Careers

CDI is looking for a Senior Program Manager to serve as the operational backbone of the Leadership Institute (LI), CDI's flagship program supporting senior higher education leaders as they advance cultures of inquiry and dialogue on their campuses. The Senior Program Manager's primary responsibility will be to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Leadership Institute, ensuring that each cohort's year-long experience is delivered with excellence and supports meaningful progress for participating institutions.

The ideal candidate brings experience in program management, partner coordination, and cross-functional operations, along with a thoughtful and proactive approach to building systems that enable programs to run smoothly. They will be responsible for managing the Leadership Institute's operating rhythm, coordinating institutional engagement, tracking progress across the cohort, and continuously improving the processes and tools that support the program. This role requires a highly organized, collaborative, and mission-aligned professional who exercises sound judgment, communicates effectively with senior leaders, and enjoys turning complex initiatives into clear, well-executed plans.

This role will work closely with the Vice President of Leadership Programs and colleagues across CDI to coordinate program delivery, support participating institutions, and strengthen the systems that underpin the Leadership Institute, helping ensure a seamless experience for campus partners throughout the year.

CDI is looking for a Vice President of Strategic Communications to establish CDI as the leading national voice on constructive dialogue in higher education and translate that visibility into audience growth, organizational credibility, and mission impact.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in strategic communications, strong relationships across national and higher education media, and a track record of building organizational reputation in complex, politically sensitive environments. They will lead CDI’s communications strategy, earned media efforts, and narrative framework; build executive visibility through op-eds, media placements, and conference keynotes; provide editorial leadership for CDI’s newsletter, blog, and organic social channels; and partner across Research, Marketing, and Partnerships to connect visibility to organizational impact.

This role will report to CDI’s Chief Growth Officer and work closely with CDI’s Executive Director and leaders across the organization to strengthen CDI’s reputation, expand its influence, and ensure its ideas reach key audiences across higher education and beyond.