Status: Full-time, exempt employee
Reports to: Board of Directors
Location: Remote, East Coast is desirable
Deadline: Resume reviews begin immediately

About The Fulbright Association

The Fulbright Association is the U.S. alumni association for the Fulbright Program, an international academic exchange program founded in 1946 to increase mutual understanding and support friendly and peaceful relations between the U.S. and people of other countries.

The Fulbright Association was established in 1977 to extend international exchange into a lifelong experience for Fulbright alumni and their communities.

Today, the Fulbright Association represents the 140,000 U.S. Fulbright alumni award recipients since the program’s inception in 1946. Through lifelong learning, collaborative networking, and service projects at home and abroad, the Fulbright Association connects alumni and friends of international education to increase visibility of the U.S. Student Program and help to preserve Fulbright’s international exchanges for future generations. Learn more at fulbright.org.

Fulbright alumni are global change-makers in politics, business, science, education, and the arts and include 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 61 Nobel Prize laureates, 40 current or former heads of state or government, 76 MacArthur Foundation Fellows, and 16 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients. Fulbrighters are committed to advancing mutual understanding, tolerance, and peaceful relations worldwide.

The Fulbright Association awards the high-profile annual J. William Fulbright Prize, celebrating the advancement of peace through international understanding. Past recipients include Nelson Mandela, President Jimmy Carter, Bill and Melinda Gates, Doctors Without Borders, Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Bono. In addition to the Prize, the Fulbright Association hosts an annual conference serving 300 Fulbright alumni, an annual Youth Summit to encourage high school students to consider careers in international affairs, and Fulbright in the Classroom, which connects Fulbright alumni to share their experiences in K-12 classrooms in under-resourced communities.

The Fulbright Association is affiliated with over 50 regional, and state chapters that host more than 230 local, and regional programs each year for visiting Fulbrighters and alumni throughout the U.S. These chapters have their own membership, and governance structures, hosting a range of educational events, career development seminars, music and art presentations, networking events, and volunteer activities.

The organization has a 23 person board, a 5-person staff, and a $1.8 million budget. Major revenue sources include conferences and programs (22%), member dues (16%), donations (30%), and federal grants (21%), the latter which is regranted to chapters for local programming.

Leadership Opportunity

As it approaches its 50th anniversary, the Fulbright Association seeks a visionary and experienced Executive Director (E.D.) to elevate its visibility and increase its impact. Working closely with the Board of Directors and a talented professional team, the E.D. will implement a cohesive strategy that integrates ambitious programming, meaningful member engagement, successful advocacy achievements, and strong fundraising outcomes.

The E.D. will champion a bold vision that ensures the Association’s programs and resources meet its members’ needs and advocate for the essential role that international exchange and education play in advancing international peace and cooperation. The E.D. will be an adept spokesperson for the Fulbright Association’s mission and impact; they will enhance the Association’s reputation and value proposition while building awareness of the importance of the Fulbright program and other international exchanges to the global community.

To successfully steward the Association’s mission, the E.D. will work with the board, staff, and members to ensure the Association’s ambitious plans are grounded in financial reality. They will be an eager fundraiser and identify opportunities to strengthen the organization’s base of recurring revenue through membership, major gifts, foundations, and corporate sponsors.

A consensus-oriented and collaborative leader, the E.D. will model an inclusive and positive organizational culture that extends across the staff, board, and chapter leaders. The E.D. reports to the Board of Directors and directs a team of five senior professionals responsible for communications, programs, fundraising, and member relations.

Key Responsibilities

Vision, Strategy, and Leadership

• Working closely with the board, enact a bold approach to elevate and expand the Association’s reach and impact among members, policymakers and donors.
• Set and implement the strategy’s annual goals, tactics, business plans, and budgets.
• Establish strong working relationships and collaborations with a range of key partners, supporters, and others to advance the Association’s interests.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the board and provide support to the Association’s governance processes.

Fundraising & External Relations 

• With the board and Director of Development, develop and implement annual, and long-term development plans that cultivate support from major donors, individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors; lead solicitation of major gifts.
• Serve as the primary spokesman and chief liaison with partners, including key funders, the U.S. Department of State, and the Fulbright Commission; grow additional partnerships with other associations and nonprofits focused on international exchange.
• Lead advocacy to Congress, Department of State, and other governmental representatives; guide key messaging that elevates the impact of international education and exchange.

Member Engagement and Programs

• Oversee a sustainable and member-centered programmatic strategy, including events, annual conferences, and other professional opportunities that provide high-quality and diverse experiences for members.
• Set a comprehensive strategy to meaningfully grow Fulbright alumni membership; create consistent onboarding, and stewardship opportunities that enhance member value and encourage their philanthropic investment in Fulbright’s mission.
• Enhance the Association’s storytelling capacity, ensuring that communication channels effectively connect members to stories of impact on current awardees and alumni.
• Identify new partnerships to amplify the Association’s impact and value proposition, such as academic institutions, international exchange programs, and corporate partnerships.
• Ensure data driven evaluation processes measure and improve effectiveness of programs and membership engagement goals.

Operations and Administration

• Oversee day-to-day operations, including human resources, financial management, and legal and regulatory compliance.
• Lead, develop and retain an outcome-driven team. Supervise leadership team and facilitate strong working relationships, clear communications, and effective and timely decision- making processes across different departments.
• Set annual financial goals in partnership with the staff and board. Oversee budget preparation, monitor income and expenditures, support long-range budget planning and analysis, and provide the board with comprehensive and regular reports.
• Ensure the Association maintains policies, procedures, and technology to facilitate effective workflow, decision-making, and communication across departments.

Experiences, Skills, and Qualities

The Board of Directors seeks an experienced executive to lead the organization with vision and skill. While we understand that no single candidate can possess every qualification listed below, the following are considered priority areas:

• No less than 10 years of leadership experience in an association, nonprofit, university, governmental agency, or similar professional setting.
• Passion for the Association’s mission and the impact of international exchange.
• An effective spokesperson; capable of engaging a variety of stakeholders, including members, policymakers, academics, and philanthropic leaders.
• Success with senior-level fundraising efforts, including strategizing and securing support through partnerships, institutions, corporations, and/or individuals.
• Excellent organizational management experience, including project management, budgeting and forecasting, financial management, human resources, contracts, and legal compliance.
• Consensus-oriented with emotional intelligence, compassion, and superior listening skills.
• An effective “big picture” thinker who is able to successfully connect ideas with actions. Thinks strategically and creates strong operational approaches.
• Proven experience with change management, transforming systems, tools, and processes that take an organization to the next stage of growth.
• A record of supervising a small team with limited administrative support; experience developing a positive team culture.
• Respect for diverse backgrounds and points of view; elevates underrepresented voices.
• Past work with or serving on a nonprofit board. Understands the importance of governance, board development, and collective decision-making.
• Able to travel for conferences, events, and funder meetings.

Considered a major plus

• Knowledge of issues, trends, and policies affecting international relations.
• Recipient of a Fulbright award, or participation in a similar international exchange.
• Work experience in a membership association.
• A Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential.

Location & Travel

The Fulbright Association is headquartered in Washington, DC. Staff work remotely. Approximately 20%-30% of time includes travel to conferences, events, and visits to chapters and sponsors. Travel will be more frequent if the incoming E.D. lives outside the DC region.

Compensation

The board has budgeted a salary of $160,000 to $175,000 plus benefits, which include health insurance, a retirement plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, and paid time off.

Application Process

The Fulbright Association is conducting this search in partnership with Good Insight, a national executive search firm serving nonprofits and associations. Interested applicants should upload a resume and a detailed cover letter that describes their qualifications for this role to good-insight.org/careers.

For best consideration, submit application materials before mid-April. Early applications are encouraged due to the pace of the search. Direct confidential inquiries to search leads Carlyn Madden, Ana Chapa, and Tej Pikle at FulbrightAssociation@good-insight.org.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Fulbright Association is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.