Director of the Institute of Politics

Reporting to the Dean of the Harvard Kennedy School, the Director is charged with setting the IOP’s overarching strategy and establishing and executing on its priorities. The Director should have a demonstrated record as an inspirational leader and an exceptional manager, and will lead a team of roughly 20 staff, including an Executive Director. He or she should conceptualize and execute innovative and policy-relevant programs that serve to encourage and educate the next generation of public leaders and that build on the IOP’s reputation as a national platform for discourse spanning the political spectrum. The Director should have a compelling vision for how to encourage engagement in politics and public service and to foster meaningful conversations across difference at a highly polarized time.

The Director will collaborate closely with the IOP’s Senior Advisory Committee (SAC), and will advise the Dean on the SAC’s membership. The Director will also oversee the IOP’s Student Advisory Committee, which comprises undergraduate Harvard students who are especially committed to the IOP’s mission. 
  
The Director will also work collaboratively with a wide range of other constituent groups internal and external to HKS and Harvard. In particular, the Director works closely with Harvard undergraduates who are interested in politics and public service, and should have a demonstrated commitment to mentorship and desire to work with students. Frequently representing the IOP, HKS, and Harvard in public settings and with national and international leaders, the Director should likewise have a demonstrated track record of integrity, accountability, and ethical behavior. He or she should have the ability to serve as a model of principled leadership for students and the broader Harvard community, and the courage to stand up for institutional values including academic freedom and open inquiry. 
  
Additionally, the Director must be a dynamic leader who cares about engaging respectfully across political and ideological difference, and who is committed to thoughtfully elevating a range of voices and perspectives within the U.S. and international political contexts. Finally, the Director must be innovative and ambitious: successful candidates will bring both a vision to strengthen the IOP’s existing initiatives and new ideas that expand the IOP’s reach and impact. 

Important Application Information

Application Deadline: March 13, 2026.

Note: Applicants wishing to be considered are requested to provide a resume/CV and cover letter. Ideal candidates will include in their cover letter preliminary thoughts on how the IOP might strengthen its existing initiatives and suggest new ideas to expand the IOP’s reach and impact.