Managing Director, Discovery and Insight

About TED

TED is committed to discovering and sharing ideas that inspire imagination, embrace potential, and drive impactful change. Our organization values curiosity, logic, wonder, and the quest for knowledge without bias. We welcome individuals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines seeking deeper world understanding and community connection, encouraging engagement with ideas to inspire local action.

About The Audacious Project

The Audacious Project is a collaborative philanthropic platform housed at TED that supports visionary leaders to realize bold solutions to pressing global issues. It identifies ambitious yet feasible ideas and connects philanthropists to fund them. Since 2018, Audacious has catalyzed over $8 billion in funding across more than 70 initiatives addressing sectors including science, climate, technology, health, social safety nets, and justice.

Role Description

The Managing Director, Discovery and Insight, leads the global search for groundbreaking ideas and changemakers, overseeing the full process from sourcing through due diligence to cohort recommendation each year. This role is anchored in a dynamic strategy that evolves with insights about systemic impact and the project's place within that ecosystem, fostering long-term partnerships and guiding a capable team.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and refine the sourcing and curation strategy, focusing on learning, collaboration, and anticipating emerging trends.
• Oversee selection and due diligence to identify and evaluate promising nonprofits, ensuring rigorous assessment of their readiness and fit.
• Build strong, lasting relationships with social sector leaders, funders, and intermediaries to continuously surface high-potential ideas.
• Represent Audacious within the sector to attract ambitious initiatives and foster collaboration.
• Lead and grow a skilled team capable of independently managing sourcing, diligence, and partner relationships, coordinating with key partners such as The Bridgespan Group.

Qualifications

• Experienced strategist with a proven record in fast-paced, entrepreneurial settings, able to decisively lead diverse stakeholders including high-profile donors and internal teams.
• Broad expertise in social-change domains with credibility to engage experts and access to influential networks.
• Proven leadership in team building, change management, and collaborative influence among senior leaders.
• Familiarity with philanthropic funding models and multinational organizational contexts is strongly preferred.

Personal Characteristics

• Mission-driven with high ethical standards and alignment with Audacious’ core values.
• Collaborative, innovative, intellectually curious, adaptable, and confident in leading with influence rather than authority.

Success Metrics

• Continuously evolving, adaptive strategy well-grounded in emerging trends and stakeholder needs.
• Clear investment criteria built on data-driven learning and thorough due diligence.
• A vibrant network of engaged donors and partners sustained through trust and mutual respect.
• Robust, defensible recommendations supported by comprehensive collaboration and analysis.

Additional Information

Applications for this role must be submitted by August 19, 2026, 11:59 pm EST. TED Conferences LLC is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging all qualified applicants to apply without discrimination based on legally protected characteristics.