Postdoctoral Associate, Humanities Leadership

Yale University: Whitney Humanities Center

Location

Whitney Humanities Center, Yale University

Open Date

May 07, 2026

Deadline

May 07, 2027 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Description

The Whitney Humanities Center at Yale (WHC) seeks to appoint one Postdoctoral Associate in Humanities Leadership.

Envisioned by Yale President A. Bartlett Giamatti as “a gathering place for overlapping excellences,” the Whitney Humanities Center (WHC) advances the “radically human work of making with the mind” across disciplinary boundaries. Through a wide range of programs, the WHC brings together Yale faculty, students, librarians and archivists, editors and curators, visiting scholars and artists, and the New Haven public to engage deeply with enduring and contemporary human concerns.

We seek an interdisciplinary scholar with a demonstrated interest in humanities leadership and administration. Competitive applicants will have a record of service in higher education and prior experience in program building and innovative humanities work. This is a bridge position, intended as a career-building opportunity for a recent Ph.D. interested in exploring the evolving landscape of the humanities within universities today.

This is a dual-appointment position: 80% of the Associate’s time will be devoted to humanities program-building; 20% will be protected for independent scholarly research. The position is designed for a humanities scholar with strong writing and communications skills who is interested in gaining professional experience and mentorship in academic administration and building interdisciplinary community. We envision giving the associate both granular and big-picture experience in humanities leadership, as the Postdoctoral Associate contributes to the intellectual life of the WHC through participation in and support for public events and other interdisciplinary initiatives.

The Postdoctoral Associate will have an office within the WHC and will report to the Deputy Director.

This position is for a period of one year, with the start date negotiable (but no later than September 1, 2026). It is a full-time, in-person position and is eligible for Yale’s generous benefits package. The Postdoctoral Associate will receive an annual salary of $70,000 and a $3,000 research stipend.

The position will be designed in collaboration with the leadership of the WHC; we aim to tailor this unique opportunity to the skills and career aspirations of the associate. Position-related responsibilities may include:

1. Building community and providing leadership within the humanities postdoctoral network at Yale, including job talk feedback, publishing workshops, and research support
2. Supporting WHC initiatives such as interdisciplinary working groups and faculty publishing support through the Whitney Publishing Project
3. Learning best practices associated with public-facing writing and networking
4. Contributing to WHC programming, events, and public humanities initiatives
5. Other duties as mutually agreed upon

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

Ph.D. in a humanities discipline, conferred no earlier than December 2023, or ABD with dissertation defense anticipated prior to the start of the appointment. Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in humanities leadership and first-hand knowledge of the American higher education landscape.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to write clearly and compellingly across multiple registers and for a range of audiences.
2. Ability to manage a high volume of simultaneous projects, independently set priorities, and meet deadlines without close supervision.
3. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact professionally and collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students.
4. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and demonstrated ability to learn new digital tools and platforms quickly.

Application Instructions

Required application materials

1. Cover letter, including relevant leadership and administrative experience and a very brief summary of research background
2. Résumé or CV (no more than 3 pages; résumé preferred)
3. Brief proposal for a workshop series, initiative, or event for Humanities Ph.D. students (no more than two pages)
4. Contact information for 3 references (we will solicit letters of recommendation for shortlisted candidates only)

Please submit all materials through Interfolio: https://apply.interfolio.com/185526. Application deadline: June 12, 2026. Questions? Contact Deputy Director Diane Berrett Brown, diane.b.brown@yale.edu