The Associate Director for Community Engagement is a student-centered, identity-conscious, and intentional educator who supports a vibrant and inclusive campus community and will work as part of a team to develop and execute initiatives and opportunities for students to engage in civic engagement, volunteerism, and the larger Worcester community. The Associate Director for Community Engagement serves as a critical bridge between the Clark University and Worcester community, implementing comprehensive, intentional, and thoughtful programs that support the development of students as civically engaged and community-centered individuals. This highly collaborative position works across the Division of Student Success, and with the Dean of the College, faculty, and the vice president for government and community affairs.  

Reporting to the Director of Student Engagement & Equity, the Associate Director for Community Engagement coordinates student participation in Worcester events and service days, develops and executes programs related to community and civic engagement, manages the community-based student employment program, supports student onboarding regarding community partnerships and the Worcester community, plans and oversees alternative spring break, and serves as a central member in crafting and determining Clark goals around community engagement through a lens of equity and social justice. The Associate Director for Community Engagement regularly assesses participation and student-learning, crafts reports, utilizes and manages GivePulse, and supports student meaning-making. The Associate Director for Community Engagement ensures that all programming and engagement with the Worcester community occurs collaboratively, centers the needs of the Worcester community, and is a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources. The Student Engagement & Equity team encompasses four areas including Student Leadership and Programming, Community Engagement and Volunteering, Identity, Student Engagement, and Access (ISEA), and E-sports.   

Community Engagement Administration & Supervision

• Coordinate the Community Based Student Employment Program. This includes hiring, collecting timesheets, mediating issues, working with community partners, and monitoring the annual budget.
• Hire and supervise student workers in community engagement.
• Develop, implement, and review annual community engagement and volunteering survey for undergraduate students.
• Work collaboratively to determine Clark goals around embedding a lens of equity and social justice in community engagement and volunteering initiatives.
• Collaborate with other departments on events and programs throughout the year.
• Evaluate/assess programs as needed.
• Utilize, update, and manage GivePulse.
• Support the collaboration of Jeremiah Inn Food Pantry.
• Serve as an active member of the Food Insecurity Taskforce.
• Supervise the Assistant Director for Programming and First Generation Student Support and the Assistant Director for Programming and Belonging.

Co-Curricular Student Programming

• Oversee, plan, and execute the annual Community Engagement fair.
• Coordinate student participation in Worcester events and Worcester's various service days (approximately 5 throughout the year).
• Curate community partners/speakers as a part of the community engagement speaker series.
• Support student onboarding into Worcester including the organization of Worcester/Main South walking tours and development of student engagement opportunities within the Worcester community (ex. WRTA, month events, activities within the community, etc.).
• In collaboration with the Dean of the College, faculty, and the vice president for government and community affairs, implement community-based comprehensive exploratory events and initiatives for all incoming undergraduate students.
• Meet with students interested in Community Engagement on an as-needed basis.
• Oversee students responsible for programming workshops, speakers, etc.
• Serve as advisor to community service student groups.
• Plan and coordinate Student Worcester Spring Break.
• Coordinate civic engagement initiatives for the student body including, but not limited to, voter education, registration, and programming around National Voter Registration Day, Constitution Day, and National Voter Education Week.

Strengthening/Building Community Partnerships

• Lead efforts in partnership with other Clark offices to ensure that community organization partners meet Clark's standards for health and safety for Clark students.
• Communicate and partner with community organizations about utilizing Clark students (as volunteers, work-study, interns and course-related projects).
• Work collaboratively with the Dean of the College, faculty, and the vice president for government and community affairs to coordinate annual community engagement.
• Curate Community Engagement partners & opportunities in Give Pulse and handshake.
• Provide evaluation tools for community partners regarding community-based learning students each semester and volunteers on an annual basis.
• Synthesize feedback from community partners for future planning and areas to address.
• Attend community meetings as needed to network and stay informed of local issues.
• Other duties as assigned.

Serve as a member of the Division of Student Success

• Participate in departmental and divisional meetings, trainings, and activities to support student retention, success, engagement, and belonging.
• Serve as a responsible committee representative as requested on university task forces and committees to support student retention, programming, and persistence.
• Maintain a flexible schedule to accommodate for staffing late night/weekend events as needed.
• Support key initiatives and experiences within the University, such as opening weekend, commencement, family weekend, traditional events, etc. 
• Serve as a responsible committee representative as requested.
• Promote efficiency and courtesy throughout the University community and ensure that it is consistent with the engagement team and student success's mission and values.
• Remain cognizant of the University's mission and identity, the constant promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the importance of student voices.

Required Knowledge Skills, and Abilities:

• A master's degree in education, student affairs, counseling or a related field, is required. 
• Knowledge of equity-centered identity-conscious support programs, and previous experience creating and facilitating programs that center the intersectional needs of students of color and first-generation college students and LGBTQIA+ population.
• Experience in developing and creating community-based partnerships and collaborations.
• Background in retention theories, assessment, and/or higher education access with an applied working knowledge of privilege and anti-oppressive frameworks.
• Knowledge of community-based and experiential learning theories and approaches.
• Experience facilitating conversations around power, privilege, oppression, and identity.
• Ability to communicate effectively across cultures and within a team.
• Adaptability and the ability to proactively solve problems quickly and efficiently, both as a team and autonomously.
• Ability to create and maintain inclusive, supportive programs & accessible resources for underrepresented students.
• Ability to build effective, culturally aware, relationships with students, campus partners, faculty, and the community.
• Comfort with technology including MS Office, EMS Event Management System, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, Anthology, Slate, and social media.

Preferred Requirements:

• Two to four years of relevant experience in student affairs/community engagement and higher education administration, or combination of education and relevant experience.
• Demonstrate success multi-tasking and working effectively in a busy, multifaceted office environment.
• Creativity and resourcefulness in completing tasks and advancing the work student success.
• Willingness to maintain a flexible schedule to accommodate pre-planned evening or weekend programs as needed.
• Demonstrated understanding of, appreciation of, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Experience with supervision of full time professionals.

At Clark University we believe that diversity of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds leads to a more innovative and productive work environment. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to join our team and contribute their unique ideas to help us achieve our goals.

Clark University offers a generous benefit package for full and, if applicable, part-time employees that include; paid time off, generous retirement plan, group health and dental insurance, life insurance, and tuition, along with use of many campus amenities. For a complete list of benefits for eligible employees visit here.

To review the Clark University Police Department Annual Security and Fire Safety Report visit here.

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About Clark University

Founded in 1887, Clark University is a liberal arts-based research university committed toscholarship and inquiry that addresses social and human imperatives on a global basis. It is the place where Robert Goddard invented the modern rocket, where Sigmund Freud delivered his only lectures in the United States, and where current students stake their claim to the Clark motto, “Challenge Convention, Change Our World,” which is the rallying cry that inspires our community every day. Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, Clark University educates its undergraduate and graduate students to be imaginative and contributing citizens of the world, and to advance the frontiers of knowledge and understanding through rigorous scholarship and creative effort. The University’s engages students in such areas as biology, chemistry, economics, geography, psychology, urban education, management, environmental science and policy, Holocaust and genocide studies, and international development and social change. Clark University’s pioneering model of higher education, LEEP (Liberation Education and Effective Practice) compels undergraduate students to thrive in authentic world and workplace settings, and prepares them for lives and careers of consequence.

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