Executive Director - Center for Democracy & Free Enterprise

Marymount University•Lexington, MA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

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. 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. It is private enterprise, innovation, and entrepreneurship that will increasingly shape the country's future. Marymount intends for its graduates to help build it. In doing so, the center advances Marymount's vision of becoming a leading Catholic university recognized for innovation and student success.

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

Responsibilities

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
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
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
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
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
Recruit and lead a high-performing team
Manage budget, operations, and program outcomes
Establish efficient processes and strong governance practices