The School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S) is the foundation of a liberal arts education at Stanford. The school encompasses 23 departments and 25 interdisciplinary programs. H&S is home to fundamental and applied research, where free, open, and critical inquiry is pursued across disciplines. As the university’s largest school, H&S serves as the foundation of a Stanford undergraduate education no matter which discipline students pursue as a major. Graduate students work alongside world-renowned faculty to pursue and shape foundational research that leads to breakthroughs and discoveries that shed new light on the past, influence the present, and shape the future. Together, faculty and students in H&S engage in inspirational teaching, learning, and research every day.
The Stanford Institute for Advancing Just Societies: Racial and ethnic divisions are inextricably linked to every major challenge facing humanity. The Stanford Institute for Advancing Just Societies is designed to produce knowledge for bold solutions to realize racial and ethnic justice and understanding. Drawing on Stanford’s globally recognized faculty, research centers, and the University’s resources, and in partnership with external partners, the Institute will be a global center of gravity. It will provide opportunities for a community of scholars and thought leaders, including government agencies, nonprofits, and corporations, to collaborate to move us closer to a just society. The Institute will also lead in developing and disseminating basic and solutions-oriented research and insights. Core activities of the Institute include:
- Robust support for collaborations with external partners to identify, design, and implement solutions-focused research in domains demanding urgent attention.
- Providing infrastructure, including financial support, a welcoming and functional space, and personnel to advance the core work required to develop knowledge and solutions that contribute to racial justice.
- Activities focused on driving pragmatic solutions designed to produce racial justice; and
- Programming to engage the public, academics, and policymakers.
Position Summary: The Stanford Institute for Advancing Just Societies is searching for a program manager who will work under general supervision of the Executive Director to build up and oversee a portfolio of programs that further the Institute’s goal of producing solutions-focused research on racial and ethnic justice. Working closely with Institute faculty directors, the program manager will plan and launch core programs, including the Multi-Year Thematic Initiative (MTI), external affiliates program, fellows’ program, grant making, and external partnership programs. An Institute priority is the MTI, which brings together Stanford scholars, domestic and global partners, and key stakeholders to define the destination – the “Moon shot” – for justice in a particular thematic area, design and implement a research agenda, and mobilize knowledge for policies, practices, and public understanding. The ideal candidate possesses strong technical, analytical, and organizational skills and a proven track record of program management experience. Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and writing skills are imperative for this role.
If you believe that this opportunity is a match for your knowledge, skills, and abilities, please submit a cover letter and resume with your application. Thank you for considering employment opportunities with the School of Humanities and Sciences.
CORE DUTIES:
- Lead the conceptualization, planning, launch, and execution of the Institute’s programs and the Multi-Year Thematic Initiative (MTI).
- Manage relationships with external partners and investments in impact-focused research and make recommendations around: which external partners to engage; convenings to hold (including domestic and international); public-facing events to produce (in-person, podcast, video); the publication of popular writing, and related activities.
- Engage in program monitoring and evaluation by reviewing program goals to determine metrics to be collected, track statistics and make observations about trends for use in research and/or recommendations to practitioners or policy analysts.
- Work with faculty to devise strategies to amplify research findings, scale findings, and convene policymakers and practitioners to use the findings as a basis for scaling programs.
- Write and edit content, under supervision of the faculty directors, to be used in funding proposals and to represent the Institute to affiliates; identify topics for publication based on program results; and assist in drafting materials for publication.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external partners for a portfolio of programs and foster and maintain key relationships with community partners and foundations working in programmatic areas.
- Partner with the Institute’s communications team to create programmatic content to be used for outreach and fundraising.
- Work with the Director of Finance and Administration, and senior management, on budgets, forecasts, and expense projections for a portfolio of programs. Make spending recommendations based on forecasting expenses and as programs are revised.
- Train and supervise research assistants working within the program manager’s portfolio.
- Other duties may also be assigned.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree and at least four years of relevant program management experience or combination of education, training, and relevant experience. Advanced degree with experience preferred.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Ability to develop program partnerships and funding sources.
- Excellent oral, written, and analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in area of specialization.
- Ability to oversee and direct staff.
- Basic knowledge of managing budgets and developing financial plans.
WORKING CONDITIONS: May require some travel and working evenings and weekends.
Why Stanford is for You
Imagine a world without search engines or social platforms. Consider lives saved through first-ever organ transplants and research to cure illnesses. Stanford University has revolutionized the way we live and enrich the world. Supporting this mission is our diverse and dedicated 17,000 staff. We seek talent driven to impact the future of our legacy.
