ABOUT US
Interfaith America is a national nonprofit organization based in Chicago. We believe that religious diversity is a foundational American strength, and we are building a nation that achieves that promise for the common good. Our mission is to inspire, equip, and connect organizations and leaders to unlock the potential of America’s religious diversity. We leverage our expertise in interfaith leadership in different sectors and spaces in American life, such higher education, health, public policy, racial equity, corporations/business, tech - giving leaders and institutions the tools and resources they need to positively engage religious diversity for the common good.
At Interfaith America, we are ever-adapting and changing. We look for people who set audacious goals and love that one workday may not be like the next. We have a strong commitment to pluralism and building bridges across deep differences. Our programs help people build skills to bridge deep ideological divides. Our work is about staying in relationship with one another and contributing to the common good even when we might disagree on fundamental things. We seek to attract and retain a team of staff comprised of a wide variety of views and backgrounds we need to achieve our vision, especially people from communities historically underrepresented in interfaith work.
ABOUT THE POSITION
Interfaith America has worked with American colleges and universities for over a decade. We are committed to providing high quality programming that suffuses and sustains higher education’s commitment to engaging religious diversity and advances a culture of pluralism more broadly on campuses. The Director of Student and Educator Initiatives leads IA’s strategy and programmatic work to equip college students and university professionals to be bridgebuilders and interfaith leaders. The Director sets the vision for, and leads the implementation of, both IA’s direct work with students and our work with campus educators who support students in their leadership development and promote civic religious pluralism in other co-curricular initiatives.
Responsibilities:
Oversee IA’s Student and Educator Strategy and Programs
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Define and execute a strategy for IA’s year-round work with college students and the educators who support them – in alignment with IA’s broader higher education strategy?to support campuses in advancing pluralism
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Oversee implementation of new and existing programming toward that strategy, which currently includes campus grants, virtual cohorts, student and educator advisory committees from the field, and the annual Interfaith Leadership Summit
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Create and implement a new national interfaith student bridgebuilding fellowship program
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Guide visioning and strategy development for all student- and educator-facing program elements at the annual Interfaith Leadership Summit; supervise team to execute high-quality and impactful program content
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Oversee the ongoing refinement and expansion of IA’s Bridging the Gap (BTG) program, curriculum, and grants, focusing on supporting educators in utilizing BTG approaches to implement key campus practices for civic pluralism
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Communicate program area vision and strategy for engaging students and educators to internal and external stakeholders
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Evaluate short-term and long-term program impact and outcomes and hold responsibility for impact and deliverables; guide strategic and programmatic shifts and manage change across the team as needed
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Cultivate campus educator and student audience networks, including personally maintain a set of relationships with campus and partner organization leaders
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Oversee content for student and educator audiences on IA’s website and via other communications mechanisms, in partnership with Director of Marketing and Communications
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Collaborate with Emerging Leaders team to foster student-to-emerging leader transitions
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Steward and shape exceptional stories emerging from our programs to contribute to IA’s narrative strategies
Organizational leadership and Team Management
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Build relationships with strategic external partners, including religiously, racially, and politically diverse campus-related organizations, with a particular aim of engaging communities historically underrepresented in interfaith work and IA’s network.
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Speak, write, and present on behalf of IA with strategic partners (e.g. higher ed administrators and educators, partner organizations and associations).
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Lead short-term consulting and educational capacity-building work with individual campuses as needed.?
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Understand program area funding; fulfill grant requirements and liaise with the Advancement Team to complete reporting; relate directly to relevant funders on select projects.?
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Supervise 1-2 Program Managers and a Program Coordinator
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
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Bachelor’s degree required
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Five or more years’ experience and a record of success in program strategy, or related responsibilities in higher education, leadership development, interfaith or bridgebuilding work, non-profits, government, and/or religious communities
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A proven record of experience in successful project management including goal setting, team coordination and systems support
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Ability to balance and prioritize multiple ongoing projects, as well as meet deadlines with a high degree of excellence
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Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
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Authorization to work in the United States
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
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Graduate degree in religion, higher education, organizational management, youth development, or related field
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Experience leveraging interfaith leadership in a variety of settings
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Training, facilitation, curriculum design, consulting, pedagogy, or related skill sets
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Supervision (direct or indirect) of individuals with diverse working styles and backgrounds
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High level of religious literacy; fluency in pluralism and an “engaging deep differences” approach to diversity
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Experience working with college students or other young people
Competencies:
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Strategic Thinking - Aptly explores, deciphers and interprets the best concepts for achieving organizational excellence, anticipating and responding to change and aligning organizational systems, processes and people with changes in the IA business landscape.
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Trusted advisor -Apt at building trust-based relationships both internally and externally and viewed as a source of valuable advice.
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Program Leadership - Ability to lead programs, manage staff, and delegate work effectively and ensuring that all items are completed within scope, budget and timelines.
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Project Management - Aptly leading, planning, and executing project or pieces of a project, ensuring all project members are staying within timelines and budgets.
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IA Theory and Methodology –Ability to explain and engage constituents in Interfaith America’s theory and methodology in a way that resonates with that constituent, and they understand our work within their own context. (learned on the job, not required prior to start date)
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Inclusive and equitable decision maker - Ability to lead, listen, think critically, and leverage the thinking of diverse groups for smarter ideation and decision making that lead to equitable outcomes in our work.
Supervisor: Vice President of Higher Education Strategy
Direct Reports: 1-2 Program Managers and a Program Coordinator
Leadership level: Director
Travel: 20%
Location: This position will work 2-3 days per week from our Chicago Loop office and 2-3 days per week from home
Compensation and Benefits: $100,000-$110,000 annual salary. More information about Interfaith America benefits can be found here.
Application open from May 28, 2024 until June 19, 2024.
Other Requirements:
The Director position requires the ability, with or without reasonable accommodation, to: maintain regular attendance; travel across this US; work cooperatively with others; adhere to Interfaith America personnel policies and safety rules; sit and/or stand for extended periods of time; operate standard office equipment, including computers, telephones, photocopiers, and projectors; communicate orally, in writing, and via computers and digital devices; and requires close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, transcribe, view a computer terminal and other office equipment.
Interfaith America is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, marital status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Reasonable accommodation will be provided as needed to enable qualified applicants with a disability to participate in pre-employment procedures.