Community Engagement Director

Community Engagement Director

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Community Engagement Director at its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

The Community Engagement Director (CED) is responsible for Wayne State University's (WSU) community engagement efforts across Detroit and Southeast Michigan, including campus stakeholder relations and local and regional government relations. The role builds and sustains relationships with city, county, and regional officials, and with community leaders, organizations, and stakeholders, in service of the university's institutional priorities and its role as an engaged anchor institution in the region.

Reporting to the Chief of Government Relations and Community Engagement (GRACE), the CED develops and implements an integrated local government relations and community engagement strategy. The role identifies opportunities for collaboration and public investment with local and regional stakeholders, builds and documents community partnerships and programming, and represents the university at civic and community events across the region. The role proactively looks for ways to connect campus activities and stakeholders to opportunities in and around government and community entities.

The CED works with the GRACE team and its goals to keep local, regional, state, and federal-level engagement aligned and strategic, and may support other advocacy activities as needed. The CED collaborates with Alumni Relations to engage alumni in advocacy and community leadership, works with UCAM and academic and administrative units to coordinate engagement activities, and helps establish consistent practices for tracking and evaluating the impact of community and government relations work across campus.

The CED makes specific recommendations on WSU's sponsorship strategy and execution of that strategy, and acts as a key partner and implementer for sponsorship activities. The specific mix of local government relations and community engagement responsibilities may shift as the team grows. The CED should expect the scope of this role to evolve over time.

Minimum Qualifications Education Bachelor's degree. ­ Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, political science, urban planning, communications, or a related field. Master degree is preferred. Experience Specialist (minimum 5 years of job-related experience). ­ Experience (5+ years) in community engagement, local government relations, public policy, or a closely related field. ­ Experience in multiple settings (community organizations, government, higher education) preferred.

­ Management experience including, but not limited to, planning, development and implementation of programs/policies, contract or vendor management, and development and oversight of financial resources and budget planning. ­ Supervision of staff is not required at this time but could be in the future, and management experience is helpful.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities ­Collaborative and solutions-oriented approach with demonstrated ability to work effectively across teams and stakeholder groups in a complex organizational environment. Ability to build and maintain productive relationships while supporting shared institutional goals. ­ Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage professionally with community leaders, government officials, university leadership, faculty, staff, students, and external partners.

­ Strong organizational and coordination skills, including the ability to manage multiple initiatives, follow through on priorities, and support implementation of engagement activities aligned with institutional objectives and GRACE's strategic goals. ­…