Katherine Stone Kaufmann '67 Executive Director - Wellesley College

At Wellesley, our mission is to deliver an outstanding liberal arts education to women who will make a difference in the world. Our collaborative community, comprising of faculty, students, staff, and alumnae, is guided by our shared commitment to educational excellence. Join us ...

Job description

At Wellesley, our mission is to deliver an outstanding liberal arts education to women who will make a difference in the world. Our collaborative community, comprising of faculty, students, staff, and alumnae, is guided by our shared commitment to educational excellence. Join us in this transformative journey

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Job Posting Title

Katherine Stone Kaufmann '67 Executive Director

Job Description Summary

Administrative Exempt

Job Description

Wellesley College has partnered with Isaacson, Miller  for the recruitment of this role. We invite interested candidates to review the comprehensive job details here and submit your application directly on the Isaacson, Miller website.

The Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW), one of the largest academic women- and gender-focused research and action institutes in the United States, seeks an innovative, passionate, and strategic leader as its next Executive Director (ED). Embedded within Wellesley College, widely regarded as the world's leading women's college, WCW has a 50-year legacy of generating bold, audacious research and action programs that produce real-world impact for women and girls worldwide. Its next ED will eagerly invest in WCW's dedicated community of researchers and actively seek research opportunities with current Wellesley faculty. They will enthusiastically partner with faculty, researchers, and staff as an important member of the newly established Susan L. Wagner '82 Centers for Wellesley in the World, in service to WCW's mission to shape a better world for women across the lifespan through high-quality research, theory, and action.

Founded in 1974 as part of the broader women's movement, WCW was established on the premise that women's and girls' advancement could be accelerated by applying rigorous social scientific methods to issues of women's empowerment and gender equality. Through a lens now decidedly intersectional and attuned to ever-evolving contemporary issues, WCW conducts groundbreaking interdisciplinary studies on a broad range of social issues, including education, child care, and out-of-school time; mental health and depression prevention; youth and adolescent development and the impact of social media; gender-based violence; and economic security, the gender pay gap, and the impact of motherhood on women's advancement. 

WCW's ED leads a team including an associate director, 13 research scientists and project directors, 21 research staff, and seven administrative staff, and is supported by a dedicated Council of Advisors. The Centers' FY2025 operating budget was $6.9 million, and it benefits from an endowment of $70.2 million. The ED will report to Wellesley College Provost Dr. Courtney Coile and will ensure that WCW's research, operations, and outreach strategies work harmoniously to sustain and amplify its impact and visibility, as well as the College's mission.

One of WCW's unifying beliefs is that research is not meant to sit on a shelf; rather, it should be shared widely to drive meaningful progress for women and girls, across the lifespan, everywhere. In keeping with this philosophy, WCW became a part of the Wagner Centers for Wellesley in the World, established by the College in 2025. WCW joined the Madeline Korbel Albright Institute and the Hillary Rodham Clinton Center for Citizenship, Leadership, and Democracy under the umbrella of the new Wagner Centers, whose objective is to elevate the College's role as a hub and catalyst for research and global solutions, especially on critical issues related to women, democracy, and gender equity.

WCW requires a creative, deft, and consultative ED who will embrace their role as an intellectual steward, uphold the highest standards of integrity, independence, and scholarly rigor, and push WCW to new heights, advancing its mission to improve the lives of women and girls. The ED will be an effective external representative, articulating and championing the practical applications and outcomes of WCW's research, expanding the Centers' resources, and enriching its scholarly community. They will be an effective leader within the College, serving as a liaison with partners across the Wagner Centers and academic departments, and working cooperatively with the Provost and President, Dr. Paula Johnson, to ensure synergy and mutual points of connection between WCW and the College. The preferred candidate will hold a PhD or other relevant terminal degree and demonstrate a significant record of scholarship and publications related to women and gender. They will also bring considerable experience as an administrator and an attentive leader of people, with a history of promoting a culture of inclusivity, respect, and collaboration.

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

Salary Range: $200,000-$230,000. Benefits information is available upon request.

Location and Commitment: The ED must reside within a daily commuting distance of WCW's offices on the Wellesley College campus in Wellesley, MA. This role requires consistent presence at the College, as well as regular travel.

APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS

Nominations, inquiries, and applications, including CVs with cover letters responding to the opportunities and challenges outlined in the full position profile, should be submitted to the search team via the link here. Screening of applications will begin immediately and continue until the search process is completed. If you require reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or otherwise participate in the candidate selection process, please contact Harley Bartles at

Rebecca Swartz is leading this search with Tatiana Oberkoetter and Harley Bartles.

Worker Sub-Type

Administrative

Time Type

Full time

EEO Statement

At Wellesley, we embrace and honor difference and diversity. We believe the best ideas—the best solutions—draw on a range of voices, perspectives, and experiences. As a college, and as a community, we are dedicated to assuring that all members of the Wellesley community have an equal opportunity to flourish. 

Wellesley College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals in hiring and advancement based on any legally protected status. Candidates who believe they can contribute to the College community are encouraged to apply.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.