Executive Director

The Aspen Institute

Executive Director leading the Stevens Initiative at the Aspen Institute, focusing on global youth programming and partnerships with international organizations. Requires deep experience and strong leadership skills.

Posted 6/19/2026full-timeWashington, DC • District of Columbia, Washington • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $200,000 - $250,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Establish and expand relationships with international partners and governments to support youth programming and connections
Cultivate relationships to identify strong potential partners
Craft partnerships that build on the Stevens Initiatives experience and deepen the impact, both with regard to scale and depth, of Stevens work
Maintain strong ties to international partners and governments with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa
Represent the Stevens Initiative before government leaders and heads of state
Build partnerships that advance the Stevens Initiatives priorities and that are sustainable and scalable
Establish a range of partnerships with non-governmental organizations that provide opportunities for scaling Stevens Initiatives work
Collaborate with International programs within the Aspen Institute
Cultivate relationships with Aspens 13 international programs to identify opportunities and shared interests
Support opportunities for young people in the United States to connect with their peers in partner countries for impactful experiences
Elevate opportunities for Aspen International programs to share in the work of other CRG programs by connecting through technology
Build the field of innovative, impactful international exchange through technology
Work with technologists and other innovators to identify new ways for young people to connect globally for impactful experiences
Identify and support new opportunities for youth connection and elevate the impact of the work
Encourage others to support new means of connecting young people globally
Elevate stories of impactful youth connection
Serve as a hub for bringing together technologists, educators, and program leaders who can collaborate to create new experiences for young people
Manage US State Department program
Manage the staff associated with and funded by federal programs
Maintain relationships with US State Department team
Manage and fulfill responsibilities associated with State Department grants
Support grantees and gather lessons based on grantee experiences.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Minimum 15+ years experience as a recognized leader in field required
A start-up mentality and the ability to create new opportunities quickly
A focus on innovation and an ability to anticipate future needs and take calculated risks to help the program thrive
A proven ability to craft, communicate and execute on a vision
Experience building strategic partnerships with governments, companies and multilateral initiatives
A track record of success in fundraising
Experience leading global teams
Strong diplomatic and negotiation skills and a demonstrated history of successfully applying these skills in an international context
Experience working in a variety of cultural settings and a proven ability to create impactful cross-cultural experiences for young people
An innovative approach to fostering student connection
A facility in working with new technology with a vision for adapting that technology to serve young people
The ability to represent the Stevens Initiative before a wide range of audiences across cultures and backgrounds
The ability to manage and work productively with staff of a variety of backgrounds and ages
A spirit of collaboration and co-creation when addressing a challenge
Experience leading teams through change to achieve extraordinary results
The ability to work nimbly and flexibly through uncertainty
Strong skills in working with others to solve problems
Experience measuring program impact and adapting to increase impact
A spirit of possibility, fun, and optimism.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health, dental, vision, and prescription benefits
Retirement benefits
Paid leave

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

fundraisingprogram impact measurementstrategic partnership buildingcross-cultural experience creationinnovation in youth programmingtechnology adaptation for youthdiplomatic skillsnegotiation skillsteam leadershipchange management

Soft Skills

collaborationco-creationproblem-solvingflexibilitycommunicationvision craftingcultural sensitivityrelationship buildingcreativityoptimism