Executive Director of NWSA

The National Women's Studies Association (NWSA) is the pre-eminent feminist higher education organization in the U.S. We promote and support the production and dissemination of knowledge about women and gender through teaching, learning, research, and service in higher education, academic, and non-academic settings. Our work emphasizes the importance of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies’ (WGSS) scholarship that is comparative, global, intersectional, and interdisciplinary to understanding the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences. We demonstrate the contributions of feminist scholarship to the building of an equitable society.

We are a membership organization. Our 2,300 members pursue a just world – one free from systems of privilege or structures that oppress or exploit some for the advantage of others. Our vision is a world in which all persons can develop to their fullest potential. Our main activities are: issuing publications to promote a culture of learning about WGSS; organizing events for WGSS programs and departments nationwide; and leading the planning and execution of our annual academic conference - attended by nearly 3,000 people each year.

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Executive Director (ED) will lead the strategic, operational, financial, communications, and administrative functions of NWSA. The ED will report to NWSA’s Governing Council (GC). GC members are elected from among organizational membership every 2 years. The ED is expected to work collaboratively with the GC on all organizational matters and decisions.

The ED will help NWSA implement the following priorities:

• Continue to advance NWSA’s vision and strategic direction to grow the field of WGSS and to support WGSS programs nationwide;
• Increase NWSA’s institutional member base;
• Bring NWSA’s analysis and voice into national social and political conversations pertaining to intersectionality; Implement a robust fundraising strategy;
• Execute a successful annual conference; and
• Build an active network of non-academic supporters and partners such as professional organizations and feminist and activist groups doing work on WGSS related fields outside of academia.

The ED is responsible for:

• Managing the day-to-day operations of NWSA including effective fiscal management and communications (annual report, newsletters, and social media);
• Overseeing all programming including the annual conference, webinars; special events; new programs;
• Serving as spokesperson for the organization alongside the Governing Council President;
• Leading a high-performing team and fostering an environment of professional development for staff; and
• Managing outreach to existing and potential NWSA members; coordinate support for WGSS programs and departments nationwide.

The successful candidate will:

• Have a Ph.D. and 5 years of career experience in higher education, preferably academic affairs;
• Be a motivated self-starter with strong administrative, operational, financial management, and inclusive and collaborative leadership skills;
• Have experience in fundraising with institutional and individual donors;
• Be able to design, organize, and execute large-scale events; Demonstrate a record of relevant publications and proven commitment to advancing WGSS scholarship and leadership for women, especially women of color;
• Exhibit strong oral and written communication skills; Hold a record of activism and/or advocacy in social and justice; and
• Be able to quickly integrate into the WGSS community with an academic and activist commitment to the field of WGSS.