Executive Director

The Immigration Policy Lab (IPL) at Stanford University designs and evaluates policies to advance the integration of immigrants and refugees worldwide. By producing new evidence and translating it into creative solutions, we seek to improve refugees’ and immigrants’ opportunities and strengthen their host communities.

Using new data and cutting-edge analytical tools, we bring evidence to bear on the urgent problems facing immigrants, refugees, and their service providers. We engage with community-based organizations as well as local, state, national, and international government agencies to test the effectiveness of current policies. In addition, we co-design new policies, programs, and tools that ultimately affect millions of immigrants, as well as increase the economic and social prosperity of the communities in which they live. Our talented team of faculty, professional staff, postdocs, and students has created a research model that combines the quality and rigor of an academic lab with the efficiency and innovation of a civic-tech startup.

Following five years of rapid development and growth since our launch in 2016, IPL is seeking a new Executive Director (ED) to lead and advance the organization at this pivotal moment. Working in collaboration with IPL’s faculty co-directors at Stanford, the ED is responsible for setting and executing the strategic vision for a globally recognized social science lab, while also managing seamless programmatic and scientific operations.

We are looking for an experienced leader with in-depth knowledge of immigration policy and/or research; who values the rigor of the scientific process; who can articulate the importance of quantitative research to diverse stakeholders and audiences; and who also will deepen IPL’s focus on policy and social impact. The ED will manage the day-to-day operations of the lab and guide a team of professional staff that includes research program managers, a data scientist, a communications director, and a finance/operations manager. The ED will provide training opportunities for postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates and continue to grow and manage an active community of affiliated researchers from top universities. The ED will also be IPL’s leading public voice, whether at Stanford convenings or international summits. Further, the ED will collaborate closely with the leadership team of the IPL branch at ETH Zurich to build and implement a common vision and community across both branches.

This is a two-year fixed term position with possibility of renewal based on performance and funding. Please note that the expectation is that the position will be required to be located on campus and a regular remote position is not possible. IPL will offer some flexibility for a hybrid on-site/work from home arrangement.

Your responsibilities:

• Lead the strategic planning, research operations, and policy engagement of IPL
• Represent IPL to Stanford, external partners, and other stakeholders
• Provide expert consultation related to program development, funding opportunities, or other specialty areas
• Define the overall activities of research programs; allocate appropriate staffing and other resources to achieve objectives; provide strategic and financial advice to faculty directors; coordinate grant proposal submissions
• Oversee the development of, adherence to, and implementation of program policies and procedures
• Direct and/or supervise research staff and facilitate collaborations among faculty directors and affiliates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows
• Select, develop, and evaluate personnel to ensure efficient operations; lead or participate in multidisciplinary teams (in academia, across different faculties or schools, and in industry, across different functions of the business)
• Oversee research partnerships, typically with civil society or governmental partners
• Author and co-author research articles with faculty co-directors, affiliated faculty, postdocs, and/or graduate students
• Serve as IPL’s principal advocate with philanthropic foundations and other funders, as well as work with development teams

Other duties may also be assigned, as not all unique aspects of this job are covered by this job posting. 

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• Advanced degree and five years of relevant experience in the social sciences and/or social impact sector, or combination of relevant education, training, and/or experience
• Experience, deep engagement, and/or enthusiasm for research, design, monitoring and evaluation, experimental methods, and/or quantitative analysis
• Experience managing a budget and developing financial plans, program partnerships, and funding sources
• Advanced oral, written, and analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in an area of specialization
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to oversee, mentor, and direct staff and build strong organizational culture
• Experience leading a team, organization, or unit, including managing staff with diverse roles and functions
• Excellent leadership skills in a non-hierarchical environment
• Experience managing complex projects and organizations and executing creative problem-solving
• Experience working in projects and programs with diverse external partners and stakeholders

In addition, preferred requirements include:

• PhD in a relevant social science field or experience with quantitative and experimental methods (e.g., political science, economics, sociology, statistics, psychology)
• Substantive knowledge of and/or experience working in immigration and refugee policies and/or processes
• Demonstrated success in leading fundraising efforts
• Experience advising or guiding policy or programs in a relevant area
• Professional fluency in a language other than English