Application Guide

How to Apply for Program Manager, Culture Change

at Constructive Dialogue Institute

🏢 About Constructive Dialogue Institute

The Constructive Dialogue Institute is a unique non-profit focused on building communication skills across differences in American higher education. Unlike generic DEI organizations, CDI provides practical programming and strategic guidance specifically to colleges and universities, making it an ideal workplace for those passionate about systemic change in education through dialogue and collaboration.

About This Role

As Program Manager for Culture Change, you'll coordinate complex campus projects using Asana, tailor presentation materials for diverse university contexts, and manage stakeholder engagements. This role is impactful because you'll directly support CDI's mission by ensuring their programs run smoothly and effectively reach students, faculty, and administrators across multiple institutions.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve updating Asana project boards for multiple campus partnerships, designing customized slides for an upcoming faculty workshop, coordinating meetings between CDI staff and university administrators, and documenting project progress to ensure all teams have visibility into ongoing initiatives. You'll balance detailed design work with big-picture project coordination across remote teams.

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🎯 Who Constructive Dialogue Institute Is Looking For

  • Has 3+ years coordinating education or nonprofit programs with experience managing campus stakeholders or academic partnerships
  • Demonstrates exceptional organizational skills through specific examples of managing Asana projects, complex calendars, and documentation systems
  • Shows strong visual design skills in creating presentation materials that are both informative and engaging for academic audiences
  • Is adaptable with technology, comfortable with Google Suite and Asana, and able to quickly learn new platforms used in higher education settings

📝 Tips for Applying to Constructive Dialogue Institute

1

Highlight specific experience with Asana project management in your resume, including how you've used it for visibility and accountability across teams

2

Include examples of tailoring presentation materials for different audiences, especially in educational or nonprofit contexts

3

Demonstrate your understanding of higher education stakeholders by mentioning specific experience with faculty, administrators, or students

4

Show how you've coordinated complex projects with multiple moving parts, particularly those involving schedule management and partner engagement

5

Prepare a portfolio sample showing your slide design skills with attention to visual clarity and contextual adaptation

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with program coordination in education or nonprofit settings, highlighting work with campus stakeholders', "Examples of how you've used Asana or similar tools to maintain project visibility and accountability", 'Your ability to tailor materials for different contexts, particularly in higher education environments', "Why CDI's mission of building dialogue skills across differences resonates with your professional values and experience"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → CDI's specific programs for colleges and universities (look for case studies or program descriptions on their website)
  • → Current higher education challenges related to dialogue and collaboration across differences
  • → The types of institutions CDI works with (community colleges, public universities, private colleges, etc.)
  • → Recent news or publications from CDI to understand their current focus areas and initiatives
Visit Constructive Dialogue Institute's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a complex project you coordinated involving multiple stakeholders and how you kept it organized using Asana or similar tools
2 How would you tailor presentation materials for different types of colleges (community colleges vs. research universities)?
3 Share an example of when you had to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines in a program coordination role
4 What experience do you have working with faculty, staff, or students in higher education settings?
5 How do you ensure attention to detail while managing multiple projects and stakeholder communications?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Generic applications that don't mention Asana, higher education experience, or program coordination specifics
  • Focusing only on DEI experience without connecting it to practical program management skills
  • Failing to demonstrate understanding of CDI's specific focus on dialogue skills (rather than general diversity initiatives)

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Constructive Dialogue Institute!

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