Director of Organizational Change and Effectiveness

About CDI

The Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) is a non-profit dedicated to equipping the next generation of Americans with the skills to communicate and collaborate across lines of difference. We work with U.S. colleges and universities by providing curricular programming for students, professional development for faculty and staff, and strategic guidance to leadership. Our goal is to foster constructive dialogue at every level of the institution and to create the conditions for lasting organizational change. CDI was co-founded by psychologist Jonathan Haidt, the bestselling author of The Righteous Mind and The Anxious Generation.

CDI is at a pivotal moment of growth. In 2024, we more than doubled the number of partners we worked with, and we plan to double our reach again in 2025.

Summary

As the Director of Organizational Change and Effectiveness, you will lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects with client organizations. These projects will aim to transform campus culture and climate for colleges, universities, and/or state university systems. In addition, you’ll play a key role in building CDI’s organizational capacity for systems thinking and establishing us as a thought leader in organizational change and effectiveness.

Responsibilities

Organizational Change Management:

• Lead complex, large-scale strategic change initiatives, driving campus climate transformation for CDI partners through the following:
  • Create and implement comprehensive change management strategies that align with partners' transformation objectives.
  • Work with campus leaders to conduct impact analyses, assess change readiness, and identify sponsors and key stakeholders.
  • Design and facilitate training programs to equip senior leaders with the skills to champion and sustain systems-level transformations.
  • Create communication plans for partners to convey the case for change and the progress of change initiatives.
  • Monitor and report on the effectiveness of change management activities, adjusting strategies as needed.

System-Wide Project Management

• Spearhead the implementation of large-scale systems change initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and timelines.
• Coordinate cross-functional efforts across CDI teams, monitoring progress through analytics to ensure sustained momentum and success.
• Troubleshoot barriers to implementation and offer tailored solutions to maintain project integrity and performance.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and nurture strong relationships with clients and key stakeholders, establishing trust and credibility.
• Anticipate stakeholder needs, proactively address concerns, and ensure client satisfaction through high-touch engagement.

Building Organizational Capacity

• Develop expertise in organizational change within CDI and client organizations.
• Contribute to CDI's thought leadership by crafting tools, frameworks, and strategies that advance CDI’s reputation as a leader in systems change.
• Share insights via higher education conferences, op-eds, and social media to demonstrate thought leadership and disseminate best practices in change management.

Qualifications

• 5-7 Years of Experience in Organizational Change Management: A proven track record in leading and implementing large-scale organizational change initiatives focused on culture, climate, or related areas.
• Strong Project Management Skills: Ability to manage multiple, system-wide projects simultaneously while delivering high-quality outcomes.
• Advanced Strategic Thinking: Adept at navigating complex organizational challenges, designing integrated solutions, and providing clear, actionable insights.
• Exceptional Communication and Facilitation Skills: Proficient in engaging diverse stakeholders, including C-suite leaders, and leading productive dialogue and training sessions.
• Leadership and Relationship-Building Abilities: Demonstrated ability to inspire and guide teams, foster trust, and align efforts across organizations.
• Advanced Degree (MS, MBA, PhD or equivalent).

Preferred Skills

• Experience in higher education.
• Knowledge of political challenges facing higher education.

Benefits

• Compensation — $140,000-$180,000, depending on experience.
• A Mission-Driven Culture — we practice what we preach, so our work culture is characterized by intellectual humility, continuous improvement, and open-mindedness
• Remote-First — CDI was founded as a remote-first organization, and we work hard to maintain a strong team culture across vast distances
• Unlimited PTO — As well as 13 company holidays
• Other Benefits — employer-supported health, vision and dental plans, subsidized parental leave, 3% 401k match, short- and long-term disability insurance, life and AD&D insurance, $1,000 annual professional development budget.