Director, Democracy Reform Primer Series (School of Government and Policy)

Director, Democracy Reform Primer Series (School of Government and Policy)

The newly announced School of Government and Public Policy, unveiled in October 2023, presents a pivotal opportunity for Johns Hopkins University to strengthen its footprint and engagement in the nation's capital. This initiative aims to serve society, train the next generation of public servants, drive data-informed government innovation, and confront the complex challenges facing today's policymakers.

The person filling this position will be working in a start-up environment creating processes and procedures, navigating unexpected obstacles, and adapting to change frequently. An agile mindset and flexible approach to daily responsibilities is needed as we define new ways of working within a well-established university. We are seeking a solution-focused person with a demonstrated ability to create new paths to achieve results.

The School of Government and Policy (SOGP) at Johns Hopkins University seeks an exceptional Director, Democracy Reform Primer Series a groundbreaking initiative in partnership with the University of Chicago Center for Effective Government. This senior leadership position offers the opportunity to drive strategic vision, oversee high-impact programming, and shape national conversations around critical reforms to political institutions.

The Democracy Reform Primer Series explores key political reforms, providing authoritative analysis and research-based insights that influence policymakers and democratic institutions. As Director, you will provide strategic leadership for this flagship initiative, building partnerships, directing operations, and ensuring the program's continued growth and impact.

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

• Develop and execute the long-term strategic vision for the Democracy Reform Primer Series, aligning with institutional priorities and national policy landscapes.
• Partner with the Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives to advance the program's mission and expand its influence.
• Lead strategic planning processes and establish key performance indicators to measure program success.
• Direct all aspects of the Democracy Reform Primer Series, including research priorities, publication schedules, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Oversee faculty collaborations, managing relationships with authors, editors, and external research partners.
• Ensure excellence in content development, from conception through publication and dissemination.
• Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with academic institutions, policy organizations, and government entities.
• Represent the program at conferences, symposiums, and high-level meetings with key stakeholders.
• Build networks that enhance the program's reach and impact across academic and policy communities.
• Lead grant writing and fundraising efforts, developing compelling proposals that secure program funding.
• Oversee budget development and financial management, ensuring efficient resource allocation.
• Direct vendor relationships and contract negotiations for program services.
• Curate and design a premier series of convenings, bringing together leading journalists, funders, scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to advance democracy reform dialogue.
• Develop innovative formats for knowledge exchange, including symposiums, roundtables, and policy workshops that drive actionable insights.
• Create platforms for cross-sector collaboration and relationship building among key democracy reform stakeholders.
• Serve as primary spokesperson for the Democracy Reform Primer Series.
• Direct communications strategy, including stakeholder engagement, public relations, and digital outreach.
• Synthesize complex research findings for diverse audiences, from academic peers to policymakers and media.
• Set up media partnerships to advance the conversations around the primers series.
• Design and lead fundraising strategies to sustain and expand the Primer Series.
• Cultivate relationships with foundations, individual donors, and institutional funders to secure new and renewed support.
• Partner with institutional advancement teams to align donor engagement with broader development goals.
• Steward existing funders by demonstrating program impact and ensuring meaningful engagement opportunities.

Minimum qualifications include:

• Master's Degree in a related field.
• Five years of experience in project management and research in a related policy area.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.