Associate Director for Civic Engagement

Position Summary

The Associate Director for Civic Engagement is responsible for leading the Gephardt Institute’s civic engagement vision, strategy, and impact at Washington University in St. Louis, with keen focus on advancing the institute’s goals to educate all students for lifelong engaged citizenship and infuse civic engagement throughout the Washington University student experience.

This position serves as lead educator on the theory and practice of civic engagement among undergraduate and graduate/professional students, through leadership of the Civic Scholars Program and the Engage Democracy Initiative; development and oversight of curriculum and engagement strategies (both academic and co-curricular); and as an instructor, facilitator, and trainer. The Associate Director applies the institute’s theory of change, data-informed strategies, and leading practices in civic engagement and higher education with attention to student learning, community impact, and institutional impact.

This position requires a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and access. This position also requires a strong commitment to non-partisanship and to engagement of all Washington University students regardless of their political positions.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Leads the Civic Scholars Program, which is a highly selective cohort-based civic leadership program and a signature initiative of the Gephardt Institute.  Civic Scholars engage in four semesters of coursework on civic engagement and civic leadership.  Each scholar is awarded a $5,000 stipend to fund a Civic Summer project or internship. Program components include coursework, retreats, multi-day immersion trips, special events, project development and implementation, mentoring, and advising.  The program supports 36 scholars (18 juniors and 18 seniors) - 45%. 

• Serves as instructional lead for the program. Teaches two to four sections of the Civic Scholars courses each semester and continually update syllabi to respond to the evolving civic landscape.  Invests in individual and cohort development through community building, dialogue facilitation, and mentoring.  Supervise a full-time coordinator; adjunct instructors at the faculty, staff, or community partner level; and Civic Scholar alumni coaches.  
• Oversees all aspects of the program, with programmatic and administrative support from the full-time coordinator. This entails marketing of the program; leading the application recruitment and review process; selecting the cohort; developing courses; and designing and implementing immersion trips and special events. 
• Cultivates the alumni network with guidance and partnership of program alumni and the Director of Advancement. This includes reunion events, online communications, fostering student-alumni connections, and developing new initiatives to foster connections and engagement among program alumni and current students.
• Leads continuous quality improvement through program evaluation and attention to leading practices in civic engagement education.
• Supports fundraising and donor stewardship efforts in collaboration with the Director of Advancement, including proposal writing, donor and prospective donor engage ment, reporting, and development of external communication pieces (video, website, external collateral, etc.).

Leads the Engage Democracy Initiative, a university-wide effort to equip all undergraduate and graduate students with the knowledge, skills, and commitment to actively participate in the process of democracy through political participation, public problem-solving, and civic dialogue.  The initiative includes robust voter engagement in all election cycles, civic education (academic and co-curricular), and civic skills development - 40%. 

• Oversees the vision, strategy, planning, implementation, and evaluation of all Engage Democracy programs and resources.  Convenes students, faculty, staff, and community partners to catalyze far-reaching, impactful, coordinated, and equity-minded programs, curricula, and communications.  Initiates and sustains collaborations with academic and non-academic departments, regional and national organizations, and local boards of election to implement a cohesive year-round strategy.  This position is responsible for compliance with laws, procedures, and university policies associated with voter registration and voting, including but not limited to the university on-campus polling place. 
• Leads the planning and implementation of strategies for serving as a regional and national leader in student voter engagement and civic education. This includes development of new initiatives to foster civic education and civic engagement; writing proposals and reports to national organizations; presenting at national conferences; and serving as a lead convener for the regional bi-state Campus and Community Voter Engagement Summit.
• Supervises a full-time Voter Engagement Coordinator, adjunct instructors, graduate fellows, and undergraduate interns.
• Leads continuous quality improvement through program evaluation, data-informed practice, and fundraising.
• Supports fundraising and donor stewardship efforts in collaboration with the Director of Advancement, including proposal writing, donor and prospective donor engagement, reporting, and development of external communication pieces (video, website, external collateral, etc.).

Serves on the Gephardt Institute’s senior leadership team to strategize across all institute functions - 15%.  

• Collaborates with the Associate Director for Community Engagement, Associate Director for Faculty and Academic Engagement, and Associate Director / Chief of Staff to develop and implement integrated student engagement curricula and strategies.  This includes strong attention to engaging and educating students with marginalized identities, students from low-income backgrounds, and students underrepresented in Gephardt Institute programs.  Collaboratively develop and coordinate a Student Advisory Council with the Associate Director and Chief of Staff.
• Cultivates and sustains key relationships and partnerships with university units including Student Affairs; academic departments; interdisciplinary centers and institutes; Academy for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Campus Y; Government & Community Relations; General Counsel; University Advancement; and University Marketing and Communications.
• Represents the institute at external and internal meetings, committees, special events, and other functions as assigned by the Director. 
• Contributes to initiatives, meetings, and events of the Gephardt Institute, including donor cultivation and stewardship, developing strategy and vision for initiatives, planning processes, grant/proposal applications, and special events.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Special Instructions

Please attach a cover letter with your application.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Public Policy, Public Administration, Urban Studies/Planning, Non-Profit Management, Education, or a related field.
• Previous experience that includes both civic/community engagement work and work in an educational setting or as an educator, with progressive management and leadership responsibility.
• Twelve or more years of full-time professional experience that includes both civic/community engagement work and work with undergraduate and graduate students, with progressive management and leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a non-partisan environment. Commitment to maintaining a non-partisan and inclusive approach to all educational, programming, outreach, and communication strategies.
• Substantive knowledge and passion for civic engagement, community engagement, civic learning, community development, community partnerships, social change, and/or related areas.
• Substantive experience with multiple forms of civic engagement, such as community development, non-profit leadership, public service, social services, immersive experiences, community organizing, advocacy, international service, political engagement, K-12 education, philanthropy, etc.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with curriculum development, partnership development, proposal writing, program design and implementation, and evaluation, with special emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. 
• Teaching, training, and/or intergroup dialogue facilitation experience with adolescents, college students, and/or young adults.
• Substantive experience supervising professional staff, managing others, and/or leading teams.
• Advanced communication skills, including written communications, public speaking, and instruction.
• Professional experience in a college/university office or an organization serving youth or young adults with a focus on civic engagement, community engagement, community outreach, and/or experiential education.
• Prior experience with voter engagement, political engagement, and/or civic education, preferably with adolescents or young adults.
• Exceptional curriculum development, program design, teaching, training, listening, group facilitation, and conflict mediation skills. Ability to facilitate deep learning and dialogue within a highly diverse, intellectual, and passionate student body.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills with strong attention to both detail and nuance.
• Strong supervision and relationship management skills, with capacity to lead or guide others; function collaboratively in a team-based environment; dialogue across difference; and handle challenging internal and external dilemmas or support others through them.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, project management, and event planning skills. Strong time management, attention to detail, ability to manage multiple priorities, and ability to forecast and plan work across teams, while maintaining a landscape view of priorities, values, and vision.
• Demonstrated sensitivity, knowledge, and skills for working with issues of power, privilege, identity, racial equity, and cultural humility; and for equipping students, faculty, and staff for responsible engagement with marginalized communities and complex civic issues.
• Commitment to the Gephardt Institute’s values of Inquiry, Empathy, Collaboration, Integrity, Equity, and Action.
• Energy, vision, initiative, creativity, empathy, humility, tolerance for ambiguity, ability to embrace and navigate change, sound judgment, diplomacy, tact, and sense of humor.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to collaborate and build relationships with a racially, culturally, and socioeconomically diverse and broad range of stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, community partners, donors, prospective donors, and executive-level administrators and external advisors.
• Enthusiasm and ability to work in and provide leadership for a dynamic environment with multiple functions, audiences, and priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead from a middle management position.
• Ability and willingness to work frequent evening and weekend hours in service to students, civic and community partners, and to the institute’s mission.
• Ability to travel to off-site locations for meetings, events, immersion trips, and other civic engagement efforts.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related field and five years of professional experience or a master’s degree in related field and three years of professional experience.