Director, Community Relations & Strategic Initiatives

About the role

The Director, Community Relations and Strategic Initiatives is a strategic leader within the Campus President’s Office, responsible for building and maintaining strong, meaningful partnerships with community stakeholders, strategically aligning community-based initiatives with institutional goals, and advancing the College’s presence and impact within the campus service area as assessed through defined metrics aligned with the College’s strategic plan.

Responsibilities

• Develops and leads a campus-specific community engagement and impact plan aligned with institutional priorities, which includes devising robust models for tracking and analyzing partnership quality and quantity that will inform decision making.
• Cultivates strategic relationships with leaders in business, government, education, and nonprofit sectors as a trusted leader of the college.
• Represents the Campus President in high-level engagements with public officials and executive leaders along with community events and on boards to advance institutional visibility and trust.
• Leads cross-functional initiatives that support the Campus President’s strategic priorities, ensuring alignment with division (e.g., Academic Affairs, Governmental Relations, Workforce, Foundation) and College-wide goals.
• Independently identifies, evaluates, and activates external opportunities (e.g., grants, pilots, community projects) that benefit students and stakeholders aligned with the college’s mission and strategic plan objectives.
• Facilitates partnerships between community entities and relevant campus personnel (e.g., student and faculty engagement in community-based initiatives, creating opportunities for service learning, civic engagement, and local impact).
• Leads campus participation in community coalitions, partnerships, and advisory councils that align with the College’s mission and promote equitable access to education and workforce development.
• Oversees the planning and execution of signature campus engagements, including listening tours, college-hosted community events, and strategic convenings.
• Produces strategic briefings, talking points, presentations, and post-event syntheses on behalf of the Campus President.
• Develops and distributes written communications, including newsletters and recognition correspondence (e.g., thank you, congratulatory notes).
• Actively monitors and reports on emerging trends, opportunities, and community needs impacting the campus and surrounding region.
• Buils and manages a comprehensive stakeholder database, tracking engagements, partnership outcomes, and follow-up actions to ensure strategic continuity and relationship stewardship.
• Advises the Campus President and leadership team on matters of community perception, reputation management, and public affairs strategy.
• Assesses and reports on the effectiveness of community engagement strategies, using key performance indicators, feedback mechanisms, and partner surveys to measure institutional impact.
• Manages and tracks budgets pertaining to strategic community focused initiatives.
• Promotes awareness of campus programming and resources within the community through targeted outreach efforts, collaborations, and communications.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required. Significant related experience may substitute for education.
• Minimum of six years of experience with community relationships in the Northeast Ohio area.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and represent executive leadership in public settings.

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of community relations concepts, practices, and procedures, with the ability to apply them in a community college setting and varying situations.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management abilities, with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to prioritize/handle multiple tasks and work with deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, political acumen, and professional discretion.
• Ability to work collaboratively across divisions and with external partners.
• Proven ability to develop and sustain productive relationships.
• Experience analyzing and responding to community, political, and educational trends.
• Ability to independently set goals and determine the best course of action to achieve desired results.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to confidentially and discreetly handle subject matters requiring privacy and sensitivity.
• Ability to collaborate, persuade, resolve conflicts, and gain cooperation and acceptance of ideas on significant projects.
• Sensitivity to appropriately respond to the needs of students and the community.

Skills

• Communication
• Adaptability
• Quality of Work
• Service Focus
• Time Utilization
• Collaboration
• Continuous Improvement

Benefits

N/A

Pay

$75,000 to $80,000

Schedule

Standard College Hours: M-F, 8:30am-5pm) with some late evening or weekend work possible.