Associate Director of Program Implementation

Who We Are

The Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) is a non-partisan, 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 co-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.

The Role

The Associate Director of Program Implementation will report to the Senior Director of Program Implementation and work closely with the Program Managers to support the successful implementation of CDI’s offerings, tools, and resources on college campuses across the country. This position will focus on relationship management of an assigned portfolio of partner campuses, guiding each campus through the stages of implementation (planning, implementation, learning and refining, retention and renewal, and contracting). The Associate Director of Program Implementation will also be a skilled project manager, ensuring on-track execution and communications for internal and external audiences, and play a key role in data tracking and processes.

The position may require some travel, approximately 3-5 days per quarter.

What You’ll Do

Implementation and Relationship Management:

• Serve as the relationship owner for an assigned portfolio of confirmed campus package institutions.

• Leverage subject matter expertise to manage the implementation cycle for assigned portfolio of partners, leading each partner through a planning process that results in a clear, concrete implementation plan for embedding CDI’s suite of offerings and resources within their campus community.

• Provide consistent stewardship and support to each partner to ensure they are able to effectively implement CDI’s programs, identify and address challenges, and promote engagement, completion, and saturation.

• Develop, in collaboration with other teams, and distribute resources that support partners in deepening their work with constructive dialogue.

• Track per cycle and year-over-year implementation progress for partners using internal tools, such as HubSpot and Asana, ensuring data is accurate and accessible, and able to be monitored against OKRs and growth strategies.

• Provide timely, professional, and tailored communications to partners, in the form of emails, newsletters, and other media.

• Lead renewal strategy and contracting for individual portfolio of partners, contributing to an annual average of 85% retention for all partner accounts.

• As needed, lead Professional Learning Communities and other Communities of Practice for partners.

• At the direction of the Senior Director of Program Implementation, provide implementation support, including logistical and product support, for other partners within the Growth portfolio, such as workplaces, high schools, etc.

Strategy and Growth:

• Gather and analyze feedback, learnings, and data from partners throughout the year to provide a holistic view of assigned portfolio and recommendations for future work.

• Develop subject matter expertise on higher education, particularly in the pathways in which CDI works, and constructive dialogue, and stay abreast of trends and developments in the field.

• Support retention, renewal, and expansion efforts including contributing to the build and execution of renewal and partner retention strategies

• Identify process inefficiencies and areas for optimization in partnership management, implementation procedures, and implementation resources, and contribute to the development of resources and optimizations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Coordinate implementation needs across multiple team members and departments, fostering collaboration, alignment, and shared understanding of processes, projects, and objectives.

• Collaborate closely with Growth team members (Partnerships, Live Programs) and Product, Education, Research, and Operations teams to ensure seamless alignment of goals and effective execution of CDI programming.

• Represent the voice of the partner and partner themes with other teams at CDI.

About You

• Relevant experience: 5+ years in partnership management, program implementation, or related roles across nonprofits, higher education, or EdTech; including at least 1 year working directly in or with higher education.

• Relationship builder: Exceptionally strong at building authentic, durable relationships with partners and stakeholders.

• Comfort with complexity: Able to navigate large, complex organizations while balancing multiple priorities.

• Clear communicator: Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to explain complex ideas, say no with tact, and build rapport virtually.

• Confident presenter: Skilled at developing and delivering presentations for diverse audiences.

• Organized project manager: Proven ability to manage multiple tasks, priorities, and stakeholders simultaneously, with an eye to detail.

• Analytical thinker: Able to extract meaningful insights from data to inform decisions.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.

• Bonus: Experience with CRM tools (e.g., HubSpot) and project management software (e.g., Asana).

What We Offer

• A Mission-Driven Culture — our work culture genuinely reflects our mission, characterized by intellectual humility, continuous improvement, and open-mindedness

• Unlimited PTO — recharge on your own schedule with unlimited paid time off, in addition to 13 company holidays

• Health, Vision & Dental — health, vision, and dental plans, with CDI contributing toward your premiums each month

• 401(k) Match — invest in your future with a 100% match on your contributions, up to 3% of your pay

• Professional Development — a generous annual budget to invest in your growth: build new skills, deepen existing ones, and stay inspired in your work

• Remote Work Support — up to $500 reimbursed for home office equipment and up to $50/month reimbursed for home internet or cell phone expenses

The Details

• Compensation: $95,000 - $105,000

• Location: Remote, must be based in the U.S.

• Schedule: Full-time, flexible within U.S. time zones

• Reports to: Senior Director of Program Implementation

• Direct Report(s): None

• Target start date: Jan 1, 2027