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

The National Humanities Center is a private, nonprofit organization, and the only independent institute dedicated exclusively to advanced study in the humanities. The Center provides essential support for the humanities, encouraging excellence in scholarship and teaching while affirming the importance of the humanities in American life. The Center’s mission is accomplished through its residential fellowship program, educational programming, and public engagement. The Center is supported by the generosity of individual donors, grants, corporate philanthropy, and institutional sponsors.

The Center is a collegial community work environment with opportunities for professional development and growth. The warm and inviting community of diverse staff and scholars share a rich history of meaningful contributions to human knowledge, and embrace a diversity of ideas, perspectives, bodies, and abilities.

The 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 basis protected by law.

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.

Public Engagement Postgraduate Fellow

The Public Engagement Postgraduate Fellow will support the division of Public Engagement at the National Humanities Center, creating opportunities for scholarly and public audiences to engage with the humanities and relevant contemporary issues. Working closely with the Director of Public Engagement, the fellow will manage relevant communications, digital records, workflow management platforms, and other assorted logistics for programs and events. The fellow will also act as a strategic thought partner with the Director for Public Engagement to plan and pursue new partnerships and programmatic directions.

This role will require excellent communication skills (written and oral) and the ability to accurately and respectfully represent Public Engagement programs to external constituents. The fellow should be comfortable working independently while remaining aligned with overarching strategic goals for the division. They will need to collaborate across teams in the Center and to work with staff with varied professional backgrounds and skill sets in an inclusive and intellectually generous manner.

The ideal candidate will have a Master’s degree or higher in the humanities or social sciences, and 2+ years of professional experience. Relevant experience in the public humanities, academic and nonprofit project management/administration, or community-engaged work pursued as part of an advanced degree program will be considered. Early career candidates are welcome and encouraged to apply to this role.

The fellowship term will last for the duration of a calendar year (January–December 2025) with the option to convert the role to a permanent position pending a performance review and a discussion of the fellow’s goals at the end of the term. The fellow will have the opportunity to pursue professional development opportunities and to network with relevant institutions and colleagues throughout the year.

This is an in-person position that will operate on a hybrid schedule. The fellow will have the option to balance work days in office with remote work days after an initial onboarding period.

Duties and Responsibilities

Work closely with the Director of Public Engagement to manage the National Humanities Center’s Public Engagement portfolio and to advance public humanities ideas and methods on a national and international level.
Support signature Public Engagement programs, including but not limited to the National Humanities Leadership Council, the Responsible Artificial Intelligence initiative, the Being Human Festival, discussion series and podcasts, and other symposia.

Participate in grant proposal research and writing for Public Engagement activities as well as post-award management.
Manage communications and coordination of logistics with external partners for key Center public engagement projects and activities.
Develop and disseminate surveys to program participants, leading to the collection and analysis of relevant data.

Qualifications

A Master’s degree or higher in either the humanities or a related field.
A minimum of 2 years of experience in the public humanities, academic and nonprofit project management/administration, or community-engaged work.
Demonstrated ability to manage programs and projects, forge productive constituent relationships, support marketing efforts, collaborate on event planning, and to engage critically with ongoing discourses, methodologies, and initiatives in the public humanities.
Clear commitment to DEI principles and practices.
Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to multitask effectively.
Ability to engage distinct communities inclusively and to develop relationships with key stakeholders.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people, especially those with a different background, education, or type of professional experience.
Knowledge of engagement strategies and sensitivity to cultural diversity.
Ability to demonstrate warmth, humility, intellectual curiosity, and a cooperative spirit.
Ability to think strategically, analyze issues, and make sound decisions.
Available to work some evenings and weekends.
Familiarity with project management software (Asana) and relational databases (Airtable) and/or the demonstrated ability to become fluent in new digital platforms.

Salary will range from $60,000 to $70,000 based on experience and qualifications. The NHC also offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes both traditional benefits such as health insurance, leave time, and retirement, as well as professional development opportunities.

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