Claremont McKenna College (CMC) invites applications for the position of Director of the Kravis Leadership Institute (KLI), a tenured appointment at the rank of Full Professor. In exceptional cases, applications from advanced Associate Professors will be considered, with the expectation that the successful candidate will be considered for promotion to Full Professor soon after arriving at CMC. The position will begin July 1, 2027. The successful candidate is expected to hold a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline. Claremont McKenna College's mission is to prepare students for thoughtful and productive lives and responsible leadership in business, government, and the professions.
KLI is an established, interdisciplinary research center dedicated to advancing scholarship on leadership across a broad range of fields while supporting undergraduate leadership development. KLI’s mission is “to be a premier academic center for the promotion and understanding of responsible, innovative leadership and to provide unique opportunities for CMC students to develop as outstanding real-world leaders in the public, private and social sectors.” KLI is one of the most recognized undergraduate leadership centers in the nation and is at the very heart of the CMC educational experience. The resources of KLI include its students, full-time staff, faculty affiliates, alumni and parent network, distinguished Advisory Board, and a dedicated endowment.
The Institute emphasizes methodological diversity and welcomes candidates from a broad range of disciplines whose research contributes to advancing the understanding of leadership, including (but not limited to) economics, political science, psychology, organizational behavior and management, education, law, history, philosophy, ethics, public policy, and international relations. Candidates from other fields with strong leadership research or programmatic potential are encouraged to apply. The Institute particularly values research that connects the study of leadership and organizations to real-world challenges in business, government, and civil society.
The Director will provide intellectual and strategic leadership for the Institute, overseeing KLI’s research initiatives, curricular innovation, and co-curricular leadership programs central to the CMC student experience. Working closely with KLI’s Advisory Board, full-time staff, and faculty affiliates, the Director will shape the Institute’s academic and programmatic vision, steward its resources, strengthen student engagement, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration across the College and beyond. The Director will promote faculty and student research collaborations, mentor students, and oversee signature leadership and experiential opportunities. Additionally, the Director will support externally engaged programming, conferences, and partnerships; assist with fundraising; and represent KLI nationally and internationally. The Director will play a central role in ensuring that KLI continues to provide innovative, high-impact opportunities that prepare students to become effective and responsible leaders across public, private, and social sectors.
The successful applicant will teach three courses related to leadership per academic year. The candidate must have demonstrated the ability to maintain an active, high-quality research program and a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and mentorship.
As part of its commitment to The Open Academy, the College values freedom of expression, viewpoint diversity, and constructive dialogue. Moreover, given the College’s commitment to cultivating an inclusive educational environment, we seek candidates who can demonstrate a commitment to teaching, mentoring, and inspiring students representing a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds, political opinions, genders, races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, and religions.
Anticipated Annual Salary Range:
$180,000 - $300,000 depending on discipline, rank, and experience, as well as a $25,000 Institute Director Stipend
Claremont McKenna College offers employee benefits that include health, dental, and vision plans; flexible spending accounts; health savings accounts; retirement benefits; basic and voluntary life insurance; dependent tuition remission; ride-share incentives; and more.
Applications should include a cover letter addressing their vision for the Kravis Leadership Institute, including potential initiatives or ideas for using the resources of the Institute to promote responsible leadership within the CMC community and, where appropriate, beyond it; curriculum vitae; research statement; teaching statement that addresses the candidate’s ability to teach, mentor, and inspire students representing a broad range of backgrounds; evidence of teaching effectiveness; and a writing sample. Applicants must also upload the names and e-mail addresses of three references as a separate document in the Supplemental Documents field. References will be contacted during advanced stages of application review after confirmation with the candidate. Please upload application materials at: https://webapps.cmc.edu/jobs/faculty/faculty_opening.php
Complete applications will be reviewed beginning September 11, 2026. Review of complete applications will continue until the position is filled. Preliminary interviews will be conducted via Zoom.
Claremont McKenna College is a highly selective undergraduate institution ranked among the top liberal arts colleges nationally. In 2024, CMC was named one of 25 inaugural recipients of the Carnegie Foundation Elective Classification for Leadership for Public Purpose, recognizing CMC’s campus-wide commitment to promoting responsible leadership. CMC is part of The Claremont Colleges, which also includes Pomona College, Harvey Mudd College, Scripps College, Pitzer College, Claremont Graduate University, and Keck Graduate Institute. The Claremont Colleges consortium constitutes an academic community of more than 9,000 students. Claremont is located 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
Claremont McKenna College is an equal opportunity employer. In a continuing effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, the College actively encourages applications from members of historically under-represented groups in higher education.
