Managing Director for SNF Agora Institute
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University seeks a Managing Director for SNF Agora Institute. SNF Agora was established in 2017 as a multi-disciplinary academic and public forum dedicated to strengthening global democracy by improving and expanding civic engagement and inclusive dialogue, and by supporting inquiries that leads to real-world change. By building integrated partnerships with scholars, practitioners, students, and the public, the institute uses research to identify and sharpen strategic choices that members of the public and civic and political stakeholders around the world can make to realize the promise of democracy.
The Institute draws inspiration from the ancient Athenian agora, a gathering place for shared conversation, debate, and action that became the heart of democratic governance in Athens. Drawing on the spirit of the agora, the institute works to strengthen citizens’ capacities for engagement in democracy with an approach that focuses on translating the best insights from academic scholarship into actionable knowledge in the real-world.
The work is organized around three core functions
- Discovery - The heart of the SNF Agora Institute is a group of multi-disciplinary scholars at Johns Hopkins University, who will catalyze transformative, multi-disciplinary inquiry to understand democratic decline and resilience, and identify possible interventions.
- Design - Characterized by collaborations and shared learning between academic researchers and practitioners in the real world, SNF Agora will translate academic research into usable knowledge for the world, and test practical interventions for strengthening the modern-day agora.
- Dissemination - Created as a forum for broad engagement, deliberation and education, the SNF Agora will teach, train and convene in order to strengthen citizens’ capacity for productive participation and leadership in democracy. Forums will model inclusive dialogue and debate that is central to deliberative democracy.
The Managing Director for the SNF Agora will report directly to the Director and will be responsible for support and delivery of all Institute activities through management of the operations of the institute. The Managing Director is also responsible for working with stakeholders within and outside of the university: to facilitate the development of research and teaching missions, to create programming, content, collateral and plans to market (and support others’ efforts to market) the work of the Institute; to develop relevant relationships across government (local, state, federal, other); to serve in advisory capacity on design/development of companion building for the institute; to nurture the relationship with the donor as well as other prospective funders of the project; to oversee all operational and budgetary aspects of the overall program; to expand relationships with external organizations and individuals engaged in complementary work; and more.
Salary Range
The referenced salary range for this position is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
Executes strategy and ensures goals and timelines are met
- In collaboration with the Director, developing and executing institute strategy tracks goals and timelines. This may include a broad set of activities including but not limited to identifying themes and topics for research, academic symposia and other public presentations and seminars, coordinating bi-annual meetings/conferences in Athens and US, helping to identify and recruit potential speakers, overseeing visiting fellows' program, executing on student engagement strategy, development of case study program, and so on.
- Manage all operations of the institute to meet strategic goals and missions.
Provides guidance, counsel, and strategic input to the director and the teams
- Acts in an advisory capacity for the Director on a range of issues by supporting and collaborating with the Director to establish priorities, set agendas, develop ideas, id and evaluate alternatives, create action plans, and drive the program forward.
- Prepares or represents Director for a wide range of internal and external interactions to include students, University Administration, Trustees, donors and outside stakeholders as needed.
- Develops briefing materials for senior leadership on various topics with the Director
- Manages and supervises other team members including responsibility for communications/events/public programs, finance, HR, development, and other functions
- Oversees all staff and professional development and supports development of cultural norms for the SNF Agora to ensure organizational alignment on mission/vision from an HR perspective
- Acts as Institute liaison to internal groups across Johns Hopkins such as Development and Alumni Relations, Government and Community Affairs, Johns Hopkins Facilities and Real Estate, Office of the General Counsel, Budget and Finance teams and others.
- Works with Development and Alumni Relations to facilitate existing relationships and to identify, cultivate and manage new relationships for the institute. Helps to identify and prioritize a range of funding opportunities to support the Institute’s goals and coordinate across DAR groups to ensure work considers broader Hopkins needs. Act as representative of SNF Agora as needed with various constituencies and, in concert with DAR, support preparation of proposals, materials, and other.
- Oversees the SNF Agora senior Finance officer and works with the KSAS budget teams on strategic budgeting decisions, design, and reporting on all activities and financial issues from year to year, and in management of HR related activities.
- Works with the Director and SNF Agora faculty members, translation of ideas into products, events and convening of relevant parties for discussions on various research topics, development of communities of practice, and support for individual labs and conferences, etc.
- Work with Director and various department chairs and related university administrative groups to research, plan, and implement new curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular programs related to the work of the SNF Agora as well as other ways to integrate existing JHU faculty into SNF Agora efforts, and vice versa.
- With Director, maintains relationship with Board of Overseers including responsibility for all agendas, reports, materials, background readings, in preparation for meetings
Develops relationships with outside groups including other university institutes, non-profits, think tanks, policy makers, etc.
- Support the development of broader external relationships with groups engaged in like-minded efforts, work, and research around the country and the world to ensure that SNF Agora is part of a global ecosystem of voices in tackling the core issues at stake.
- Identifies ways for groups to interact, resources to be accessed etc.
- Responsible for development of new ideas, programs, and other activities to support and expand the mission of the institute
- Responsible for oversight and development of all reporting requirements for the institute (to Foundation, other DAR entities, KSAS, President’s office, trustees and others)
- Serves as key liaison between SNF Agora and JHFRE, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, and Senior JHU leadership on the building project
Manages the Program and Communications Team at the Institute and assists as needed in
- Drafting, editing and/or reviewing: all communications, briefings, remarks, presentations, collateral (print and electronic), website, social media, and other that are created to market/brand/communicate on all SNF Agora activities.
- Development of media/PR plans for SNF Agora developed by the communications director, including coordination across the university on all communications/marketing/branding efforts.
- Planning and execution for programs for the Institute; including events, conferences, webcasts, etc. including but not limited to identifying the goals, themes, communication plan, and executing/developing related materials, outreach, etc. with communications team
Minimum Qualifications
- BA in a related field.
- Advanced degree are preferred.
- Ten plus years of work experience in related fields such as government, politics, NGO, or other including strategy, leadership and/or management roles.
- Experience in communications and program development.
- Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond HS Diploma/Graduation Equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Skills/Experience Required
- Previous government, political, or other related experience preferred (5years minimum).
- Previous experience in management and organizational strategy (5 years minimum).
- Interest in developing relationships and working with others.
- Capacity for navigating complex organizations.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Proven leadership skills.
- Previous experience in developing and launching programs.
- Strong verbal and written communications skills including comfort with public speaking and experience with marketing and communications.
- Passion for democracy and dialogue.
- Familiarity with university settings is a bonus.
- Comfort with budgetary and financial planning.
Classified Title: Executive Director-MGM
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Managing Director for SNF Agora Institute
Role/Level/Range: ADMOFF/01/EX
Starting Salary Range: $200,000 - $275,000 Annually ( commensurate w/exp. )
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Hybrid: On-site 3-4 days a week
Department name: 60007752-SNF Agora Institute
Personnel area: School of Arts & Sciences
This salary range does not include all components of the SNF Agora Institute compensation program. This position may be eligible for a discretionary retention and performance bonus, based on individual performance and the SNF Agora Institute performance during the applicable fiscal year, as determined by the leadership at SNF Agora Institute in their sole discretion. Therefore, the actual compensation paid to the selected candidate may vary slightly from the salary range stated herein.