Director, Intentional Design

American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)

ACLS director leading equitable initiatives across humanities and social sciences. Managing programs, staff, fundraising, partnerships, and academic-policy innovation.

Posted 8/18/2026full-timeNew York City • New York • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $175,000 - $200,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in academic policy and culture, with a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Proven ability to lead teams, manage budgets, and cultivate partnerships in philanthropy and academia while effectively communicating and presenting to diverse audiences.

Highest-signal resume keywords

PhD In Humanities Or Social SciencesManagement/Administrative ExperienceFundraising From Philanthropic FoundationsExpertise In Academic Policy And CultureProficiency In Microsoft Office

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Budget ManagementGrants ManagementRelationship CultivationReport WritingProject Management

Soft Skills

Interpersonal SkillsAnalytical Problem-SolvingCreative Problem-SolvingCollaborationAdaptability

Tools & Technologies

Microsoft OfficeMicrosoft Dynamics CRM

Industry Keywords

Diversity InitiativesHigher-Education InstitutionsPhilanthropyACLSMellon Mays Programs

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the design, development, and implementation of new IDEA initiatives
Shape ACLS’s next phase of work broadening perspectives in American academia and supporting underinvested scholarly communities
Manage and mentor a high-performing team of seven staff
Cultivate new partnerships in philanthropy and academia
Design and lead initiatives with meaningful impact for scholars, learned societies, higher-education institutions, and thought leaders
Oversee the IDEA budget and operations
Coordinate activities with Communications, Development, Finance, and other ACLS units
Work with the President and Chief Development Officer to secure funding
Maintain relationships with foundation partners and funders
Propose and conduct travel for relationship cultivation
Represent IDEA to the ACLS Board, constituencies, funders, and other groups
Author or co-author reports
Speak in external settings and present at selected convenings and conferences

Requirements

What you’ll need

PhD in the humanities or social sciences
At least 6 years of management/administrative experience, such as department or program chair, center director, associate dean, dean, or comparable nonprofit responsibility
Expertise in academic policy and culture, including hiring and tenure processes, undergraduate and/or graduate education reform, academic leadership cultivation, and diversity initiatives
Experience fundraising from philanthropic foundations or individual donors
Demonstrated commitment to collaboration, relationship-building, diversity, equity, and inclusion
Ability to multitask and prioritize long-term projects and short-term assignments in a deadline-driven environment
Excellent interpersonal skills
Analytical and creative problem-solving capacity
Understanding of the relationship between strategy and operations and respect for operational expertise
Willingness to adapt to nonprofit office norms
Ability to take initiative, respond nimbly, and maintain adaptive leadership in a fast-changing policy and funding landscape
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel
Must live within commuting distance of New York City
Some travel required
Must secure at least three years of unpaid leave, with possibility of leave renewal, if serving faculty
Experience with relational databases such as Microsoft Dynamics CRM preferred
Experience with Mellon Mays programs a plus
Experience with grants management a plus

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Life insurance
Accidental death and disability insurance
Generous time off benefits
Retirement savings plan, including employer contributions
Professional development support