Assistant Director, Community Engagement & Leadership

Brandeis University; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Brandeis University in Waltham, MA is seeking an energetic Assistant Director of Community Engagement & Leadership to design meaningful student experiences, advise leaders, and cultivate community partnerships. You will manage signature service programs and lead initiatives that connect learning to leadership and service.

The role emphasizes social justice, inclusive engagement, and hands-on opportunities for students to turn ideas into action while working with a collaborative Student

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with 3–5 years of relevant professional experience in higher education, student affairs, or related field.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, community engagement, and inclusive student experiences.
• Ability to build authentic relationships with students and translate ideas into action.
• Strong program development, event management, organizational, and communication skills.
• Experience advising, mentoring, or supervising students and/or staff.
• Knowledge of risk management, policies, and compliance; student-centered approach.
• Grant-writing experience is preferred; drivers license and insurance eligibility by university.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop high-impact community engagement initiatives and signature programs such as VolunteerFest and MLK Day of Service.
• Advise student leaders and organizations, develop cocurricular leadership programs.
• Build partnerships with faculty, staff, student orgs, and community partners.
• Manage program budgets, coordinate events, and contribute to planning efforts.
• Supervise professional staff, graduate assistants, undergrad interns; mentor teams.

Skills

Student leadership

Community engagement

Risk management

Budgeting

Program development

Mentoring

Grant writing

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

## Assistant Director, Community Engagement & LeadershipApply: Brandeis - Waltham Campus: Full time: Posted Today: R0013578**Help students turn their values into action. Build leaders. Strengthen communities.** At Brandeis University, we believe education extends far beyond the classroom. We are seeking an energetic, creative, and collaborative **Assistant Director of Community Engagement & Leadership** to help students connect what they learn with how they lead, serve, and make a difference in the world. This is an opportunity for a student affairs professional who is passionate about **student leadership, community engagement, service, and social justice** to design meaningful experiences that inspire students to become thoughtful leaders and engaged citizens. As a key member of the Student Engagement team, you will create programs, advise emerging leaders, cultivate community partnerships, and bring signature service experiences to life, including VolunteerFest, MLK Day of Service, the Commitment to Service Awards, and peer-to-peer mentoring. The hiring range for this position is $63,400 - $75,400. **What You Will Do****Create Experiences That Matter**Lead and develop high-impact community engagement and service initiatives that connect Brandeis students with opportunities to serve, lead, and create positive change. You will have primary responsibility for signature programs including: * Community Engagement Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Program* VolunteerFest* MLK Day of Service* Commitment to Service Awards* Celebration of Service* Service & Leadership Pre-Orientation programming* Alternative Break and other community-engaged experiences **Develop the Next Generation of Student Leaders**Advise student leaders and organizations, develop co-curricular leadership programs, and help students translate their experiences into leadership skills they can carry into their careers, communities, and lives. **Build Bridges Between Campus and Community**Develop strong relationships with faculty, staff, student organizations, and community partners. Serve as a connector who helps students find meaningful ways to contribute while strengthening Brandeis University relationships with the broader community. **Champion Safe, Equitable, and Accessible Engagement**Oversee the policies, processes, and risk-management practices that support student participation in community-engaged experiences. You will ensure that programs are thoughtfully designed, inclusive, accessible, and aligned with University expectations, including volunteer compliance, transportation, liability waivers, and other required documentation. **Turn Ideas Into Action**Manage program budgets, support strategic planning, coordinate events and initiatives, and contribute to divisional and University-wide efforts. You will have the opportunity to bring creativity and innovation to the way Brandeis engages students in leadership and service. **Invest in People**Supervise and mentor professional staff, graduate assistants, undergraduate student employees, and interns, creating an environment where others can learn, grow, and do their best work. **What We Are Looking For**We are seeking someone who brings **energy, curiosity, sound judgment, and a genuine commitment to student development and community engagement.** You may be a great fit if you:* Have a bachelor’s degree and **3–5 years of relevant professional experience** in higher education, student affairs, community engagement, leadership development, service-learning, nonprofit work, or a related field.* Have a demonstrated commitment to **social justice, community engagement, and inclusive student experiences**.* Know how to build authentic relationships with students and help them turn ideas into meaningful action.* Bring strong program development, event management, organizational, and communication skills.* Are comfortable balancing big-picture thinking with the details required to make programs successful.* Have experience advising, mentoring, or supervising students and/or staff.* Can navigate risk management, policies, procedures, and compliance with sound judgment and a student-centered approach.* Thrive in a collaborative environment and enjoy working across departments and with community partners.* Are comfortable managing multiple priorities, budgets, deadlines, and stakeholders.* Bring creativity and a willingness to experiment with new approaches to student engagement.* Have grant-writing experience or an interest in developing that skill. **Grant-writing experience is preferred.*** Hold a valid driver’s license and are eligible to be insured by the University. A **master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, community engagement, or a related field is preferred.** **Why This Role Matters**This is not simply a programming position. It is an opportunity to help students discover **what they care about, how they can contribute, and who they can become as leaders.** Whether you are helping a student find their first service opportunity, advising a student leader through a challenging moment, connecting a student organization with a community partner, or bringing hundreds of students together for a day of service, your work will help make the Brandeis experience more meaningful and advance a University deeply committed to **social justice and positive change.** **Ready to Make an Impact?**If you believe that **leadership is learned through experience, service can change communities, and students thrive when they are given meaningful opportunities to lead**, we would love to hear from you. **Join Brandeis University and help turn student passion into purpose—and purpose into action.** *This position requires some evening and weekend work to support student programs and events.*