We’re looking for amazing and talented humanists. Join our team!

About the National Humanities Center

The National Humanities Center is a private, nonprofit organization and the only independent institute in the United States dedicated exclusively to advanced study in the humanities. We provide essential support for the humanities by encouraging excellence in scholarship and teaching while affirming the importance of the humanities in American life.

Our mission is accomplished through:
Residential Fellowship Program: Supporting scholars from around the world in their pursuit of significant research.
Educational Programming: Offering programs for teachers and students to deepen their engagement with the humanities.
Public Engagement: Making the humanities accessible to a wider audience through public lectures, exhibitions, and online resources.

The Center is supported by the generosity of individual donors, grants, corporate philanthropy, and institutional sponsors.

Our Work Environment

We foster a collegial and inclusive work environment that values diversity and encourages professional development and growth. Our warm and inviting community is comprised of a diverse staff and a vibrant cohort of scholars who share a rich history of meaningful contributions to human knowledge. We embrace a diversity of ideas, perspectives, backgrounds, and abilities.

Equal-Opportunity Employer

The National Humanities Center 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, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Current Openings

President and Director

After nine years at the helm of the National Humanities Center, President and Director Robert D. Newman announced his retirement and stepped down as director effective July 1, 2024. A national search to hire his replacement is being handled by Spencer Stuart, a global leadership advisory firm. For further details, please read the position and candidate specifications. Interested parties should submit comments, nominations of others, or information in support of their own candidacy to the confidential email address of the Spencer Stuart team: NHCPresident@SpencerStuart.com.

Scholarly Programs Research Manager

The Scholarly Programs Research Manager will provide daily support to the Vice President for Scholarly Programs, with a focus on grant-writing, enhancing current research program offerings, developing new programs, and building and maintaining external partnerships.

The Scholarly Programs team manages the operations and logistics of the NHC’s nine-month residential fellowship for leading scholars from around the world, as well as a four-week summer residency, and is currently engaged in developing new research programs to enhance the accessibility of our offerings. The Scholarly Programs Research Manager will collaborate in developing these programs, in part through grant-getting and partnership-building, as well as supporting and enhancing current programs. Additionally, the Research Manager will support our annual Residential Fellowship competition and will serve as the Responsible Officer for our Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) program.

The Scholarly Programs Research Manager works on-site in our architecturally stunning building, and reports to and works closely with the Vice President for Scholarly Programs, for whom they will at times fill in, presenting for and moderating programs. The right candidate demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills across all working relationships and is a highly skilled communicator in person and in writing. They are adept at public speaking and group facilitation. With a successful track record of humanistic research and of managing projects with diverse stakeholders, they exhibit close attention to detail while keeping in mind the larger aims and needs of the programs. They collaborate well with colleagues and other stakeholders and consistently foster an inclusive atmosphere.

Key Responsibilities

Residential Fellowship

Manage research-related aspects of the Residential Fellowship competition
Reviewer management (identifying subject-expert reviewers; supporting reviewer assignments; planning and managing selection committee session)
Managing fellowship assignments
Aid with publicity and communications planning
Act as the Responsible Officer for and manage the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System); liaise with and administer processes for sponsored J-1 visa holders
Prepare reports for fellowship grants and SEVIS
Work with the Vice President for Scholarly Programs (VPSP) to plan, develop, and lead programming for current Fellows

Summer Residency Program

Work with the VPSP to plan, develop and lead programming for Summer Residents

Program Development and Partnerships

Manage grant-getting for the SP team: Identify grant opportunities; prepare grant applications and grant reports
Assist the VPSP in exploring and developing new program opportunities in order to expand access to NHC resources
Assist the VPSP in exploring partnership opportunities and liaising with external partners
Assist the VPSP in visioning and supporting alumni engagement efforts

Qualifications

PhD or doctoral candidate
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong interpersonal skills and an effective communicator with varied levels of stakeholders
Highly organized and detail-oriented, with proven success in meeting deadlines
Self-starter gifted at collaboration
Adept at learning new systems and procedures
Substantive experience in humanistic research and scholarly writing
Experience applying for grants
Experience running projects with multiple stakeholders
Experience speaking publicly and facilitating diverse groups, including but not limited to research-related gatherings
Proficiency in Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, including Excel and/or Google Sheets
Must be US citizen (as required by SEVIS)

Preferred Qualifications

Record of scholarly publishing
Familiarity with alternate forms and modes of publishing and sharing humanities research, including for diverse publics
Experience developing new programs (research, educational, etc.)
Experience developing and sustaining partnerships and collaborations
Experience managing grant processes and reports
Experience with international scholars
Project management certification (PPM and/or PMP)
Familiarity with project management software
Familiarity with Airtable or other relational databases

Benefits

This position includes a competitive salary range of $65,000–$80,000 and a generous benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan; paid life insurance; a generous PTO/holiday policy; and an on-site dining facility. This is a full-time, exempt position, working on-site, with the opportunity to work from home one day a week.

Qualified applicants should send a cover letter, résumé, and a list of three references to careers@nationalhumanitiescenter.org. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply early.