Executive Director of the LBJ Women's Campaign School

Job Posting Title:

Executive Director of the LBJ Women's Campaign School

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Hiring Department:

Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Oct 28, 2025

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

About The University of Texas at Austin

What starts here changes the world.

The University of Texas at Austin, founded in 1883, ranks among the 40 best universities in the world with top national programs across 19 colleges and schools. By creating educational opportunities for all and leading cutting-edge research at scale, the University fosters positive social change, technological advancement, and economic progress showing the world that change really does start here.

An organizational priority is to successfully make UT the world’s highest-impact public research university, unleashing knowledge, opportunity and innovation from the heart of Texas.

Learn more about UT’s mission and values, and leadership.

Benefits

UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes:  

• 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage  
• Retirement contributions
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid holidays

Please visit our Human Resources (HR) website to learn more about the total benefits offered

 

About The LBJ School of Public Affairs

The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin is one of the nation’s premier public policy schools. As Texas’ top-ranked policy school for over five decades, the LBJ School provides unmatched opportunities for students to engage with policymakers, industry leaders and innovators in Austin and beyond. The school is committed to improving the quality of public service in the United States and abroad at all levels of governance and civic engagement. Our goals are to prepare students and professionals for leadership positions in public service, produce interdisciplinary research to advance our understanding of complex societal problems and create solutions, promote effective public policy and management practice and foster civic engagement on issues of public concern. Committed to advancing the quality of public service, the LBJ School continues to drive education, research and civic engagement at all levels of governance.

About the Women’s Campaign School

Founded in 2000, the LBJ Women's Campaign School is a bipartisan program that supports women in politics by training and empowering change-makers to lead in the political arena. We provide practical skills and high-level insights to build confidence in those interested in running for office, managing a campaign or supporting women candidates at all levels. We work to ensure all voices are heard, which unlocks the best public policy solutions and strengthens our democracy. Through training, mentorship, and networking, we encourage collaboration across differences and provide the political "know-how" to change the world.

Purpose

The LBJ Women’s Campaign School is seeking its next Executive Director to shepherd this unique, dynamic and impactful program. The Executive Director is responsible for the overall leadership, planning, and management of all operations and resources necessary to maintain and build this thriving program. Importantly, this role includes building and maintaining relationships with donors, advisory board members, LBJ School staff and LBJ Women’s Campaign School participants and alumni. Specific responsibilities are noted below. Currently training its sixth cohort of change-makers, the 2024 Impact Report will provide an overview of the work of the LBJWCS.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Program Execution

• Oversee, manage, and lead the daily operations of the LBJ Women’s Campaign School including management of the budget and make budget projections
• Collaborate with the LBJ School leadership and staff to ensure alignment and leverage institutional resources
• Plan and execute seamless virtual and in-person training sessions for each cohort (approximately 60 individuals) of each LBJ Women’s Campaign School class
• Managing event logistics
• Overseeing program curriculum with guidance from the advisory board
• Developing course materials, serving as a lecturer, and moderating panels of guest speakers as needed
• Running a world-class mentorship program, which includes curriculum development, mentor recruitment and stakeholder management
• Designing and executing monitoring and evaluation strategy and communicating program impact
• Ensuring continuous program improvement based on feedback and evaluation
• Developing and managing annual admissions process for the program

Fundraising and Stakeholder Engagement  

• Creatively seek and secure financial support from a wide range of sources
• Steward long-term donor relationships and broaden revenue streams
• Support and engage participants and alumni of the LBJ Women’s Campaign School
• Build upon the networks of the board and participants to recruit future cohorts
• Build and maintain relationships with advisory board members, donors, event steering committee members, mentors, and community members to promote the LBJ Women’s Campaign School and recruit program participants 
• Work with partners and mentors who share the campaign school’s vision of lifting up women in politics to reach gender parity in the political arena; provide a platform for engaging prospective program participants, identify new and retain existing mentors, and provide the skills needed to run for public office or support candidates

Program Marketing and Administration

• Serve as a visible ambassador for the program
• Organize and participate in events and panels that raise the profile of the LBJ Women’s Campaign School
• Oversee the work of the administrative program coordinator and senior student associate
• As needed, recruit, hire, and provide professional development opportunities for staff
• Work with key LBJ School Marketing and Communications staff to maintain the website, write press releases, and build a robust social media strategy
• Effectively use social media, earned media, and paid media to raise the profile of the LBJ Women’s Campaign School and recruit participants for future cohorts
• Participate in the annual performance review process in accordance with  University of Texas policies 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Affairs or related area
• 4+ years experience in the political arena
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to set and achieve a strategic vision
• Able to plan, organize, and implement activities, with proven ability to manage complex, multi-day events
• Able to monitor and evaluate for program effectiveness
• Comfort with new technologies, web platforms, social media, email marketing, and AI-assisted tools for efficiency
• Effective at budget management
• Skilled fundraiser with demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with multiple internal and external audiences and stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team and inspire stakeholders
• Works well under pressure and able to deliver against timelines

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree in Political Science, Public Affairs or related area
• More than the require years or experience
• Experience managing or scaling a leadership development program
• Working experience with stakeholders across various political ideologies
• Track record of fundraising from foundations, individuals, and corporate sponsors
• Familiarity with Texas and/or national political ecosystems
• Media training or prior experience serving as a spokesperson

Salary Range

$100,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• Typical Office Environment
• Repetitive use of keyboard
• Potential for hybrid work

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

 

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.