Director of Programming and Events Production, Dialogue Vanderbilt

The Director of Programming and Events Production ("Director") is responsible for helping drive the strategic direction and annual planning of content for Dialogue Vanderbilt, including the robust series of speaker engagements ("speaker series"). This speaker series sponsors 50+ public programs each year, bringing to campus over 200 leaders from the political, policy, foreign affairs, journalism, activism, academic, and other nonprofit sectors. The Director serves as a key catalyst to devise creative, topical, and substantive programming that connects students and the broader public to the most important issues and leaders of our time. The ideal candidate will have a broad knowledge of current affairs and politics, strong editorial sensibilities and sensitivities, and experience inspiring others - including students, faculty, and staff - to creative excellence. They will be intellectually curious, will have original takes on topics and framing for Dialogue Vanderbilt events, and will have a solid network of senior contacts in the political, public service, and journalism fields.

This position works closely and collaboratively with the Senior Counselor to the Chancellor, leaders across the components of Dialogue Vanderbilt, and students - Dialogue Vanderbilt student ambassadors, registered student organizations, and other interested individual students - to establish overall goals for the speaker Series and on the development of all specific events. They are a key creator of Dialogue Vanderbilt's public programs, including topic selection, framing and content development, and identifying and securing speakers. They will also help conceive of special events and projects Dialogue Vanderbilt might undertake outside of regular speaker Series programming, such as conferences, forums, partnerships, or other events that allow Dialogue Vanderbilt, and Vanderbilt University more generally, to fill important voids, demonstrate their values, and advance their missions in original ways. The Director also works closely with the University's marketing and communication teams, as well as staff of the components of Dialogue Vanderbilt who support the logistics planning, promotion, and execution of all events in the speaker Series and other public events. The position reports to the Senior Counselor to the Chancellor.

The Office of the Chancellor at Vanderbilt University is responsible for the management and business operations to support the work of the Chancellor in executing the mission of Vanderbilt University. Each team member plays an integral role in executing the strategic initiatives and outreach that drive the University forward. The team works alongside the Chancellor and Vice Chancellors in the planning and operations of Vanderbilt University. Established in the Fall 2023, Dialogue Vanderbilt is a core Vanderbilt University initiative designed to demonstrate our core values of free expression and civil discourse by bringing together resources to help re-establish norms of constructive conversation and mutual respect - even when we disagree. By bringing practitioners from the public arena to campus, and providing extracurricular opportunities in politics, policy, government, nonprofits and journalism, Dialogue Vanderbilt programs seek to open pathways for engagement and leadership to students across campus.

There are three primary programmatic components of Dialogue Vanderbilt:

• The Future of Free Speech (FFS) is a collaboration between the global judicial think tank Justitia and Vanderbilt working to nurture and sustain a global culture of free speech in the digital age. Among other things, FFS seeks to address critical questions such as: Why is freedom of speech in global decline? How can we better understand and conceptualize the benefits and harms of free speech? And, how can we create a resilient global culture of free speech that benefits everyone?

• The Vanderbilt Project for Unity & American Democracy seeks to elevate the role of research and evidence-based reasoning into the national conversation, informing thinking and reframing public discourse through a range of themes, including polarization; the role of religion in a divided time; strengthening democratic principles at home and abroad; and ensuring the public has the data.

• The Open Dialogue Fellows Program brings together thought leaders from across the political and ideological spectrum to engage with students, faculty, the public, and each other, modeling evidence-based, civil debate.

Additionally, Dialogue Vanderbilt ensures student engagement through its cohort of ambassadors for the Unity Project and Open Dialogue Programs, as well as student activities such as Vanderbilt's storied debate program. These efforts help students deepen their understanding of civic literacy, learn the concepts and skills to become democratically engaged and develop the commitment and efficacy to become lifelong leaders.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate the strategy and design of the Dialogue Vanderbilt's ongoing speaker series program of public events, including topic selection, framing, and content development, and identifying and securing speakers.

• Drive the internal generation of specific program ideas and event content, working collaboratively with staff and students to maximize creativity, diversity, relevance, and impact.

• Develop a calendar of programs that includes some events planned well in advance around anticipated hooks or topics, and some quick turnaround events that are topical and responsive to the news of the moment.

• Ensure a mix of high-profile newsmaker voices and lower profile but still compelling, issue-focused voices.

• Lead the identification and booking of speaker series guests, including drafting letters of invitation and creating event briefings as necessary.

• Work closely with the Office of the Provost to ensure input from academic affairs and student affairs.

• Work closely with the University's marketing and communication teams, as well as staff of the components of Dialogue Vanderbilt, who support the logistics planning, promotion, and execution of all events in the speaker series and other public events.

• Work closely with involved students to ensure student input in the development and production of the speaker series, including the vetting of ideas from students and other University constituencies.

• Work closely with the Office of the Chancellor, Procurement, and the Office of General Counsel, as necessary, to address any speaker contract or other related contractual and legal matters.

• Serves as a key resource for program information. Resolves problems or questions referred by program staff, University administrators, or other contingencies.

• Develop and steward content relationships with internal and external partners, including student organizations, University departments and centers, and off-campus entities.

• Help develop special projects, partnerships, and events outside of speaker series programming that leverage the speaker series' unique assets and enable it to contribute in new ways to public discourse and engage students.

• Serves as a key resource for speaker series information.

• Answers questions and solves problems referred by staff, University administrators, or other groups.

• Be onsite during most events and, very occasionally, during some weekend hours.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree is necessary. A master's or advanced degree is preferred.

• A minimum 7 years of work experience, knowledge and skills in a related job discipline is required.

• 8-10 years of experience in journalism, politics, policy, or public affairs, focused on researching, developing and executing substantive political and policy-oriented content for broad audiences is necessary.

• Deep knowledge of, experience in, and enthusiasm for current events, including the ability to identify timely and relevant topics and speakers is necessary.

• Experience working directly with highly accomplished VIP participants, including elected officials, media, diplomats and other prominent public figures is necessary.

• Broad knowledge of current affairs, strong editorial sensibilities, and experience inspiring others to creative excellence is necessary.

• Passion for the Dialogue Vanderbilt's mission is necessary.

• Intellectual curiosity, fresh thinking, and excellent instincts for where national, international, and local policy conversations are going next is necessary.

• Ability to create original takes on topics and framing for events is necessary.

• Ability to bring a solid network of senior contacts in the political, public service, and journalism fields is necessary.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to sell ideas to others is necessary.

• Deep knowledge of current affairs and politics, strong editorial sensibilities, and experience inspiring others to creative excellence is necessary.

• Proven track record of developing and managing multiple, complex events or stories and producing work under demanding timelines is necessary.

• Willingness to approach contentious issues from all possible sides, with an eye towards fairness and accuracy is necessary.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively and professionally in a creative, fast-paced, intellectual team environment, as well as to work well with influential guests, key University audiences (students, faculty, and administrators) and other external stakeholders is necessary.

• Self-starting, high energy, results-oriented, and able to handle simultaneous high-profile projects with minimum supervision is necessary.

• Experience managing staff and building cohesive teams is necessary.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University 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 status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education. Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.