Career Center

Suffolk University is seeking a dynamic and visionary Director to lead the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) to drive its transformation through experiential learning pedagogy. The Director of the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) is the lead staff member at Suffolk University to oversee a continuum of opportunities for Suffolk students, faculty, and staff to be involved in community service and service-learning experiences.

Description:

• The Director is responsible for the design, implementation, assessment, and day-to-day management of all programs. The Director is someone who is able to further the CCE and University's diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Supervising professional staff
• Identifying opportunities for innovation and development of service-learning and civic engagement initiatives
• Providing strategic direction related to community engagement programs such as alternative breaks, service learning, volunteer programs and other initiatives.
• Providing leadership and support to increase domestic and international travel programs
• Overseeing the Suffolk Votes program and civic engagement initiatives
• Supervising professional staff
• The new Director will have a unique and exciting opportunity to reimagine how the CCE provides transformational experiential learning opportunities and partnerships.
• The Director will have experience in creative in service-learning and community engagement development; strategic in the creation of alternative spring break and student leadership opportunities; and innovative in civic engagement programming.

Program Administration & Strategic Planning

• Provide strategic leadership to the Center for Community Engagement team and oversee professional staff, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment to achieve the center's goals effectively. Recruit, train and supervise professional staff and a large student staff, including student payroll.
• Provide leadership to the Center for Community Engagement including direction for all initiatives and staff. Set the direction for community engagement programs using alternative breaks, service learning, volunteer opportunities and other initiatives. Identify funding opportunities for community service and service-learning programs and write grant proposals. This includes overseeing all volunteer tracking.
• Prepare annual budget and provide fiscal administration for the CCE program.
• Oversee risk management of all community service and service-learning activities.
• Represent the CCE on various university-wide committees and other duties as assigned appropriate to the scope and success of the position.
• Promote and prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion within all aspects of the CCE's initiatives, ensuring an equitable and inclusive experience for all students and community partners.
• Create leadership development programs that empower students to take on significant roles within the CCE and beyond. Foster a culture of mentorship and personal growth.
• Provide leadership and support to increase the service-learning infrastructure at Suffolk, including (co-)chairing the university-wide Carnegie Classification committee.
• Provide support to faculty and staff across campus to achieve service-learning strategic planning goals. This includes increasing the number of designated service-learning courses
• Works closely with faculty and faculty committees to support service learning initiatives like University Service-Learning Committee (USLC), Faculty and Professional Learning Communities (FPLCs), Experiential Learning Committee, and others as assigned.
• Administer and oversee Service-Learning Mini-Grant Program. Including working with faculty fellows to raise awareness, train and enhance service learning among all academic colleges and the university community.
• Encourage and support student involvement in civic activities, encouraging them to be active participants in shaping their communities and becoming responsible citizens.
• Provide leadership and support to increase the civic engagement infrastructure at Suffolk, including (co-)chairing the university-wide Suffolk Votes Committee.
• Oversee the Suffolk Votes program, encouraging student involvement in civic activities, voter registration, and community participation.
• Responsible for co-writing Suffolk University's Civic Action Plan to the All-In Campus Democracy Challenge, ensuring that NSLVE reports are posted publicly and used for planning voter engagement initiatives, and for building voter engagement programming on a yearly basis with others across campus.
• Represent Suffolk University interests at local, state and national meetings of service and funding organizations such as Campus Compact, Students Learn Students Vote Coalition, Boston Votes coalition, and others.
• Works closely with faculty and faculty committees to support civic engagement initiatives like Faculty and Professional Learning Communities (FPLCs), Experiential Learning Committee, and others as assigned.

Experiential Learning & Leadership Opportunities

• Create, identify, and promote innovative service-learning and civic engagement opportunities that integrate experiential learning pedagogy, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world issues.
• Drive the adoption of experiential learning strategies within the CCE's programs and initiatives. Through hands-on, real-world experiences, students will gain valuable skills and insights while making a positive impact on local and global communities.
• Domestic and International Travel: Provide leadership and support to increase domestic and international travel programs, allowing students to engage with diverse cultures and gain global perspectives.
• Create leadership development programs that empower students to take on significant roles within the CCE and beyond. Foster a culture of mentorship and personal growth.

Community Partnership Support

• Provide support and guidance to on-site manager of Jumpstart.
• Create fund development opportunities to support the programs and partnerships of the CCE. Develop relationships with local organizations and foundations to assist and develop funding opportunities for the CCE and the community-based organizations, as needed.
• Responsible for providing expert supervision, and oversight to cultivate strong relationships with community partners. Primary goal will be to identify and develop service opportunities that empower students to enhance their career competencies and leadership skills. By offering diverse opportunities, the Director play's a crucial role in shaping student growth preparing them for future success. Dedication and creativity will be instrumental in fostering a thriving learning environment, opportunity for students that fosters personal professional development.
• Foster a relationship with advancement and alumni teams to engage alumni and solicit donations to support CCE's mission.

Requirements:

• Master's degree in student personnel, counseling, higher education administration or related field is required or a minimum of 5 years in the related field as Director.
• Proven leadership and management skills working with diverse cultures, backgrounds and identities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to deal effectively with students and staff from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience designing and delivering highly impactful social justice and diversity trainings and workshops is preferred.
• Experience supervising professional staff.
• Excellent oral and written skills, as well as listening and advocacy skills.
• Ability to work with and refer individuals in a crisis.
• Understanding of philosophy, role, and purpose of a service-learning program.
• Demonstrated ability to articulate a student development philosophy within higher education.
• Demonstrated leadership, organization, management, and platform skills; including an ability to oversee a wide variety of activities.
• Demonstrated experience in program development, implementation, and assessment.
• Experience and proficiency in the use of technology to include PC use, desktop publishing, Microsoft Office suite, and internet use.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends, on-line, scheduled or on-call during travel programming