Executive Director

ABOUT US
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners


CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP

The Center for Leadership exists to ignite and nurture leadership potential in its constituents, building meaningful connections that generate lasting impact. Its work is to inspire, challenge and support leaders with different perspectives to understand how and where they can make a difference and live lives of deeper meaning and greater individual and collective impact. By supporting, connecting, and incubating leadership programs across the Aspen Institute, it fosters a global community of courageous and well connected leaders in real relation with one another working across their differences in service of a better world.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Executive Director is a leadership position within the Center for Leadership (The Center) responsible for managing activities related to the successful functioning of existing programming and development of new programming within the Center’s portfolio. This position plays a vital role in the management and coordination of strategic and tactical activities across the Center’s work.

The Executive Director works closely with the Center’s Executive Vice President (EVP), Vice Presidents (VP) and the Center’s team to provide visionary leadership to unify, expand, and elevate the Center’s work. This role requires a strategic thinker who can reimagine existing activities to serve a broader network, foster a culture of collaboration and excellence, and ensure that programming, content, and operations align seamlessly as part of a larger enterprise. The Executive Director will guide a small, agile team, oversee innovative program design, and establish a sustainable operating and business model that positions the Center for long-term impact and influence. Acting as both a strategist and a connector, the Executive Director will communicate the organization’s vision and value to internal stakeholders and external partners. As this is a leadership position, it is expected that the Executive Director will self-manage tasks, make decisions, and delegate work on multiple programs and projects while maintaining deadlines. The Executive Director will supervise other Center’s staff.

This role reports directly to the Executive Vice President, Leadership. The salary range for this position is $260,000 - $275,000. In accordance with our Reimagining Work policy, the Executive Director should be willing to be in-person with colleagues a minimum of 40% of the time while having the flexibility to work remotely for the balance. In-person consists of meaningful connections with colleagues in an office, traveling to a different office or location to meet fellow staff members, at an Aspen event, at a meeting outside the office or other opportunities to meet in person with teammates and colleagues.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Strategic Leadership & Enterprise Vision

• Develop and execute an effective and impactful business model for the Center in collaboration with the EVP and VPs that:

  • Aligns with the Center’s mission and broader organizational goals;

  • Guides engagement with the Center, and effectively communicates with both internal and external stakeholders;

  • Ensures the Center’s financial health and sustainability; and