DAFTG Director in Washington, District of Columbia at American Association of University Professors

American Association ofUniversity Professors

Department of AcademicFreedom, Tenure, and Governance

Director – Remote

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP),a fast-growing union of higher education workers, invites applications fromexperienced defenders of academic freedom who are committed to building apowerful and democratic union. AAUP is uniting and mobilizing the higher edsector against increasing partisan attacks that undermine academic freedom inprinciple and practice. We aim to protect college and university teaching andresearch, expand the higher education labor movement by forging cross-sectorsolidarity, and defend democracy itself against authoritarian encroachment. TheDirector of the Department of Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Governance (DAFTG)will play a critical role in activating AAUP’s 55,000 members to advance ourmission and organize the higher education sector.

The DAFTG Director will work with AAUP elected leaders,staff, and coalition partners to coordinate the national and local defense ofacademic freedom and empower AAUP members and staff to do the same. Asuccessful candidate will be knowledgeable about institutional violations offaculty rights; alert to partisan attacks, corporate influence, and otherexternal threats to academic freedom; familiar with AAUP policy standards;well-versed in a range of institutional policies on academic freedom, job security,due process, and shared governance; and someone with demonstrated engagement onissues of part-time, adjunct, contingent, and precarious academic employment.

We’re looking for someone who is an excellentcommunicator and a collaborative leader. The DAFTG Director will be part of ateam of AAUP department directors who report to AAUP’s Executive Director. Thisis a remote position with regular travel expected to AAUP’s Washington, D.C.,office and other work sites nationwide.

The DAFTG Director will also serve as the administrativedirector for the Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom (CDAF). CDAF servesas a resource and knowledge hub for creating practical resources, buildingstrategic partnerships, producing original research, and communicating thevalue of academic freedom. Joint leadership of DAFTG and CDAF is intended tounify AAUP’s fight for institutional independence, workplace democracy, laborjustice, and educational equity.

This is a managerial position requiring excellent staffsupervision skills, a deep commitment to racial and social equity, a leadershipvision for protecting academic freedom, and a readiness to work with faculty,graduate workers, and other academic professionals across diverse institutionalsettings.

The AAUP is committed to a diverse workforce and strivesto achieve a workplace environment respectful of the many cultures of our ownemployees and the higher education workers we represent, including asignificant number of African-American, Asian-American/Pacific Islander, andLatinx employees, as well as LGBTQl-identified employees, and those who haveimmigrated from various countries. The AAUP values the benefits that diversitybrings to the faculty profession and the labor movement. We seek applicantswhose experience and perspective will contribute to strong representation ofour diverse members.

Duties and Responsibilities

The position will include the following responsibilities:

• In consultation with AAUP’s national officers andExecutive Director, implement priorities for and guide direction of AAUP’sDepartment of Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Governance.

• In collaboration with the Center for the Defense ofAcademic Freedom’s Strategic Director and Program Coordinator, manage theday-to-day operations of CDAF.

• Carry out the decisions of AAUP’s elected leaders.

• Work with staff colleagues and AAUP leaders and membersto develop, promote, and foster leadership in AAUP policy standards addressingpressing, emerging, and long-standing issues in higher education.

• Facilitate the development of resources and strategicpartnerships for defending academic freedom, including the publication andrevision of AAUP policies.

• Cooperate with AAUP elected leaders and staff to plan andcarry out activities and projects.

• Provide support to AAUP standing committees, ad hoccommittees, and other AAUP bodies.

• Develop and implement a robust member education program,including workshops and trainings for AAUP chapters and state conferences onAAUP policies and their implementation.

• Represent AAUP to other higher education organizations,college and university

• bodies, unions, and professional associations.

• Manage an external relations and communications plan topromote the work of DAFTG and CDAF.

• Administer funding for specific grant-funded projects.

• Supervise DAFTG and CDAF staff, cultivating teamwork andaccountability via regular check-ins and team meetings that align work withleadership objectives.

• Foster the professional growth of DAFTG and CDAF staff,providing coaching, training, performance feedback, and evaluation. Ifnecessary, develop support plans for performance improvement or initiateprogressive discipline.

• Prepare reports and presentations for the AAUP Council,Executive Committee, and other stakeholders.

• Ensure all programmatic and staff activities align withAAUP’s overall mission and strategic goals, including the AFT affiliation andAAUP’s racial equity initiative.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership on academic freedom, jobsecurity, and shared governance issues, including part-time, adjunct,contingent, and precarious employment.

• Understanding of the attacks, pressures, and urgentproblems currently facing higher education workers nationwide.

• Familiarity with academic freedom and job securityclauses in collective bargaining agreements and faculty handbooks.

• Ability to analyze complicated situations, handlemultiple projects, and meet tight deadlines.

• Strong writing, communication, research, and analyticalskills.

• Experience conducting member education, includingdeveloping and delivering workshop curriculum.

• Understanding of how structural issues of class, race,and gender affect the success of labor and social justice organizations;commitment to racial equity, inclusion, and social justice; and experienceapplying these principles in the workplace.

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

• Superior written and oral communication skills andcomputer proficiency skills—including working familiarity with MS Office suite.

• Bachelor’s degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as an active member of AAUP.

• Prior work as a union steward or comparablerepresentational position.

• Experience with collective bargaining over academicfreedom, job security, and related issues.

• Advanced post-graduate degree and experience teachingand/or conducting research at the college/university level.

This job description is not designedor intended to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties,or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Activities, duties, andresponsibilities may change, or new ones may be assigned during the course ofemployment.

Compensation

Salary range: $100,000 – $130,000. AAUP offers a generousbenefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance; paid sickdays; paid vacations days; and 401(K).

Position Classification

This regular full-time Senior Program Officer position iscategorized as management/supervisory and is excluded from the staff bargainingunit. This is an exempt position and is not eligible for overtime pay.

Work Location

This position is remote and does not require relocation.However, the Director will travel frequently to AAUP’s Washington, D.C., officeand to multiple in-person work sites on college and university campusesnationwide, sometimes on short notice.

To Apply

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, andinclude the names and contact information of three references; all applicationmaterial are required. No phone calls or recruiters please. Review ofapplications will begin immediately. Full consideration of applications will begiven to applications submitted by June 28, 2026. If necessary, applicationssubmitted after June 28, 2026 may be considered on a rolling basis until July13, 2026.

The AAUP is an equal opportunity employer and does notdiscriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability, race, color, religion,national origin, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexualorientation, personal appearance, family responsibilities, genetic information,matriculation, political affiliation, homelessness, or other characteristicsunrelated to professional performance. (EEO Know Your Rights | FamilyMedical Leave Act).

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.