The Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) is a non-partisan nonprofit founded in 2017 by Jonathan Haidt and Caroline Mehl. It uses behavioral science research to build educational tools that help people communicate and work together across differences. CDI's flagship program, 'Perspectives,' is a research-backed blended learning program that teaches psychological concepts to reduce polarization and improve dialogue. It serves colleges and universities, high schools, workplaces, and civic institutions across the United States. CDI is the only organization in the constructive dialogue field with evidence from randomized controlled trials proving its effectiveness. It is headquartered in New York — not Houston — and operates nationally.
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We seek to strengthen our civic culture by helping people recognize our shared humanity, embrace our differences as strengths, and work together to solve collective challenges.
Join our team.
Our Values
We approach every interaction with empathy, patience, and respect. We are committed to building a team that brings together differing perspectives and experiences, where everyone can contribute fully and feel valued.
We practice intellectual humility by questioning our assumptions and updating our beliefs in the face of compelling information. We seek out diverse perspectives to sharpen our thinking and expand our understanding.
We prioritize the scientific process and follow the evidence where it leads. We ensure our educational tools reflect the latest scientific evidence, and we rigorously evaluate them and refine them accordingly.
Bridging divides is delicate work that requires diligent planning and thorough execution. That is why we have a steadfast commitment to doing what’s right rather than what’s easy in our interactions, processes, and work output.
We constantly seek to improve ourselves, our team, and our educational tools. We embody a growth mindset by embracing mistakes as learning opportunities.
Though we are deliberative, we learn fast and are able to pivot when the evidence points us in a new direction. We recognize the complexity and uncertainty of the world around us, and we adapt accordingly to achieve our mission.
Perks
Flexibility
Employees are able to work from home and enjoy unlimited paid time off.
Benefits
Our benefits include healthcare, wellness resources, 401K, and an annual professional development stipend.
Technology
When you join, you'll receive a new laptop and workstation equipment of your choice.
Current Openings
CDI is looking for a Business Development Representative to help bring constructive dialogue to more campuses, organizations, and communities across the country. The Business Development Representative’s primary responsibility will be to drive growth by identifying, engaging, and qualifying new partnership opportunities—expanding CDI’s reach and impact across higher education and other key sectors.
The ideal candidate brings strong communication and relationship-building skills, along with experience in outbound outreach, lead generation, and pipeline development. They will be responsible for researching and prospecting potential partners, initiating conversations with decision-makers, and nurturing early-stage relationships that translate into meaningful opportunities for CDI’s programs. This role requires a proactive, organized, and mission-aligned individual who is energized by connecting with others and advancing work that fosters constructive dialogue.
This role will report to CDI’s sales leadership. They will work closely with colleagues across CDI to support partnership development, strengthen the organization’s growth strategy, and ensure our offerings reach institutions and communities seeking to build healthier, more constructive conversations.
CDI is seeking a Director of Campus Culture Change to help lead and expand our work with colleges and universities committed to strengthening constructive dialogue, democratic engagement, and campus culture.
The Director of Campus Culture Change’s primary responsibility will be to build and manage strategic partnerships with higher education institutions, supporting campuses as they develop the skills, practices, and institutional conditions necessary for healthier engagement across difference. This role will help advance CDI’s mission by guiding campus leaders through culture change efforts that promote constructive dialogue and strengthen belonging, trust, and civic learning.
The ideal candidate brings experience working within or alongside higher education institutions, along with a strong understanding of campus climate, organizational change, and relationship management. They will be responsible for supporting institutional partnerships, advising campus leaders, and helping colleges and universities implement strategies that foster more constructive engagement and resilient campus communities. This role requires a strategic, collaborative, and mission-aligned leader who is motivated by helping institutions navigate complexity and create meaningful cultural change.
This role will work closely with colleagues across CDI to support partnership development, institutional strategy, and program implementation, ensuring campuses receive thoughtful guidance and sustained support as they advance constructive dialogue and culture change efforts.
CDI is looking for a Director of People Operations to lead and strengthen the systems, processes, and employee experience that support our growing organization. The Director of People Operations’ primary responsibility will be to develop and oversee the people operations function at CDI, ensuring that talent, culture, and organizational systems effectively support the organization’s mission and long-term growth.
The ideal candidate brings deep experience in people operations, human resources, and organizational development, along with a thoughtful and strategic approach to building strong internal systems and culture. They will be responsible for overseeing core HR functions, supporting employee engagement and performance, and developing policies and processes that enable teams to thrive. This role requires a highly organized, collaborative, and mission-aligned leader who is motivated by building healthy, effective organizations that can sustain meaningful impact.
This role will work closely with leadership and colleagues across CDI to support hiring, onboarding, employee development, and organizational operations, ensuring that CDI continues to foster a strong, inclusive, and values-driven workplace.
CDI is seeking a Senior Impact Researcher to lead and expand our evaluation and impact research efforts, helping us understand, measure, and communicate the effectiveness of our programs and initiatives.
The Senior Impact Researcher’s primary responsibility will be to own CDI’s evaluation agenda end-to-end, designing and executing impact and efficacy studies while building the measurement systems and analytical workflows that support rigorous, actionable research. This role will help advance CDI’s mission by generating evidence about how constructive dialogue skills are developed, how educational interventions create meaningful outcomes, and how organizations and institutions can foster healthier engagement across differences. Through rigorous evaluation and thoughtful interpretation of findings, the Senior Impact Researcher will contribute to both CDI’s organizational learning and the broader field of constructive dialogue.
The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in applied social science research and program evaluation, along with strong quantitative research skills and a commitment to public-facing scholarship. They will be responsible for leading all phases of evaluation work, from research design and measurement development through data analysis, interpretation, and reporting. This role requires a researcher who is equally comfortable conducting sophisticated analyses and translating findings into clear, accessible insights for university partners, funders, practitioners, and public audiences.
This role will work closely with CDI’s Research and Evaluation team, including the Senior Director of Research and Evaluation, Research Scientist, Senior Research Associate, and Senior Data Scientist, as well as colleagues across Product, Education, and Growth. Together, they will ensure that research findings inform organizational strategy, strengthen programs and partnerships, and contribute to CDI’s leadership in the fields of evaluation, dialogue education, and bridge-building.
CDI is hiring for a Vice President of Leadership Programs.
CDI is looking for a Vice President of Strategic Communications to establish CDI as the leading national voice on constructive dialogue in higher education and translate that visibility into audience growth, organizational credibility, and mission impact.
The ideal candidate brings deep experience in strategic communications, strong relationships across national and higher education media, and a track record of building organizational reputation in complex, politically sensitive environments. They will lead CDI’s communications strategy, earned media efforts, and narrative framework; build executive visibility through op-eds, media placements, and conference keynotes; provide editorial leadership for CDI’s newsletter, blog, and organic social channels; and partner across Research, Marketing, and Partnerships to connect visibility to organizational impact.
This role will report to CDI’s Chief Growth Officer and work closely with CDI’s Executive Director and leaders across the organization to strengthen CDI’s reputation, expand its influence, and ensure its ideas reach key audiences across higher education and beyond.
An Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, political orientation, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.
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