Associate Director for Programs and Community Engagement, Howard Thurman Center

Boston University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

Boston University's Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground seeks an Associate Director for Programs and Community Engagement to lead educational programming, dialogue initiatives, leadership development, civic engagement, and community-building on campus. The role reports to the HTC Director and oversees staff, partnerships, and program assessment to advance belonging and pluralism.

The position emphasizes collaboration across BU units, cross-functional teamwork, and a commitment to equity and

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Leadership, Education, Social Sciences, Public Administration, or a related discipline.
• 5-7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education, student affairs, educational programming, civic engagement, or community development.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate collaborative partnerships across complex organizations.
• Strong understanding of identity development theories, leadership education, dialogue facilitation, and community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead programming and educational initiatives aligned with the Center's mission.
• Forge and sustain strategic partnerships with campus units, alumni, and community partners.
• Provide supervision and professional development for staff; foster an inclusive team environment.
• Lead assessment, planning, and continuous improvement of program offerings.
• Manage resources, budgets, and cross-functional collaboration to support program delivery.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Partnerships

Dialogue facilitation

Community engagement

Campus collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Leadership, Education, Social Sciences, Public Administration, or related discipline

5-7 years of relevant experience in higher education or related fields

Job description

Associate Director for Programs and Community Engagement, Howard Thurman Center

Category

Job Location

Tracking Code

26501057210914

Posted Date

9/18/2026

Salary Grade

Grade 48

Expected Hiring Range Minimum

$72,000.00

Expected Hiring Range Maximum

$82,000.00

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, training and internal pay comparison. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Type

Full-Time/Regular

The HTC team, the Associate Director for Programs and Community Engagement will help translate the Center's mission into meaningful educational experiences that strengthen connection, curiosity, dialogue, and community across Boston University.

The Associate Director for Programs and Community Engagement provides leadership and administrative oversight for the Howard Thurman Center's educational programming, dialogue initiatives, leadership development, civic engagement, and community-building efforts. Reporting to the Director, the Associate Director leads the planning, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of the Center's programmatic portfolio while ensuring alignment with the Howard Thurman Center's mission and divisional priorities.

Working collaboratively with the Associate Director for Operations and other HTC staff, this position provides leadership for the Programs and Community Engagement functional area by supervising professional staff, cultivating campus and community partnerships, assessing program effectiveness, and advancing educational initiatives that promote dialogue across difference, pluralism, belonging, leadership, and civic engagement.

Essential Functions:

1. 30% – Program Leadership and Educational Initiatives

• Provide leadership for the Howard Thurman Center's educational programming, dialogue initiatives, leadership development opportunities, civic engagement efforts, and signature events.
• Establish annual program priorities, oversee implementation of the Center's educational portfolio, and develop innovative initiatives that respond to emerging student needs while advancing the Center's mission.

2. 20% – Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships

• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with academic departments, student organizations, Student Affairs departments, alumni, and community partners to strengthen educational opportunities and expand student engagement. Represent the Howard Thurman Center on university committees, working groups, and collaborative initiatives as assigned.

3. 20% – Personnel Leadership and Functional Area Management

• Provide direct supervision, coaching, performance management, and professional development for assigned professional and student staff within the Programs and Community.
• Engagement functional area. Establish work priorities, allocate responsibilities, and foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment that supports departmental goals.

4. 15% – Assessment, Planning, and Continuous Improvement

• Develop and implement assessment strategies to evaluate program effectiveness, student learning outcomes, participation trends, and community impact.
• Utilize assessment data to inform program improvements, establish annual priorities, prepare reports, and recommend enhancements that strengthen the educational effectiveness of the Howard Thurman Center.

5. 10% – Resource Management and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Develop recommendations for annual program budgets, monitor program expenditures, and ensure resources are effectively utilized in support of departmental priorities.
• Collaborate with the Associate Director for Operations, the Assistant Director for Marketing (or other HTC functional leaders, as applicable), and HTC leadership to coordinate operational support, communications, assessment, and resource planning necessary for successful program delivery.

6. 5% – Other Duties as Assigned

Required Skills

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Leadership, Education, Social Sciences, Public Administration, or a related discipline.
• 5-7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education, student affairs, educational programming, civic engagement, or community development.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate collaborative partnerships across complex organizations.
• Strong understanding of identity development theories, leadership education, dialogue facilitation, and community engagement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading at multicultural, intercultural, or identity-based educational centers and or organizations.
• Experience leading assessment initiatives focused on emerging adult learning organizational effectiveness.
• Familiarity with Howard Thurman's writings and philosophy, pluralism, civic engagement, and dialogue.
• Experience presenting at regional or national conferences and contributing to thought leadership within higher education.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.