Explore Exciting New Career Opportunities at Council of Independent Colleges
Council of Independent Colleges Employer Profile
AcademicJobs.com is the premier job board for academic, faculty, research, and higher education positions worldwide. This dedicated profile showcases Council of Independent Colleges as a leading employer on our platform, highlighting its commitment to excellence in teaching, innovation, and scholarly achievement. Discover the universityβs vibrant community, world-class facilities, and diverse career opportunities designed to attract top talent from around the globe. Whether you are an aspiring academic or an experienced professional, explore what makes Council of Independent Colleges an exceptional place to advance your career.
About Council of Independent Colleges
Council of Independent Colleges is a national membership organization headquartered in Washington, District of Columbia, United States. Founded in 1956, CIC supports more than 700 independent nonprofit colleges and universities, including liberal arts colleges, comprehensive regional institutions, and faith-based campuses. The association does not enroll students or grant degrees, but it shapes academic careers through leadership institutes, research programs, and cross-campus collaboration. Job seekers interested in Higher Ed Jobs can find roles at CIC itself and at its member institutions.
CIC's mission is to advance independent higher education by strengthening institutional leadership, promoting effective practices, and advocating for the sector. Signature initiatives include the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education, the Online Course Sharing Consortium, the Humanities Research for the Public Good program, and institutes for presidents and chief academic officers. The office at 1 Dupont Circle NW places CIC near national policy makers and higher education associations in the Academic Jobs in District of Columbia market. For details on current programs and membership, visit the Council of Independent Colleges Website.
For many academics, Council of Independent Colleges jobs mean positions that support teaching, research, and student success across a nationwide network. Use Rate My Professor to evaluate teaching quality at CIC member campuses, and explore Professor Salaries to understand faculty compensation in the independent college sector.
Faculty Job Opportunities at Council of Independent Colleges
Because CIC is not a degree-granting institution, it does not hire tenure-track assistant professors, lecturers, or research fellows in the traditional faculty model. Instead, it hires academic leaders, program officers, researchers, and policy professionals who support faculty work across more than 700 campuses. Job seekers looking for professor positions Council of Independent Colleges should search openings at CIC member institutions, while those interested in the association's own higher education jobs Council of Independent Colleges can find staff roles on Higher Ed Jobs.
Program Manager, Faculty Development
Designs institutes and workshops for member-campus faculty and academic leaders. Estimated salary: $60,000 - $78,000.
Director of Leadership Initiatives
Oversees presidential and chief academic officer leadership academies. Estimated salary: $95,000 - $125,000.
Research Analyst, Higher Education
Conducts surveys, benchmarking, and policy research on independent higher education. Estimated salary: $58,000 - $74,000.
Communications Specialist, Academic Programs
Creates digital and print content for CIC institutes and grant programs. Estimated salary: $52,000 - $68,000.
Senior Program Officer, Humanities Research
Manages public humanities grants and faculty scholarship initiatives. Estimated salary: $78,000 - $95,000.
Vice President for Academic Programs
Leads cross-institutional academic strategy and member-campus programming. Estimated salary: $140,000 - $170,000.
High-demand roles in the Washington, DC office include positions in member services, research and assessment, communications, and executive leadership. For the best faculty jobs Council of Independent Colleges, review positions at member campuses in high-demand disciplines. Academics with a PhD often bring experience in curriculum development, grant administration, or faculty governance. Because CIC is located in Washington, District of Columbia, candidates compete in a dynamic higher education labor market that includes associations, foundations, and policy organizations. Use Higher Ed Jobs to filter by employer, and search Professor Jobs if you want direct teaching roles at CIC member campuses. Faculty in fields such as history, English, business, and biology at CIC member colleges can also use Lecturer Jobs to compare openings.
Why Work at Council of Independent Colleges
Academic careers at Council of Independent Colleges offer a rare multiplier effect: a single program manager or researcher can influence curricula, faculty development, and student success at hundreds of campuses. CIC has a mission-driven culture that values collaboration, intellectual curiosity, and evidence-based practice. Staff work closely with college presidents, provosts, and faculty leaders, building a national professional network that would take decades to assemble on a single campus.
CIC's location in Washington, DC provides access to federal policy discussions, foundation partners, and peer associations. Employees receive competitive nonprofit salaries for the District of Columbia market, along with professional development funds, flexible hybrid schedules, and the satisfaction of supporting independent higher education. Academics who enjoy teaching but not tenure-track competition may find rewarding careers in CIC's research and program roles. Use Rate My Professor to see how teaching quality is recognized across the sector, and explore Higher Ed Jobs for current openings.
Salary Guide for Faculty at Council of Independent Colleges
Because CIC is an association rather than a teaching institution, there is no faculty pay scale at CIC. This guide provides two salary lenses: staff roles at CIC in Washington, DC and faculty compensation at CIC member institutions. π Salaries are estimated from 2025 nonprofit association salary surveys and AAUP faculty compensation reports; actual pay varies by experience, credentials, department, and institutional budget.
| Role / Rank | Estimated Annual Salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| Program Coordinator, CIC | $45,000 - $58,000 |
| Program Manager, CIC | $60,000 - $78,000 |
| Research Analyst, CIC | $55,000 - $72,000 |
| Senior Program Officer, CIC | $78,000 - $95,000 |
| Director, CIC | $95,000 - $125,000 |
| Vice President, CIC | $130,000 - $170,000 |
| Assistant Professor, CIC member college | $60,000 - $75,000 |
| Associate Professor, CIC member college | $70,000 - $90,000 |
| Full Professor, CIC member college | $90,000 - $120,000+ |
Several factors influence pay at CIC and member colleges. π Washington, DC has a higher cost of living, which supports above-average nonprofit salaries for regional market reasons. Grant-funded project roles may offer salaries at the top of the band but with defined term lengths. Faculty compensation at member campuses reflects discipline, with business, economics, and health sciences often higher than humanities. Among CIC member colleges, the highest paid professors Council of Independent Colleges often earn $120,000 or more at selective private baccalaureate institutions. For academics comparing faculty salaries Council of Independent Colleges, the Professor Salaries page on AcademicJobs.com provides detailed breakdowns. Also visit University Salaries for institution-level comparisons and Adjunct Professor Jobs for part-time teaching roles.
Rate My Professor: Top Educators at Council of Independent Colleges
CIC itself does not have classroom instructors, but its leadership includes former faculty and academic administrators who mentor member-campus teams. The profiles below are illustrative of academic leaders active in CIC's national programs; ratings reflect the kind of student feedback that Rate My Professor captures for teaching faculty at CIC member colleges.
Dr. Marjorie Hass
President, CIC; former Professor of Philosophy
β 4.9
A philosopher and former college president who mentors new presidents and academic leaders.
Dr. Amy Johnson
Senior Director of Faculty Initiatives
β 4.7
Leads faculty development across CIC's NetVUE and humanities programs.
Dr. Marcus Bell
Director of Humanities Research
β 4.8
Supports public humanities grants and faculty scholarship collaborations.
Dr. Elena Cruz
Program Manager, Online Course Sharing
β 4.6
Facilitates cross-campus enrollments and academic technology adoption.
Dr. David Kim
Senior Research Analyst
β 4.5
Specializes in independent college financial sustainability and student success metrics.
Dr. June Okafor
Director of Leadership Programs
β 4.8
Coordinates leadership institutes for chief academic officers and aspiring deans.
Career Progression at Council of Independent Colleges
This career guide Council of Independent Colleges explains how academics can grow within the association and across its member campuses. CIC itself uses a nonprofit ladder: associate, coordinator, program manager, senior officer, director, vice president, and president. PhDs entering at the program manager level can progress to director in five to eight years. For faculty at member institutions, CIC's leadership programs help mid-career faculty transition into dean and provost roles. Higher Ed Career Advice offers guidance for these transitions.
Common milestones at CIC include publishing research, leading cross-campus initiatives, securing grant funding, and presenting at CIC institutes. Staff benefit from exposure to hundreds of presidents and chief academic officers, a distinctive advantage for future executive roles in higher education administration. Search Administration Jobs to compare pathways, or explore Higher Ed Jobs for current openings.
Research and Innovation at Council of Independent Colleges
CIC is a research-informed organization. Its current agenda covers student belonging, vocation and meaningful work, humanities education, online course sharing outcomes, and financial sustainability at small private colleges. The NetVUE program has funded faculty development and undergraduate vocational exploration at hundreds of campuses, while Humanities Research for the Public Good supports collaborative public humanities projects. For researchers, CIC offers roles in survey design, data analysis, and policy reporting. Explore Research Jobs for related openings.
Innovation at CIC includes the Online Course Sharing Consortium, which allows member institutions to share enrollments and expand curricula. This initiative creates opportunities for instructional design, academic technology, and registrar partnerships. CIC also publishes data and convenings that shape national higher education practice. Academics interested in these trends can use The University Rankings to compare member institutions and Higher Ed Jobs to find open roles.
Resources for Council of Independent Colleges Academics
- Professional development: CIC leadership institutes for faculty, department chairs, chief academic officers, and presidents.
- NetVUE: grants and workshops for vocation-focused teaching and advising.
- Humanities Research for the Public Good: funding and training for humanities faculty.
- Online Course Sharing Consortium: curriculum expansion without new faculty lines.
- Benefits at CIC: health, dental, retirement, paid leave, and professional development funds typical of DC nonprofit associations.
- Career tools: Free Resume Template and Free Cover Letter Template for academic candidates.
Student Life and Perspectives at Council of Independent Colleges
CIC does not have a traditional student body, but it supports students at member campuses through programs that improve advising, curriculum, and affordability. Students choosing among CIC member colleges can use Rate My Professor to read professor ratings Council of Independent Colleges, helping to select courses and institutions. For career outcomes, students can explore Scholarships and Higher Ed Jobs.
CIC's location in Washington, DC also gives students access to policy internships and national higher education conversations. Explore Academic Jobs in Washington and Academic Jobs in United States for regional context.
Frequently Asked Questions about Council of Independent Colleges University Jobs & Careers
πWhat are the top jobs at Council of Independent Colleges?
βHow can I find the best professors at Council of Independent Colleges?
πWhat are average salaries for faculty at Council of Independent Colleges?
πWhat's the career path for academics at Council of Independent Colleges?
πWhat salary can professors expect at Council of Independent Colleges compared to other universities?
βHow do I rate my professor at Council of Independent Colleges?
π¬What research trends are at Council of Independent Colleges?
πWhat makes a career at Council of Independent Colleges rewarding?
πDoes Council of Independent Colleges hire remote staff?
πWhere is Council of Independent Colleges located?

Council of Independent Colleges
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