Director of the Institute for LGBTQIA+ Community Engagement and Public History (Administrative Officer)

About the role

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students. Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility – moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond – in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020).

The Director serves as the chief administrative and strategic leader of the Institute for LGBTQIA+ Community Engagement and Public History, a university-wide initiative dedicated to advancing LGBTQIA+ scholarship, public history, and community engagement. This role is designed to shape the Institute’s vision, influence institutional and public discourse, and ensure that its scholarly, programmatic, and community-facing work is cohesive, impactful, and sustainable. Reporting to the Chief of Staff and housed at LaGuardia Community College, the Director provides leadership across all areas of the Institute’s operations, serving as a principal thought partner to senior leadership, faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders. The Director leads strategic planning efforts, secures and stewards external funding, and serves as the Institute’s primary spokesperson, cultivating partnerships that strengthen its academic, cultural, and community impact. The Director is expected to build diverse community partnerships, including with organizations across the political and religious spectra. Working collaboratively with campus and university leadership, governance bodies, and community partners, the Director develops and oversees initiatives that align LGBTQIA+ scholarship and public history with CUNY’s broader educational mission and public responsibility. Through strategic leadership, fiscal oversight, and cross-campus coordination, the Director ensures the Institute advances inclusive excellence, elevates underrepresented histories and voices, and serves as a visible and enduring resource for the university and the communities it serves.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the Institute’s strategic plan by translating mission and vision into actionable initiatives, timelines, and performance benchmarks that advance equity, visibility, impact, and sustainability across the college and broader community;
• Establish and regularly assess short- and long-term institutional goals aligned with college-wide priorities, emerging community needs, funding opportunities, and national trends related to equity, inclusion, and LGBTQIA+ advocacy;
• Serve as the Institute’s primary spokesperson and representative, articulating its mission, priorities, and impact to internal stakeholders, external partners, funders, community organizations, media outlets, and regional or national audiences. New York City is home to diverse communities, and the Director must be willing and able to work with individuals and partners with diverse viewpoints;
• Secure external funding and cultivate strategic partnerships by identifying grant opportunities, developing fundraising strategies, and building relationships with foundations, public agencies, donors, and sponsoring organizations that align with the Institute’s mission;
• Set funding and investment priorities to ensure resources are allocated strategically to initiatives, programs, research, and partnerships with the greatest potential for impact, innovation, and sustainability;
• Manage the Institute’s operating budget, including forecasting, monitoring expenditures, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and aligning financial decisions with strategic goals and compliance requirements;
• Review campus-based and partner proposals and allocate awards through transparent, equitable, and mission-aligned processes that support innovative programming, research, and engagement initiatives;
• Ensure compliance with grant, contractual, and reporting requirements, including overseeing documentation, evaluation metrics, deadlines, and submission of reports to funding agencies and institutional leadership;
• Oversee the planning, implementation, and coordination of Institute programs and initiatives, ensuring they are inclusive, impactful, responsive to community needs, and aligned with institutional priorities;
• Coordinate efforts across campuses, departments, and external partners to promote collaboration, avoid duplication, leverage shared resources, and amplify collective impact;
• Build, strengthen, and sustain partnerships with community organizations, including but not limited to LGBTQIA+ organizations, advocacy groups, cultural institutions, and community-based organizations to enhance programming, outreach, research, and advocacy efforts;
• Evaluate program effectiveness and institutional impact by using qualitative and quantitative data, stakeholder feedback, and assessment tools to inform continuous improvement, strategic decision-making, and future investments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree and eight years’ relevant experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant field
• Leadership experience
• Proven fundraising success
• Budget and grants management experience
• Experience within CUNY or large public systems
• Experience with city or state funding programs
• Experience with basic data analysis
• Strong LGBTQIA+ community connections

Pay

$91,878 – $95,506; salary commensurate with education and experience.

Benefits

CUNY’s benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.