acre estate in Wilmington, Delaware 2 hours north of Washington D.C., which features a newly constructed event hall and digital media studio. Many ISI team members choose to live in nearby PA or MD.

Ideational Leadership

• Curate speakers/themes, develop syllabi, select readings, etc., centered on conservative thought and classical leadership.

• Engage in strategic planning related to ISI’s programmatic goals with the President and CEO and other senior leaders; effectively communicate the institution’s vision and priorities to colleagues and especially to direct reports and junior team members.

• Cultivate relationships with professors, public intellectuals, journalists, business leaders, and other thought leaders who represent a range of intellectual and political commitments, as well as a range of scholarly and professional disciplines.

Management and Administration

• Develop and execute a suite of educational programs for students and faculty annually, ranging from facilitating small, decentralized, faculty-led programs on campuses across the country to the annual Honors Program and other advanced programs at ISI’s headquarters and other venues.

• Provide effective management of Programs personnel through team meetings, check-ins, etc., fostering a climate of learning and professional growth that builds morale and develops talent throughout ISI.

• Assist with the recruitment, interviewing/hiring, and onboarding of Programs personnel as needed.

• Manage financial resources and meet donor deliverables and expectations.

• Ensure systems and processes are in place to effectively track and report on student/faculty data and programs KPIs.

Communication and Interdepartmental Collaboration  

• Assist colleagues with communications, fundraising, and outreach by participating in institutional events, joining meetings with funders, funneling relevant information/data across departments, and speaking/writing on behalf of the organization when appropriate.

• Experience: 8+ years of relevant professional experience; graduate degree preferred.

• Mission Alignment: Demonstrated enthusiasm for ISI’s mission and values.

• Subject Mastery: Strong knowledge of the Western intellectual tradition, Great Books, and conservative thought, with a commitment to passing these on to emerging leaders.