Director for Community Engagement

Position Title Director for Community Engagement

The Director for Community Engagement, reporting directly to the Dean of Students for Student Affairs, plays a vital leadership role in fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and engaging student experience. This position provides strategic oversight and support for special populations, New Student Orientation, and Parent and Family Programs, while also being responsible for the President’s Lecture Series. The Director ensures alignment with institutional priorities and student development goals, leveraging assessment and data-informed strategies to guide continuous improvement.

The Director builds collaborative partnerships across campus and with external stakeholders to enhance community engagement, champions equity and inclusion, and advances belonging, leadership, and holistic student success.

• The Director oversees Parent and Family Programs and serves as the staff liaison to the Parent Association, fostering engagement and communication between families and the college;
• Provides strategic leadership for programs that advance special populations;
• The Director coordinates and implements New Student Orientation, fostering engagement and a smooth transition for incoming students;
• Develop and implement short- and long-term goals for community engagement initiatives that align with institutional priorities.
• Works collaborative with Dean of Undergraduate Students on the development, implementation and execution of New Student Orientation;
• Work closely with Alumni Engagement on Student Centered programs;
• Works in conjunction with Government Relations for Spelman on the Hill programming;
• Co-chairs the NSO planning committee in conjunction with the Dean of Undergraduate Studies;
• Prepares or directs the preparation of special and periodic reports.
• Coordinates and/or participates in committees, task forces, and professional associations and conferences.
• This position will be required to work evenings and weekends.

Master’s required in student personnel counseling, higher education administration or a related field and a minimum of five-six years of increasingly responsible experience. Must possess a track record of working successfully with faculty colleagues on academic matters, in addition to partnering with staff, alumnae, and other constituents in support of the College’s strategic priorities. In addition, it is expected that the person possess:

• An understanding of emerging issues in student affairs and higher education with a strong ability to think strategically about the goals of the division and the College;
• A high level of experience and confidence in overseeing the resolution of complex student issues, with the dual goals of helping students learn from their experiences while also promoting risk management to reduce the College’s liability;
• A history of embracing the value and mission of a liberal arts education through academic partnerships, residential life, and student development experiences;
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong, trusting relationships across a wide range of constituencies, including students, faculty, division staff, administrative colleagues, parents, community residents, and alumnae;
• Demonstrated success in fostering an inclusive environment;
• A commitment to shared governance and sensitivity, fairness, compassion, empathy, objectivity, and transparency in decision-making;
• A demonstrated ability to build and manage budgets and using financial resources wisely;
• Proven crisis management capabilities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; the ability to address matters with diplomacy and tact and outstanding…