Managing Director | LEO

Job Description

Job Description

Company Description

The University of Notre Dame is more than a workplace! We are a vibrant, mission-driven community where every employee is valued and supported. Rooted in a tradition of excellence and inspired by our Catholic character, Notre Dame is committed to fostering an environment of care that nurtures the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Here, you will find a deep sense of belonging, a culture that prioritizes well-being, and the opportunity to grow your career while being a force for good in the world. Whether contributing to world-class research, shaping the student experience, or supporting the University’s mission in other ways, you will be part of a dedicated team working to make a meaningful impact on campus and beyond. At Notre Dame, your work matters, and so do you!

Job Description

To submit recommendations, or to express interest in this position, please direct inquiries to LEOMD@russellreynolds.com . Applications submitted through this posting will not be reviewed.

The Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) is a mission-driven, premier research organization focused on alleviating domestic poverty through rigorous, evidence-based programs. As a domestic poverty lab housed within the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, LEO pairs top researchers with leaders in the social service sector to conduct impact evaluations that identify effective programs and policies that help people move permanently out of poverty. Partnering with service providers who want to disrupt the anti-poverty space, LEO brings science into service by designing and executing randomized control trials (RCTs) and other evaluation methods, turning promising ideas into demonstrable solutions that can scale.

University of Notre Dame economists, Bill Evans and Jim Sullivan co-founded LEO in 2012 and the lab has already engaged in 110 active or completed research studies, up 300% from six years ago. From replicating effective programs to influencing state and national policy, LEO works in areas related to education, health, housing, criminal justice, and economic mobility.

A few examples of LEO’s work include :

Catholic Charities Fort Worth's Stay the Course. LEO’s research evaluating this successful intervention helped grow a small program serving seventeen people into a robust community-embraced initiative with plans to serve thousands of students. It has spurred a community of practice that has changed federal policy to focus on community college completion efforts, not just access.

The Homelessness Prevention Call Center. LEO’s research documenting the benefits for homelessness prevention helped Catholic Charities Chicago maintain funding for this vital service, leading to a similar study with Santa Clara County’s (California) Destination Home. As a result of this research, the Destination Home model will be expanded to 10 other cities across the nation.

Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s Excel Center. LEO’s research showed that graduating from the Excel Center led to a nearly 40 percent increase in earnings five years after applying. LEO testimony helped launch the program in the state of Arizona and expand it by an additional 1,650 students in Indiana with investment from the state legislature.

Catholic Charities Fort Worth’s Padua. LEO’s research documented the ability for this program to increase employment. LEO is now partnering with a national franchising organization to prepare for expansion and has helped to raise $9 million to launch the program in Chicago and South Bend.

LEO has an annual operating budget of $10 million which is supported by a mix of both endowed and expendable funding. The lab is comprised of a team of 46 members, including 9 faculty, 9 predocs, 4 graduate assistants, and 24 staff members, and is advised by a board and a group of visionaries that include academic experts, business leaders, former government leaders, philanthropists, and anti-poverty practitioners who care deeply about LEO’s mission.

The Role

The Managing Director has the rare opportunity to shape the future of poverty alleviation in the United States by working at the intersection of social service, academia, and public policy. Reporting directly to LEO’s co-founders, the Managing Director has responsibility and accountability for the strategic, programmatic, financial, and management operations of the organization.

Based on the campus of the University of Notre Dame, LEO’s Managing Director will help lead and scale the organization through its second decade of success and growth. Guided by LEO’s strategic plan that runs through 2031, the Managing Director will drive the excellence of a growing research lab, cementing its position as the premiere domestic anti-poverty research lab in the nation.

The Managing Director’s direct reports include the following positions :

• Director of Research
• Senior Associate Director of Policy and Impact
• Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives
• Associate Director of Research Operations
• Associate Director of Administration
• Right at Home Project Director

Specifically, the Managing Director will :

Qualifications

Candidate Profile :

The next Managing Director will be an inspirational and operationally driven leader who will have the respect of academics, policymakers, partners, experts, and leaders in civil society. The Managing Director will possess intellectual depth, practical experience, and demonstrated management capability to ensure the sustained expansion and promotion of LEO’s mission.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced integrator, translating vision into strategy, scalable execution, and measurable outcomes. They will also have a strong background in organizational management, fundraising, a deep respect for data and evidence, and a proven ability to build cross-sector partnerships that deliver real-world impact. Success in this role requires a leader who is goal-oriented, persistent, and strategically agile.

While no candidate will possess all key attributes, the following capacities and qualities will contribute to success in the role :

Management and Organizational Leadership :

A strong candidate will have relevant executive experience in managing people, organizations, and a variety of stakeholders, including staff, a board, the university community, policymakers, and the donor community. An inclusive and transparent leader, the Managing Director will champion internal communication, employee engagement, and shared ownership of LEO’s mission. They will  be solutions-driven, collegial, and pay attention to internal organizational culture and morale as well as LEO’s external reputation. Bringing a demonstrated ability to recruit, motivate, and retain professional staff, the Managing Director will lead, mentor, and coach a high performing senior leadership team, fostering a mission-aligned culture of excellence, collaboration, and impact.

Visionary Leadership :

The Managing Director will be able to define and lead an inspiring vision for the organization that includes implementing the strategic plan through 2031 and planning for the next one. The ideal candidate will be able to confront current challenges and those that will emerge over the next decade. Open to innovative ideas, the Managing Director will be leading during a period of growth and change. Transparency in decision making and collaboration with a broad array of internal and external stakeholders will be essential. An ability to navigate challenges and optimize opportunities along with a willingness to examine past practices and recalibrate, if necessary, is important.

Credibility and Commitment to the Mission :

The candidate will exemplify LEO’s mission and be committed to upholding LEO’s rigorous research and results-based reputation. The next Managing Director will need to be credible across the full range of LEO’s national areas of work and have a well-informed grasp of anti-poverty issues and the importance of causal evidence in addressing these issues.

External Relations and Advancement :

In collaboration with the University of Notre Dame development office, the Managing Director will coordinate fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship efforts, driving relationships into meaningful gifts. Best candidates will be able to work in cooperation with the development office to effectively raise public and private financial resources. Supporting the positioning of LEO as a thought leader in the anti-poverty space, the Managing Director will also serve as a strategic ambassador for LEO, building relationships with policymakers, university leaders, and civil society partners.

Strategic Acumen and Judgement :

The Managing Director must bring a powerful sense of personal and professional integrity and ethics. This individual will possess the ability to make clear and timely decisions. Best candidates will be capable listeners, and confident and selfless leaders with the ability to build consensus and create networks and teams to accomplish objectives.

Professional Experience :

Candidates will have a minimum of ten years of senior executive leadership experience in a complex organization with at least 25-50 employees. They must demonstrate a proven record of accomplishment in strategic planning, team leadership, operations, budgeting, and cross-functional integration.

Additional Information

Application Deadline to Apply :   December 31, 2025

Hiring Pay Range : Commensurate with Experience

Application Instructions : For more information, to submit recommendations, or if you are interested in applying to this position, please direct inquiries to : LEOMD@russellreynolds.com.   Posting Description.

At Notre Dame, we know our impact depends on exceptional people, people like you. We are committed to fostering a vibrant, welcoming community. In keeping with our mission, we encourage applications from all who will help build and strengthen our beloved community. We strive to empower every employee to flourish, knowing your success propels Notre Dame to new heights of impact.