Steve Gunderson, who left his job as head of the Council on Foundations in September, has a new position as head of a Washington trade association. Now he’ll be representing a group quite different from foundations as he takes over a coalition of for-profit colleges.

Mr. Gunderson, a former Republican Congressman from Wisconsin, will face an uphill challenge in his new role. The for-profit colleges are under scrutiny in Washington and elsewhere over questions about how good a job they do preparing students for jobs.

Mr. Gunderson announced in July that he would be resigning from the Council on Foundations, a position he held for six years, saying that he felt he was ready to move on. Jeff Clarke, a veteran grant maker, was named the Council’s interim president.

The Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities announced to its members over the weekend that Mr. Gunderson will replace Harris S. Miller, who resigned in July over criticisms of his leadership style.

While Mr. Gunderson led the council, he worked to expand its influence both globally and on Capitol Hill, but he also faced falling membership and budget cuts that resulted in about a 30-percent cut to the staff.