ACLS Mission and Overview
Formed a century ago, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a nonprofit federation of 81 scholarly organizations. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences, ACLS' core principle is that knowledge is a public good. As such, ACLS strives to promote the circulation of humanistic knowledge throughout society. In addition to stewarding and representing its member organizations, ACLS employs its endowment and $34 million annual operating budget to support scholarship in the humanities and social sciences and to advocate for its central role in the twenty-first century.
Summary
Working closely with the President and the Vice President, the Senior Director of US Programs will lead the strategic direction and operations of the US Programs department at ACLS. ACLS operates an evolving set of programs that support scholars in the fields of the humanities and social sciences represented by ACLS member societies. US Programs awards typically support individual and collaborative research, workshops and other development programs, and convenings in support of awardees. The Senior Director will lead the administration and design of these programs; be responsible for program assessment and communications with past grantees, reviewers, advisers, and college/university administrators; and assist ACLS leadership in managing relations with funders. As a member of senior staff, the Senior Director will collaborate with colleagues within the organization and across ACLS networks to foster forward-looking change in the institutional structures and practices that shape the work of the humanities and social sciences at a challenging time for higher education. The Senior Director will also assess grantmaking operations across the organization, seeking to optimize coordination and collaboration.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Direct the operations and oversee the budget of US Programs, including direct supervision of program staff and management of consultants and advisors
- With assistance from US Programs staff, design, implement, assess, and report the activities and outcomes of US Programs' extensive portfolio, including:
- Strategies to make programs more accessible, equitable, responsive, and effective
- Peer-review processes
- Reporting, stipend payments, project monitoring, publicity
- Design and oversee the implementation of program activities beyond competitions, such as workshops for fellows, program analysis and field-relevant research projects, and meetings with program funders and/or other program partners
- Lead the assessment and refinement of ACLS award competitions across the organization
- Work with the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer to identify and implement solutions for various program-related organizational processes associated with technology, human resources, and financial services
- Coordinate select award-related activities with ACLS member societies and institutions
- Stay abreast of current challenges facing humanistic study, especially as they affect ACLS constituencies, and shape US Programs accordingly
- Represent ACLS in national grant-making networks and other organizations
- Collaborate with leadership and staff of funding organizations
- Work with the President, the Vice President, and the Chief Development Officer to secure funding for initiatives and programs, including identifying relevant donors and crafting program proposals that align the funders' identified areas of interest with ACLS priorities and capacities
- Assist the President and Vice President in preparing reports to constituencies, including learned societies and the ACLS Board
- Help encourage and inspire ACLS staff and ACLS networks (learned society executive directors and delegates, members of the University Consortium and Associates networks, fellows, and funders) to envision and work towards a more inclusive and vibrant ecosystem for the humanities and social sciences
Requirements
- PhD in humanities or social sciences
- Leadership, strategy development, and management experience
- Superior written and oral communication skills, with the ability to adapt communication style to different audiences
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize long-term projects and short-term assignments in a deadline-driven environment
- Excellent interpersonal skills and facility both for working collaboratively with a team and independently
- Analytical and creative problem-solving capacity
- Ability to take initiative and respond flexibly to rapidly evolving and unexpected conditions
- Ability to maintain clear and rational judgment in high pressure or complex situations
- Proficiency in MS Office, particularly Word and Excel; experience with using relational databases, such as Microsoft Dynamics CRM preferred
- Interest or experience in issues and challenges facing the humanities and humanistic social sciences
- Hybrid work schedule; location within easy commuting reach of New York City preferred
Compensation and Benefits
Base salary range: $175,000 - $200,000 / year
ACLS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and disability insurance; generous time off benefits; a retirement savings plan, including employer contributions; and professional development support.