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The Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality (GCPI) at Georgetown Law is seeking nominations and applications for its next Executive Director. Founded in 2008 by Faculty Director Peter Edelman, Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Law and Public Policy at Georgetown Law, the Center’s mission is to alleviate poverty and inequality, advance racial and gender equity, and expand economic inclusion in the United States through research, analysis, and ambitious policy ideas.
$180,000 – $196,873
The Executive Director will provide strategic leadership for the Center, synthesizing across viewpoints and interests of GCPI stakeholders. While GCPI has a strong vision for medium- to long-term impact, the incoming leader will have the opportunity to refine and advance this vision through making strategic choices about GCPI’s priorities and future growth.
In partnership with the leadership team, they will set the Center’s research and policy priorities and conceptualize and oversee policy ideas, projects, and initiatives. The work of the Executive Director will build on the Center’s positioning as a trusted partner in this field, with expertise in the areas of applied research and analysis, economic security, and public policy while centering racial justice, prioritizing lived experience, and advancing medium- to long-term solutions.
The new Executive Director will collaborate with staff to co-create strategies to advance a shared vision. They will leverage a relational approach that harnesses the Center’s deep knowledge and strong partnerships to identify future opportunities for developing and advancing transformative policies that address the root causes of poverty and combat structural racism. They will continue to build the Center’s capacity as a convener of scholars, policymakers, practitioners, advocates, and other stakeholders to generate policy ideas.
The new Executive Director will be a strong ambassador and adept fundraiser for the Center. They will bring new relationships and visibility to the Center’s work while continuing to steward and strengthen existing relationships to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the Center’s work. They will develop new fundable project ideas and represent the Center to funders, policymakers, advisory boards, and external partners.
The new Executive Director will act as the chief public spokesperson for the Center and continue to build and steward strategic relationships with sectors and fields with an eye on increasing the impact and potential for adopting GCPI’s policy recommendations. They will build relationships with the media and identify, collaborate with, and influence key partners, including federal and local policymakers, think tanks, advocacy and civil society organizations, other academic centers, philanthropy, and other stakeholders across priority issue areas. The new leader will also have the opportunity to develop and strengthen GCPI’s Advisory Board to fortify partnerships and elevate the Center’s visibility.
In partnership with the Deputy Director, the Executive Director will lead and nurture a deeply committed staff of 12-15 based in Washington, D.C. They will embody and support the strong existing culture that values excellence, accountability, communication, collaboration, learning, equity, and inclusion across the center.
The Executive Director will provide high-level guidance and oversight to the Deputy Director, who manages general operations and finance for an annual budget of approximately $2M. They will advance a sophisticated and clear framework for aligning growth with the mission, planning for effective team structures, and implementing internal policies and practices that reflect the Center’s core values. Recognizing the need to support the Center’s wealth of knowledge – its staff – the new leader will seek to partner with senior managers to inform a sustainable and effective growth strategy that attracts and retains exceptional and diverse talent.
The Executive Director will report to the Faculty Director, Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Law and Public Policy, Peter Edelman, and maintain productive and strategic relationships with Georgetown Law leadership, including the Dean, Vice Dean, and Centers & Institutes Management. The Executive Director will communicate about the Center’s work to faculty advisors and explore opportunities for additional faculty and student engagement within Georgetown Law and across the University.
The new Executive Director will lead the Center's strategy, fundraising, and brand-building. They will oversee, contribute to, and support GCPI staff’s work to drive rigorously researched policy change towards economic and racial justice. They will also bring demonstrated success in organizational leadership roles to maintain an inclusive and collaborative culture, strong people processes, and systems that support equity, role clarity, and mission connection to GCPI’s work.
Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often only apply to jobs if they meet all the qualifications. We encourage you to break with that trend and apply! We understand that the right candidate may not have all the qualities listed below; however, GCPI seeks commitment and excitement to build your skills or experiences in these areas:
