Director, Center for Civic Engagement and Learning

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary range available for this position at the time of its posting. The salary range is between $71,041 and $89,867, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data. Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess. POSITION OBJECTIVE The Director provides senior leadership, administrative, and fiscal responsibility for the Center for the Civic Engagement and Learning (CCEL) within the Division of Student Affairs. Center for Civic Engagement and Learning works to create an engaged campus by providing and supporting programs and opportunities for responsible community service and action that promote civic awareness, learning, and leadership development. The director is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of programs, services, and resources that provide, promote, and support learning by students through three primary programmatic areas: engaging in service; building active citizenship skills; and connecting to Cleveland. The director also oversees the Center for Civic Engagement and Learning's non-partisan voter registration and education initiatives, and serves as a university contact for agencies, schools, and other nonprofits that serve as partner sites for department programs. The director oversees department fiscal responsibility including a departmental budget of approximately $350,000 of expenses and revenue. The director serves as a key bridge between university community and external civic and community engagement functions and is responsible for pursuing outside funding for Civic Engagement and Learning programs that involve students in placements in the nonprofit sector or community-focused experiences. This position reports directly to the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and supervises three (3) full-time staff as well as approximately 5 student staff. As a student life professional at Case Western Reserve University, this position will be expected to contribute to building a welcoming community. Fully including people of varied backgrounds and perspectives helps our community thrive by working together, focusing on collective well-being, and helping students cultivate curiosity in their academic endeavors and real-world experiences. Essential Functions Lead and direct the development of programs and services related to civic engagement and learning to directly complement the mission, strategic goals, policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements of the university and the division of student affairs. Lead processes of strategic planning, budgeting, and accounting, workflow enhancement, and long-term improvement. Promote the concept, value, and development of community service, responsible civic engagement, non-partisan voter participation, and community-based experiential learning, and facilitate mutually beneficial collaboration between faculty, students, staff, and community agencies. Promote community-based service-learning opportunities to students directly and through other members of the university and local community. (18%) Recruit, train, develop, and supervise staff (one associate director, one assistant director, one coordinator, and approximately 6 student staff) by managing employee performance evaluations, and where necessary, positive corrective action according to Human Resources and Student Employment guidelines and policies. In consultation with staff, provide on-going individual career enrichment, planning, and holistic growth, especially for early-career staff. Set and maintain a creative and positive work environment which is marked by respect for others and fosters collaborative teamwork. (18%) Lead the department and allied staff in civic engagement programs and services for students and assist others in developing and delivering programs and services. Programs include the Civic Engagement Scholars Program, CCEL Serves, First-Year Student Service Day, CWRUinCLE excursions, Saturdays of Service, and CWRUVotes. Regularly review and determine learning goals for student needs and wants, and coordinate experiences that take into account the unique culture of Case Western Reserve University to achieve them. Ensure programming is responsive to community partner needs. Serve as a consultant and partner to faculty, staff, and others leading courses or programs to achieve student civic engagement goals and non-partisan voter participation. Prioritize team focus in a way that is congruent with missions, strategic goals, resources and capacity. Measure and disseminate information about programs and services outcomes. Design and facilitate educational trainings on civic engagement with an asset-based and social justice perspective. Advise student organizations and individual students to implement responsible civic engagement. (18%) Utilize institutional resources effectively and efficiently in accordance with university guidelines. Manage departmental budget(s) including purchasing, monthly reconciling, quarterly forecasting expenditures and revenues and balancing the budget by the year end close. Manage Center for Civic Engagement and Learning's van program in alignment with university guidelines and risk management. Maintain grant application, reporting, and management records when applicable. Maintain partnerships and compliance with external nonprofit organizations that fund student leadership within civic engagement (e.g. Campus Vote Project Democracy Fellows). When possible, link program objectives to the annual budgeting process. Develop the operating budget and trouble-shoot issues in consultation with the director of finance for the division of student affairs. Manage the endowment and annual award process for the Robin G. Kramer Student Volunteer Award. (12%) Develop strategic goals and assessment plans in response to division and department's missions and strategic goals and divisional learning outcomes. Collaboratively establish processes to identify, collect, analyze and report on student and programmatic outcomes. Collect community partner evaluation of programs with the goal of continuous improvement and reciprocal partnership. Implement assessments in congruence with division-wide assessment procedures and best practices. (11%) Develop a marketing plan that highlights the department's unique purpose and voice, including regular departmental e-newsletter, website, and appropriate social media strategies by evaluating department objectives and resources. Collaborate with the marketing manager when planning and marketing major events and/or public reports. Collaborate with University Marketing and Communications on stories and publications that communicate students' community-based involvement. (10%) Collaborate with other university offices to monitor and improve procedures to remove barriers to academic progress and implement procedures that support student and academic success. Serve as a campus resource for academic service-learning: advise interested faculty with service-learning curriculum development, community partnership identification, as well as instructional strategies for a community-based course component. Advise students pursuing a capstone course with a community-based learning focus. Provide civic engagement experiences that fulfill the "Explore" requirement of the General Education Requirements. (8%) Nonessential Functions Represent the department on various university committees, as assigned by the Vice President or Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. (2%) Serve as an expert to the Case Western Reserve University community on the nature of civic engagement, citizen participation, community building, and student development in these areas, and the issues and challenges that are particular to various levels of community (campus, local, regional, national, and international.) (1%) Interact with professionals from other colleges and universities and associations through participation in local, regional, and national organizations to learn and share national trends. (1%) Perform other duties as assigned. (1%) CONTACTS Department: Continuous contact with department staff for the purpose of supervision, planning and implementation of programs and events. University: Regular contact with administrative staff and departments of Student Activities and Leadership, Greek Life, Student Centers, Graduate Student Life, Residence Life, Multicultural Affairs, Flora Stone Mather Center for Women, LGBT Center, First-Year Experience and Family Programs, Undergraduate Advising Support, Operations of Student Affairs, Local Government and Community Relations, Public Safety, Tinkham Veale University Center, Bon Appetit, Campus Planning and Facilities Management, Events and Programs, University Relations and Development, Alumni Affairs for the purpose of events and programs, student support and advising, and coordinated efforts within the division. Regular contact with the Office of the General Counsel, Public Safety, Office of the President, Compliance, Vehicle Fleet Management, Marketing and Communications, Human Resources for the purpose of safety, compliance, and services. Regular contact with faculty and academic administration and departments and UCITE (University Center for Innovation in Teaching and Education) for the purposes of programs, educational activities, consulting, and promotion of civic engagement. Moderate contact with Human Resources for the purpose of recruitment, hiring, and supervision. Moderate contact with the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs for Student and Family Connections and the executive and leadership levels of the Division of Student Affairs for the purpose of reporting and division-wide coordination and collaboration. External: Frequent contact with community agencies, schools, community support organizations, social services, community development corporations, and other not-for-profit organizations for the purpose of hosting sites for student engagement programs, for collaborating on community needs and assets, and for promoting student learning and engagement. Frequent contact with national organizations such as Ohio Campus Compact, ALL IN Democracy Challenge, National Voter Registration Day, Campus Vote Project for the purpose of participating in initiatives, learning and sharing information, promoting Case Western Reserve University programs, and enhancing resources. Occasional contact with government entities at the neighborhood, city, county, state, and federal levels for the purpose of grants, information, program participation, civic engagement and service-learning resources, and compliance. Students: Continuous contact with student leaders and student participants in programs for the purpose of teaching and learning, advising, organization development, program implementation, and risk management. Moderate contact with student employees and interns for the purpose of supervision. Occasional contact with student interns and researchers for the purpose of teaching and learning, mentoring, consulting and academic and research support. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY Directly supervise an Associate Director, and Coordinator. Indirectly supervise an Assistant Director. Has both direct and indirect supervisory responsibility for student staff. Qualifications Experience: Minimum of 7 years progressively responsible leadership in the areas of student engagement, student activities, community engagement and learning, civic engagement, and/or leadership development. Education: Master's degree in an appropriate discipline required. Required Skills Ability to provide cohesive, visionary, energetic and innovative leadership.Financial management and revenue generation skills.Commitment to and competency in working with varied groups of individuals, including identities related to age, race, ethnicity, gender expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic and educational background and ability. Proven team-building, supervisory and staff development skills.Ability to build formal and informal communication channels. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to listen to others carefully and attentively.Ability to maintain a work welcoming environment that is marked by respect for others.Effective organization, planning and management skills.Ability to collaborate and develop partnerships.Ability to apply independent judgment and decision-making skills within the university policies and procedures.Capability to remain calm and make decisions in emergency situations.Strong knowledge of responsible civic engagement and learning for students and best practices for higher education.Willingness to learn and work with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and technologies.Ability to meet consistent attendance.Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors and customers face to face.Ability to demonstrate successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest. WORKING CONDITIONS General office environment. Travel to off-campus community partner organizations in the Greater Cleveland area. Additional travel may be required. Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information. Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.