ABOUT US
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners


CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP

The Center for Leadership exists to ignite and nurture leadership potential in its constituents, building meaningful connections that generate lasting impact. Its work is to inspire, challenge and support leaders with different perspectives to understand how and where they can make a difference and live lives of deeper meaning and greater individual and collective impact. By supporting, connecting, and incubating leadership programs across the Aspen Institute, it fosters a global community of courageous and well connected leaders in real relation with one another working across their differences in service of a better world.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Executive Director is a leadership position within the Center for Leadership (The Center) responsible for managing activities related to the successful functioning of existing programming and development of new programming within the Center’s portfolio. This position plays a vital role in the management and coordination of strategic and tactical activities across the Center’s work.

The Executive Director works closely with the Center’s Executive Vice President (EVP), Vice Presidents (VP) and the Center’s team to provide visionary leadership to unify, expand, and elevate the Center’s work. This role requires a strategic thinker who can reimagine existing activities to serve a broader network, foster a culture of collaboration and excellence, and ensure that programming, content, and operations align seamlessly as part of a larger enterprise. The Executive Director will guide a small, agile team, oversee innovative program design, and establish a sustainable operating and business model that positions the Center for long-term impact and influence. Acting as both a strategist and a connector, the Executive Director will communicate the organization’s vision and value to internal stakeholders and external partners. As this is a leadership position, it is expected that the Executive Director will self-manage tasks, make decisions, and delegate work on multiple programs and projects while maintaining deadlines. The Executive Director will supervise other Center’s staff.

This role reports directly to the Executive Vice President, Leadership. The salary range for this position is $260,000 - $275,000. In accordance with our Reimagining Work policy, the Executive Director should be willing to be in-person with colleagues a minimum of 40% of the time while having the flexibility to work remotely for the balance. In-person consists of meaningful connections with colleagues in an office, traveling to a different office or location to meet fellow staff members, at an Aspen event, at a meeting outside the office or other opportunities to meet in person with teammates and colleagues.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Strategic Leadership & Enterprise Vision

• Develop and execute an effective and impactful business model for the Center in collaboration with the EVP and VPs that:

  • Aligns with the Center’s mission and broader organizational goals;

  • Guides engagement with the Center, and effectively communicates with both internal and external stakeholders;

  • Ensures the Center’s financial health and sustainability; and

  • Breaks down silos and aligns functions across the Center.

• Position the Center as a unified enterprise to elevate its thought leadership and amplify its impact, by reimagining current activities and creating new ones to serve a broader and more diverse network.

• Develop and execute programmatic strategies that align with the Center’s mission and institutional objectives, by establishing impact goals, refining annual work plans, removing bottlenecks, and designing and overseeing systems to measure the Center’s effectiveness and support its growth.

• Lead large-scale projects, including research and leadership development initiatives, ensuring adherence to the Center’s goals, timelines, and budgets.

• Ensure excellence in curriculum design, content development, intellectual property, and moderator support in seminars, leadership programs, and connection initiatives by coordinating across the Center’s teams.

Team Leadership and Development

• Provide vision and structure for an interdisciplinary team, balancing clear leadership with ecosystem-level collaboration.

• Act as a central coordinator (‘traffic control”) to ensure organizational priorities are aligned, sequenced, and effectively managed.

• Supervise and mentor staff, fostering a collaborative, high-performance, and growth-oriented culture.

• Create a culture of delight, innovation, and excellence in how the Center works together.

• Lead team to hire, onboard, and integrate new team members, ensuring alignment with the Center’s values.

• Develop and oversee professional development plans, performance reviews, and team-building activities in collaboration with EVP.

• Facilitate opportunities for staff, leaders, and partners to learn from one another, exchange insights, and deepen collaboration.

External Relations and Communications

• Identify and develop strategic partnerships, relationships and opportunities for the Center for greater impact.

• Contribute to the Center’s strategic communications plan and serve as an external spokesperson for the Center.

• Strengthen communications and brand of the Center.

• Travel internationally to meet with the stakeholders and partners; and attend international conferences to present on matters important to the Center’s mission, being comfortable speaking to large audiences.

Fundraising and Financial Planning

• Maintain financial accountability and sustainability by monitoring budgets and resource allocation to maximize impact.

• Build and maintain relationships with donors, foundations, corporate partners, and other key stakeholders.

• Securing and managing financial resources in collaboration with the Center’s leadership.

• Ensure Center deliverables meet high-quality standards and are reported in a timely manner to funders and partners.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO THRIVE

• At least 15 years of experience in research, management and/or policy development;

• Proven track record of building collaborative cultures, driving innovation, and leading organizations through periods of growth and change;

• Experience securing funding from foundations, corporations and other partners;

• Experience managing, inspiring, motivating, and coaching team members;

• Ability to set enterprise-wide vision, align diverse stakeholders, and translate strategy into action;

• Ability to manage conflict and navigate complex relationships;

• Ability to zoom in and out between big picture themes and ideas and minute details;

• Ability to adapt well to change;

• Strong emotional intelligence and integrity;

• Good judgment and decision-making;

• Strong customer service orientation and interpersonal skills;

• Excellent writing skills;

• Deep commitment to advancing the organization’s purpose and values, with the curiosity and vision to expand its impact; and

• Willingness and ability to travel, in the US and internationally.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Aspen Institute offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, and prescription benefits, retirement benefits, and paid leave.

The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.

The Aspen Institute welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs, including the interview process. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about accessibility, please email hrsupport@aspeninstitute.org or call 202-736-2127 in advance of your visit. Requests for ASL or CART services should be made at least two weeks in advance when possible. We will make every effort to fulfill requests, subject to availability.