Stimson Center President And Ceo Position The Stimson Center is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, independent, and action-oriented research and policy organization committed to enhancing international security and prosperity through pragmatic solutions to the world's most difficult challenges. Stimson's programs work individually and in tandem in the relentless pursuit of a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous world. The international system is undergoing profound change. Intensifying geopolitical competition, the erosion of longstanding norms and institutions, emerging technologies, and increasingly interconnected security challenges are creating new risks while complicating the pathways to cooperation. In this environment, Stimson's ability to work across divides, anticipate emerging challenges, and translate independent analysis into practical policy solutions is increasingly critical. With a global body of work spanning more than 20 programs, Stimson brings together experts across disciplines and regions to tackle complex problems with an emphasis on practical solutions and measurable impact. Its work spans nuclear security and nonproliferation, Indo-Pacific dynamics, regional security, emerging technologies, climate and security, and international governance. Across these areas, Stimson looks beyond conventional approaches to identify emerging risks, challenge assumptions, and develop ideas that can be translated into policy and practical application for measurable impact. For decades, Stimson has served as a critical bridge between policymakers, governments, military leaders, international institutions, civil society, academia, and the private sector. From military-to-military dialogues and international convenings to rigorous research and policy engagement, Stimson creates trusted spaces for candid conversation and constructive problem-solving - often when official relationships are under strain and the need for independent, credible interlocutors is greatest. Stimson's independence is central to its value. Free from the influence or constraints of outside forces, Stimson can interrogate long-held assumptions, bring unexpected voices together, and engage across political and national divides. Its combination of intellectual rigor, agile activity, and trusted relationships allows the organization to operate where few others can. As Stimson looks to its next chapter, the organization is well positioned to build on this history while adapting to a rapidly changing global environment. Its challenge - and opportunity - is to sustain the independence, credibility, and collaborative spirit that have defined Stimson while expanding its reach, impact, and financial sustainability. With a strong foundation of expertise, trusted relationships, and a reputation for fierce nonpartisanship, Stimson is positioned to play an important role in helping decisionmakers at all levels navigate an increasingly complex and consequential world. The next President and CEO will have the opportunity to build on Stimson's distinctive legacy while helping define its next chapter - strengthening its programs and people, expanding its reach and partnerships, and ensuring the organization has the resources and institutional capacity to meet the challenges ahead. The leader will inherit an organization with a clear sense of purpose and a distinctive role to play at a consequential moment for global security. The President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will lead the Stimson Center and hold responsibility for its institutional direction, programmatic impact, financial health, and organizational effectiveness. This is an opportunity to lead an extraordinary community of experts working at the intersection of some of the most consequential issues of our time, including global security, governance, trade, technology, climate change, nuclear security, and more. The CEO will bring together Stimson's breadth of expertise and culture of policy entrepreneurship around a compelling vision for the institution, creating the conditions for its people and programs to thrive while ensuring that Stimson remains a trusted, independent, and influential voice in the global policy community. Specifically, the next CEO of Stimson will: Work with the Board to set and articulate a compelling direction for Stimson's future, building on the organization's history, values, and distinctive strengths while identifying opportunities to deepen its impact in a changing world; Provide intellectual and programmatic leadership across Stimson's diverse portfolio, supporting the independence and excellence of its experts while encouraging connections across programs and ensuring that research and ideas contribute to building practical solutions that promote international security, prosperity, and justice; Lead Stimson's fundraising and resource development efforts, personally cultivating, soliciting, and securing support from philanthropic, institutional, government, and other funding partners while broadening and diversifying the resources available to sustain Stimson's work and independence over the long term; Lead and steward the organization, ensuring that Stimson's operational systems, talent, financial resources, and organizational capabilities and relationships are structured appropriately to deliver on its mission and support its people; Represent and elevate Stimson externally, communicating its mission, ideas, and impact, strengthening its visibility and reputation, and deepening relationships across government, philanthropy, academia, civil society, the private sector, and the broader international policy community; Foster connectivity across the institution, strengthening relationships among programs and operational functions while preserving the intellectual independence, practical approach, and subject-matter expertise that distinguish Stimson; Preserve and build upon Stimson's highly collaborative and collegial culture, ensuring that its experts and staff continue to have the trust, support, and autonomy to do their best work while sustaining an environment characterized by intellectual curiosity, mutual respect, creativity, and shared commitment to the mission; Expand Stimson's reputation as a trusted and innovative global policy institution, ensuring that it remains a place where rigorous analysis, uncommon perspectives, and practical problem-solving come together to address complex global challenges. The next President and CEO of the Stimson Center will be a strategic, intellectually curious, and deeply collaborative leader with the judgment and empathy to guide the organization through an important period of transition. They will ideally come from a policy or international security background and bring the leadership range necessary to engage substantively with Stimson's work, inspire and empower a community of accomplished experts, build the relationships and resources necessary to advance its mission, and lead a complex organization with clarity and care. Above all, they will be a leader known for kindness, optimism, and high emotional intelligence who shares Stimson's commitment to rigorous analysis, pragmatic and nonpartisan problem-solving, and initiatives that lead to meaningful action. In terms of the experience and leadership capabilities required for the position, we would highlight the following: Strategic Leadership and VisionSets and articulates a compelling direction for the organization building on Stimson's distinctive strengths and innovative culture of excellence. Expands Stimson's influence, inspires its work, and increases its contribution to the field. Converts institutional direction into clear choices and priorities that reflect consequential questions of international security and peace, approaching issues on their merits and with a commitment to intellectual independence and nonpartisan analysis. Balances respect for Stimson's history and institutional strengths with the ability to ensure that the organization, its capabilities, and ways of working continue to meet its evolving needs. Builds alignment and momentum around a shared direction while challenging thinking, encouraging new ideas and perspectives from within and across the institution. Cultivates global relationships and partnerships that extend Stimson's reach and enable greater impact. Intellectual Breadth and Curiosity Brings intellectual credibility and genuine curiosity across the range of global policy and security issues at the heart of Stimson's work, with the skill to engage substantively without needing to be the expert in each field. Respects the independence and expertise of Stimson's scholars and practitioners, encouraging intellectual challenge, experimentation, and the development of ideas that can be tested, applied, and translated into practical solutions. Connects ideas and perspectives across disciplines, finding opportunities to bring Stimson's varied expertise together in new and consequential ways. Earns the respect of accomplished researchers and policy experts through curiosity, thoughtful engagement, and appreciation for deep subject-matter expertise. Resource Development and External Leadership Has demonstrated success securing significant financial support from a range of sources, with the ability to cultivate, solicit, and convert relationships into both unrestricted and program-specific funding. Embraces fundraising as an essential part of the CEO role, working alongside the Board, Program Directors, and the broader team to expand Stimson's community of supporters and secure its financial future. Cultivates relationships and partnerships across philanthropy, government, institutional funders, the private sector, and other sources, with particular attention to diversifying Stimson's funding base. Is a compelling and credible public voice for Stimson, communicating its mission, work, and relevance with clarity and engaging effectively across audiences, settings, and platforms. Elevates the voices of subject matter experts within the organization, facilitating introductions where helpful and showcasing the talent of the Stimson team. Organizational and Collaborative Leadership Builds and sustains an outstanding team, creating conditions for experts and staff to exercise ownership while maintaining clear expectations and accountability. Partners effectively with a highly engaged and accomplished Board, drawing
