ISA Executive Director Search

The International Studies Association is seeking a new Executive Director and a new headquarters as part of a planned transition in 2015. Representing more than eighty countries, the ISA has approximately 6,000 members worldwide; it is the largest, most respected and widely known scholarly association promoting research and education in international affairs. The Executive Director should be a senior scholar with administrative experience necessary for managing a professional staff and with the ability and negotiating skills to work cooperatively with a wide range of diverse scholarly communities, both inside and outside the United States. The Executive Director is responsible for recruiting and managing staff members, for the day to day operations of the organization, including its geographic regions, academic sections and caucuses, and for planning and managing annual meetings of the association as well as other meetings, including joint meetings with overseas organizations. The Executive Director is also responsible for the ongoing health and well being of the association’s journals in conjunction with the publications committee and the association’s governing council, including oversight of the editors and recruitment of new editors. The executive director is also formally responsible for the budgeting of the association, including approximately $1.7 million in expenditures and $2.2 million in revenues annually, along with an endowment of the association.

Currently headquartered at the University of Arizona, the ISA is organized as a 501 (c) (3) non profit corporation under US tax law. As such it will continue to be headquartered in the United States, ideally at a university in an urban area of sufficient size for the recruitment and support of a professional staff. The home institution is expected to provide office space, extension of the executive director’s salary from nine to twelve months consistent with administrative salaries, two graduate students, and other institutional support for a staff of approximately ten.

Proposals should be sent to execSearch@isanet.org . The search committee includes Ann Tickner (chair), Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Robert Kudrle.

Proposals should be submitted as soon as possible but no later than June 30, 2012, although the committee reserves the right to continue accepting proposals after that date. The term of office is for five years, with the possibility of renewal, subject to the approval of the Governing Council. The Governing Council of the Association is expected to make a final decision on the position no later than its annual meeting in March 2014. The transition process will begin after the 2014 meeting and will continue until the transition is complete in July 2015. The new Executive Director will formally begin his/her five year term on July 30, 2015

The ISA is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.