Executive Director - Center for Democracy & Free Enterprise

At Marymount University, we believe meaningful work happens when talented people come together with shared purpose. We serve not only our students—but one another—creating a culture where teamwork, adaptability, and resilience are part of everyday practice. Located in Arlington, Virginia, just minutes from Washington, D.C., Marymount offers a dynamic and forward-looking environment where innovation is encouraged and flexibility is valued.

About the Role

Marymount University seeks a founding Executive Director to shape and lead the Center for Democracy and Free Enterprise as a national platform for leadership development, entrepreneurial capacity, and expanded participation in capital and ownership systems. This role is for a builder. The Executive Director will translate the University's vision for the center into an operational, financially sustainable, and nationally recognized model that connects talent with enterprise, capital, and opportunities in institutional leadership. The Executive Director will serve as the chief architect, operator, and external ambassador responsible for strategy, partnerships, fundraising, and execution.

About The Center

The Center for Democracy and Free Enterprise forms ethical leaders and renews the nation's founding promise that opportunity, enterprise, and self-government belong to all. Grounded in Marymount's Catholic tradition and its commitment to educating the whole person, the Center treats enterprise and economic participation not as ends in themselves but as pathways to opportunity, service, and human flourishing. The Center prepares students to lead with both competence and conscience: to build and steward enterprises, to widen access to capital and ownership, and to participate in democracy as responsible citizens. It creates direct pipelines from the classroom to the marketplace, equipping students to launch startups and new ventures that make meaningful contributions to society and open avenues of growth for America.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Center Development
  • Design and implement the Center’s multi-year strategy aligned with the University’s mission
  • Build a scalable model integrating leadership development, entrepreneurship, and market access
  • Establish the Center as a national exemplar of applied, nontraditional academic programming
  • Define success metrics tied to leadership outcomes, enterprise creation, and economic participation
• Program Design & Execution
  • Launch integrated programs focused on:
    • Leadership development
    • Entrepreneurial capability
    • Capital and market fluency
    • Ownership pathways
  • Ensure programming is practical, experience-based, and connected to real economic systems
  • Oversee curriculum partnerships, external engagement, and applied learning experiences
• Partnerships & Ecosystem Building
  • Build strategic relationships with:
    • Corporations and industry leaders
    • Investment firms and capital networks
    • Entrepreneurs and founders
    • Policy and institutional leaders
  • Create pipelines connecting students to internships, mentorship, funding, and enterprise opportunities
• Fundraising & Resource Development
  • Lead all fundraising efforts, including:
    • Major gifts and naming opportunities
    • Corporate partnerships
    • Foundation grants
  • Translate the Center’s mission into a compelling investment case for donors
  • Partner with university advancement to secure long-term financial sustainability
• Institutional Leadership & Visibility
  • Position the Center as a national voice on economic participation and enterprise development
  • Represent the Center in public forums, media, and thought leadership platforms
  • Work closely with university leadership to align the Center with Marymount’s broader strategy
• Team Building & Operations
  • Recruit and lead a high-performing team
  • Manage budget, operations, and program outcomes
  • Establish efficient processes and strong governance practices

Requirements

• 10–15+ years of leadership experience in one or more of the following:
  • Entrepreneurship / venture building
  • Finance / investment / capital markets
  • Corporate leadership
  • Public-private partnerships
• Demonstrated experience building organizations, initiatives, or platforms from concept to scale
• Proven fundraising and relationship development success
• Strong understanding of how capital, markets, and institutions function
• Exceptional communication and external-facing leadership skills

Key Success Metrics

• Funds raised and long-term financial sustainability
• Number and strength of strategic relationships with corporations, investors, financial institutions, venture capital firms, angel networks, philanthropic funds, community development finance organizations, or corporate investment groups that provide students and entrepreneurs access to funding, investment expertise, and pathways to business formation and growth
• Student outcomes (placements, ventures launched, leadership trajectories)
• National visibility and influence of the Center
• Scalable program model with replicable impact

Reporting Structure

Reports to: Provost
Works closely with: Advancement, academic leadership, and external advisory board

Pay

The base salary for the position will be $130,000 per year. The size of the performance bonus will be based on the success of the Executive Director’s work, including fundraising, community outreach, strategic partnerships, and overall program performance.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• FSA or HSA
• Employee assistance program
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• Contributions to the University’s 403(b) retirement plan
• Financial planning
• Identity theft protection
• Pet insurance
• Credit union access
• Tuition remission program for professional growth and lifelong learning, also open to covered dependents
• Generous paid time off plan

Schedule

This role is a hybrid position, with the onsite portion being on the main campus.