Trustworthy AI Program Director

The George Washington University (GW) is seeking a Program Director for the University-wide Trustworthy AI initiative (GW TAI). Located in the heart of Washington, DC, GW faculty and students have access to a unique combination of resources and experiences, including opportunities to partner with companies in the region's rapidly growing technology corridor and to engage with government, industry, and other external stakeholders. GW TAI is a major initiative to advance knowledge, educate leaders, and impact society through research and engagement focused on AI in systems and for society. **Position Summary** The Director serves as the senior staff leader for GW TAI and as the principal strategic and operational partner to the Executive Director. The Director helps translate the Executive Director's vision and priorities into coordinated action across the university, ensures that major initiatives move from concept to execution, and provides the day-to-day leadership, follow-through, and institutional coordination needed for GW TAI to operate effectively and grow. The Director works with faculty leadership, university administrators, staff, students, and external partners; anticipates issues and opportunities; prepares decisions and recommendations for the Executive Director; and advances priorities on the Executive Director's behalf as appropriate. **Key Responsibilities** - **Executive partnership and strategic leadership.** Serve as the Executive Director's trusted partner for planning, prioritization, execution, and follow-through. Help establish annual and multi-year priorities, prepare leadership briefings and decision materials, track commitments and key milestones, surface risks and dependencies, and ensure timely resolution of issues that span programs or organizational units. - **Initiative and portfolio management.** Lead the planning and execution of high-priority, cross-cutting TAI initiatives. Develop workplans, timelines, governance structures, success measures, and accountability mechanisms; coordinate contributors across schools and functional areas; and maintain visibility into progress, resource needs, and outcomes. - **University-wide coordination and governance.** Act as a central point of coordination for TAI across GW. Build strong working relationships with faculty leaders, researchers, school leadership, academic and administrative offices, communications teams, development and corporate relations staff, and other relevant units. Organize leadership meetings, establish effective decision processes, document decisions, and drive cross-university follow-up. - **Operations, budget, and resource stewardship.** Direct the administration and operations of GW TAI, including planning and monitoring, resource allocation, contracts and purchasing coordination, fellowship administration, program records, reporting, space and materials, and operational policies and processes. Develop scalable systems that support growth, accountability, and efficient execution. - **Programs, research community, and student engagement.** Provide strategic oversight for TAI's core constituent programs and community-building activities, including seminars, summer incubators, mentorship programs, fellowships, convenings, and other faculty- and student-facing initiatives. Guide the development of new programming and ensure that program design, delivery, and evaluation align with TAI priorities. - **External partnerships and representation.** In partnership with the Executive Director and faculty leadership, cultivate and manage relationships with government, industry, nonprofit, philanthropic, and academic partners. Represent GW TAI in selected internal and external meetings, develop partnership opportunities, coordinate institutional responses and follow-up, and help position TAI as a visible and credible convener in trustworthy AI. - **Communications, visibility, and impact.** Oversee coordinated communications and marketing for TAI in partnership with relevant university teams. Ensure that web content, program materials, presentations, reports, and stakeholder communications clearly convey TAI's strategy, activities, and impact. Develop metrics and reporting that support leadership decision-making and demonstrate progress to internal and external stakeholders. - **Issue resolution and executive escalation.** Serve as a senior escalation point for complex program, operational, or stakeholder issues. Resolve matters within delegated authority, frame options and recommendations for the Executive Director when decisions are required, and ensure that sensitive or high-impact issues are handled with sound judgment, discretion, and appropriate coordination. - **Team and organizational leadership.** Lead, coordinate, and develop TAI staff, temporary employees, student workers, fellows, and project teams as assigned. Clarify roles and accountabilities, set expectations, coach contributors, and build a high-performing, responsive operating culture. As the initiative grows, the Director may assume direct supervisory responsibility for additional staff. Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are related to the position.