Director of Programs

About the Buckley Institute

The mission of the Buckley Institute is to promote intellectual diversity and freedom of speech at Yale University. We aim to foster robust and open debate, provide a home for enlightened conservative thought, and expose students to often-unvoiced views. We believe that genuine intellectual diversity is essential for advancing critical inquiry and seek to challenge ideological complacency wherever it exists.

About the Opening

The Buckley Institute seeks a mission-driven Director of Programs to design, plan, and execute our varied and quality programs. We are looking for a self-starter who has an intrinsic interest in the philosophical and political topics explored by the Institute and genuinely enjoys interacting with students.

This position reports to the Executive Director.

While we would very much welcome a candidate who will work from our New Haven, CT office, we will also consider strong candidates based elsewhere who can work virtually and travel to oversee Institute programs approximately once per month. As a result, there is a strong preference for those who can easily travel to New Haven.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage programs including, but not limited to, lectures, debates, multi-day seminars, conferences, and fellowships that advance the mission of the Buckley Institute
• Research potential speakers, topics, and initiatives to ensure alignment with the Buckley Institute’s mission
• Design, solicit, and evaluate applications for selective student programs including the Lux et Veritas Leadership Program, the Washington, D.C. Fellowship, and multi-day seminars
• Event planning and management including scheduling, logistics, speaker arrangements, set up, and registration
• Securing venues and vendors for events
• Serving as point of contact for participants, speakers, vendors, and venues
• Oversee the logistics of campus events in partnership with student leaders and serve as primary point of contact for coordination with student leaders/participants on all events and initiatives
• Develop, implement, and track program assessments and metrics, including participant surveys
• Organize recruitment, social, and community building events for the Institute’s student fellows
• Oversee the administration of the annual student essay contest, faculty prize, and internship program
• Lead programs such as multi-day seminars and the Washington, D.C. Fellowship from start to finish
• Provide mentorship to the Institute’s student leaders
• Build personal relationships with students, faculty, and speakers
• Promote the organization’s events and initiatives and increase engagement through outreach to students, alumni, faculty, organizations, and departments
• Produce reports on Institute programs to assist the communications team in creating content to relay the impact of Buckley Institute
• Maintain programming and student membership-related files and databases, measuring and evaluating participation and engagement
• Assist Executive Director in identifying, refining, and designing new programs to expand the Institute’s reach, student membership, and impact
• Delegate certain tasks to the Program and Communications Associate
• Other duties and miscellaneous projects as requested

Salary is commensurate with experience. We offer competitive benefits including a matching SIMPLE IRA plan, PTO, and health and dental insurance. This is a chance to join our team at an exciting time for our growing organization.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in programs, project management, administration, event planning, or a related field
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Excellent organization and attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, meet deadlines, multi-task, and follow through
• Strong work ethic, positive attitude, outgoing, and sound judgment
• Responsible, honest, and dependable 
• High degree of professionalism and ability to maintain confidential information 
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Ability to travel out-of-state occasionally (approximately 5%) to assist with programs such as the Institute’s Washington, D.C. Fellowship and leadership retreats
  • Remote candidates will be expected to travel more frequently; approximately 2-3 days per month of travel on average
• Enthusiastic philosophical alignment with and passion for the principles of the Buckley Institute
• A bachelor’s degree

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

• Cover letter detailing your interest in the position and the Buckley Institute’s mission, as well as your salary requirements
• Resume

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

Questions can be directed to Bailey Drouant, Outreach Manager at Talent Market, who is managing the search: [email protected]

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.