Title: Senior Director of Organizational Thought Leadership and Special Initiatives
Supervisor: Chief Program Officer
Location: US Home Based Office
Status: Full Time; Exempt (M4/B9)
Start Date: Immediate
Salary Range*: $125,000 - $145,000
Facing History and Ourselves is a global education non-profit organization that challenges teachers and students to use lessons of history to stand up to bigotry and hate.
Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, the Senior Director of Organizational Thought Leadership and Special Initiatives will leverage Facing History’s expertise and scholarship to increase our visibility in the education field and lean into our value of being a learning organization. The Senior Director will also lead the organization’s Contemporary Antisemitism initiative, which uses our pedagogical approach to translate and synthesize scholarship about and examples of contemporary events to create classroom materials for middle and high school students.
The Senior Director will work with the Chief Program Officer to develop a framework and create and execute on an internal road map for organizational Thought Leadership, the work we do to demonstrate our expertise, build the field, and increase our visibility and impact. The Senior Director will leverage deep knowledge of Facing History’s core content and pedagogical approach in: writing and publishing organizational thought pieces; presenting at conferences and meetings; and collaboratively planning learning opportunities that engage our various audiences in our scholarship and thought leadership. In addition, the Senior Director will collaborate with the Staff Development team and other experts within the organization to ensure our internal learning for staff - and volunteers - is aligned with our thought leadership approach.
The Senior Director will cultivate and nurture relationships with our Board of Scholars.
The Senior Director will also direct our efforts to address and combat contemporary antisemitism and provide guidance on emerging Holocaust scholarship that addresses the dynamic and evolving nature of Facing History’s signature case study. In that work, the Senior Director will collaborate closely with colleagues in Content Strategy, Program Delivery, and Evaluation.
Direct Program Thought Leadership (50%):
- Collaborate with the Chief Program Officer to create a scholarly framework for Thought Leadership that considers Facing History’s theory of change, and leverages Facing History & Ourselves’ deep expertise and decades of experience working with educators.
- Building on the framework, work collaboratively with a team of colleagues to develop and execute on a thought leadership road map that builds on our expertise in, and ensures alignment with, evaluation, content development, internal staff development, and professional learning for educators.
- Write and publish thought pieces for external audiences as well as respond to occasional requests from the press.
- Manage and nurture relationships and engagement with our Board of Scholars, including assessing opportunities for deeper connections with them, and assessing / recommending new scholars for the Board of Scholars.
- Assess fit of potential Program partners.
Direct Contemporary Antisemitism Project (50%):
- Direct and manage the intellectual and programmatic work of the contemporary antisemitism initiative
- Collaborate with Educator Content and Staff Development teams to integrate this work into the overall canon of the organization
- Collaborate on the development of internal staff development experiences with the Senior Director of Staff Development
- Engage with donors and external stakeholders on this topic
- Partner with the development team in writing grants and proposals
Essential Skills / Qualities:
Facing History understands that restrictive job requirements may exclude historically marginalized groups from applying to jobs for which they are qualified. We take an equitable and holistic screening approach. If you feel you have demonstrated experience and expertise relevant to perform this role, please don’t hesitate to apply!
- Proven leadership and consensus building experience; helps to inspire and motivate creative thinking in others
- Deeply rooted in Facing History’s core content particularly Holocaust scholarship, complexities of antisemitism and other identity-based hate; Ability to articulate Facing History’s mission and strategic plan
- Experience providing teacher support and maintaining long-term relationships
- Highly experienced in relationship building skills and sound judgment
- Strong comfort level in representing organization publicly
- Accountability, organization, accuracy and attention to detail
- Excellent public speaking, presentation, and writing skills
- Proposal writing with development teams to achieve bold, audacious goals
- Middle or high school teaching experience preferred
- Knowledge of non-profit environment, procedures and limitations
- Supervisory and leadership experience
- Consensus building and stakeholder management
Benefits Summary: In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, Facing History provides an excellent and competitive compensation and benefits package including medical with a health reimbursement account, dental, vision, life & AD&D, long-term & short-term disability insurance, 403(B) retirement plan with a discretionary organizational contribution, generous paid time off, an employee assistance program, travel assistance plan, pre-tax commuter spending accounts, flexible spending accounts, voluntary Colonial Life group plans, robust wellness programs through aHealthyMe & weekly virtual yoga and meditation, WellCents 403(B) advisement, and a friendly work environment.
Facing History values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Facing History’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. At Facing History, we honor and value the uniqueness of each and every human being. Our strength as an organization that provides and distributes educational content and pedagogy to teachers across the globe is directly tied to our diversity of staff, leadership, educators, students, scholars, and volunteers. Our commitment is to treat individuals with dignity and to build and maintain a community of full participation, inclusive of the voices, needs, and contributions of all. As an organization, we are deeply aware of the legacies of injustices that persist in society and in the workplace, and we value and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in their association with excellence.
Hybrid Work Model: Facing History and Ourselves operates in a hybrid work model, allowing staff flexibility in both schedules and work locations. This particular position is home-based. Some travel is required.
*In the interest of transparency, fairness, and equity Facing History is now listing public facing salary bands. These bands are benchmarked to external market factors and our own internal pay structure. New hires, in most cases, can expect an offer between the minimum and midpoint of the range.