American Association of University Professors

Department of Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Governance

Director – Remote

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP), a fast-growing union of higher education workers, invites applications from experienced defenders of academic freedom who are committed to building a powerful and democratic union. AAUP is uniting and mobilizing the higher ed sector against increasing partisan attacks that undermine academic freedom in principle and practice. We aim to protect college and university teaching and research, expand the higher education labor movement by forging cross-sector solidarity, and defend democracy itself against authoritarian encroachment. The Director of the Department of Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Governance (DAFTG) will play a critical role in activating AAUP’s 55,000 members to advance our mission 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 of academic freedom and empower AAUP members and staff to do the same. A successful candidate will be knowledgeable about institutional violations of faculty rights; alert to partisan attacks, corporate influence, and other external 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 on issues of part-time, adjunct, contingent, and precarious academic employment.

We’re looking for someone who is an excellent communicator and a collaborative leader. The DAFTG Director will be part of a team of AAUP department directors who report to AAUP’s Executive Director. This is 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 administrative director for the Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom (CDAF). CDAF serves as a resource and knowledge hub for creating practical resources, building strategic partnerships, producing original research, and communicating the value of academic freedom. Joint leadership of DAFTG and CDAF is intended to unify AAUP’s fight for institutional independence, workplace democracy, labor justice, and educational equity.

This is a managerial position requiring excellent staff supervision skills, a deep commitment to racial and social equity, a leadership vision for protecting academic freedom, and a readiness to work with faculty, graduate workers, and other academic professionals across diverse institutional settings.

The AAUP is committed to a diverse workforce and strives to achieve a workplace environment respectful of the many cultures of our own employees and the higher education workers we represent, including a significant number of African-American, Asian-American/Pacific Islander, and Latinx employees, as well as LGBTQl-identified employees, and those who have immigrated from various countries. The AAUP values the benefits that diversity brings to the faculty profession and the labor movement. We seek applicants whose experience and perspective will contribute to strong representation of our diverse members.

Duties and Responsibilities

The position will include the following responsibilities:

• In consultation with AAUP’s national officers and Executive Director, implement priorities for and guide direction of AAUP’s Department of Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Governance.
• In collaboration with the Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom’s Strategic Director and Program Coordinator, manage the day-to-day operations of CDAF.
• Carry out the decisions of AAUP’s elected leaders.
• Work with staff colleagues and AAUP leaders and members to develop, promote, and foster leadership in AAUP policy standards addressing pressing, emerging, and long-standing issues in higher education.
• Facilitate the development of resources and strategic partnerships for defending academic freedom, including the publication and revision of AAUP policies.
• Cooperate with AAUP elected leaders and staff to plan and carry out activities and projects.
• Provide support to AAUP standing committees, ad hoc committees, and other AAUP bodies.
• Develop and implement a robust member education program, including workshops and trainings for AAUP chapters and state conferences on AAUP 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 to promote the work of DAFTG and CDAF.
• Administer funding for specific grant-funded projects.
• Supervise DAFTG and CDAF staff, cultivating teamwork and accountability via regular check-ins and team meetings that align work with leadership objectives.
• Foster the professional growth of DAFTG and CDAF staff, providing coaching, training, performance feedback, and evaluation. If necessary, develop support plans for performance improvement or initiate progressive discipline.
• Prepare reports and presentations for the AAUP Council, Executive Committee, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure all programmatic and staff activities align with AAUP’s overall mission and strategic goals, including the AFT affiliation and AAUP’s racial equity initiative.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership on academic freedom, job security, and shared governance issues, including part-time, adjunct, contingent, and precarious employment.
• Understanding of the attacks, pressures, and urgent problems currently facing higher education workers nationwide.
• Familiarity with academic freedom and job security clauses in collective bargaining agreements and faculty handbooks.
• Ability to analyze complicated situations, handle multiple projects, and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong writing, communication, research, and analytical skills.
• Experience conducting member education, including developing 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 experience applying these principles in the workplace.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Superior written and oral communication skills and computer 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 comparable representational position.
• Experience with collective bargaining over academic freedom, job security, and related issues.
• Advanced post-graduate degree and experience teaching and/or conducting research at the college/university level.

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

Compensation 

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

Position Classification

This regular full-time Senior Program Officer position is categorized as management/supervisory and is excluded from the staff bargaining unit. 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., office and to multiple in-person work sites on college and university campuses nationwide, sometimes on short notice.

To Apply

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and include the names and contact information of three references; all application material are required. No phone calls or recruiters please. Review of applications will begin immediately. Full consideration of applications will be given to applications submitted by June 28, 2026. If necessary, applications submitted after June 28, 2026 may be considered on a rolling basis until July 13, 2026.

The AAUP is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability, race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, personal appearance, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, homelessness, or other characteristics unrelated to professional performance. (EEO Know Your Rights | Family Medical Leave Act).

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Apply Here

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