CEL Specialist

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Ewing Township (NJ); On-site; USD 57,072 - 91,302; Full time

Job summary

The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inc. seeks a CEL Specialist to manage the Community Engaged Learning (CEL) Courses program and support First-Year CEL activities.

You will collaborate with faculty, staff, and community partners to design, implement, and assess meaningful CEL opportunities, including internships and scholarships. This 10-month, 35-hour weekly role requires independent coordination, strong collaboration, and knowledge of CEL design.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred.
• Experience building and maintaining community partnerships, with Trenton-area partners preferred.
• Experience organizing and managing records and assessments.
• Experience designing and implementing plans and projects.
• Familiarity with community-engaged learning theory and practice.
• Experience with training and public speaking.
• Non-provisional driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Manage the CEL Courses program with support from the CEL Director.
• Collaborate with faculty to create, implement, and assess CEL opportunities including classes, internships, scholarships.
• Assist with CEL course design by connecting faculty to community partners and updating syllabi.
• Coordinate logistics, local travel, CEL funding access, and student workshops.
• Assist evaluation through surveys, class visits, and rubric training to assess CEL assignments.
• Support program goals, processes, and operations; implement improvements as needed.
• Maintain records and files for CEL programs, PAWS designations, databases, and reporting.
• Prepare correspondence communicating expectations and timelines for CEL programming.
• Update waivers, policies, and procedures for compliance in collaboration with General Counsel.
• Advise students, parents, and staff on issues within the CEL program.

Skills

Public speaking

Community partnerships

Records management

Project planning

Training

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Job Title

Professional Service Specialist 3 (PSS3)

Bargaining Unit

AFT

Employment Type

Full-time, 10 month, 35 hours per week

Salary Range

Internal: $57,072.15 – $91,302.36
External: $57,072.15 – $65,629.71

About TCNJ

Founded in 1855, TCNJ offers a highly personalized and collaborative liberal arts education with over 7,400 undergraduates and 700 graduate students. The college is consistently ranked among the top comprehensive colleges in the nation, offering small classes, a 13:1 student‑faculty ratio, and an immersive living‑learning experience. With a 4‑year graduation rate ranked #1 in New Jersey and #9 among U.S. public institutions, TCNJ is a model for public higher education.

About CEL

TCNJ's Center for Community Engagement (CCE) is the primary administrative home to the College's community engagement activities that integrate educational experiences with community service, student development, and civic participation. The Center is the home to two institutes: Community Engaged Learning (CEL) Institute and the Bonner Institute. Grounded in TCNJ's mission to empower its diverse students, staff, and faculty to sustain and enhance their communities, as well as TCNJ's commitment to the public purpose of higher education, the CCE develops lifelong learners who are prepared to lead lives of critically informed community engagement. The CEL Institute oversees and coordinates community‑engaged learning activities. CEL is an educational experience in which students engage in an organized community‑based activity or project that addresses community‑identified needs. CEL experiences are intentionally designed to advance the communities and community members with which they engage, while developing knowledge of and experience with civic responsibility, diverse communities, social issues, and social systems and structures. CEL at TCNJ takes three primary forms: a first‑year community‑engaged learning experience; Introductory and Advanced CEL courses; and internships, and community engaged learning research and special projects.

Position Overview

The CEL Specialist supports the Community Engaged Learning Institute by managing the CEL Courses program with support from the CEL Director and assisting with First‑Year CEL programming in coordination with the CEL Manager. This 10‑month position is primarily responsible for collaborating with faculty, staff, campus partners, and community partners to design, implement, and assess meaningful community‑engaged learning opportunities, including CEL courses, internships, scholarships, and related community‑based learning experiences. This role requires independent program coordination, strong faculty and partner collaboration, knowledge of CEL course design and best practices, and the ability to assess a complex program involving multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• CEL Course Program Management and Support
  • Manage the CEL Courses program with support from the CEL Director.
  • Collaborate with faculty and staff to create, implement, and assess meaningful community‑engaged learning opportunities, including CEL classes, internships, scholarships, and related experiences.
  • Support faculty in CEL course design by connecting faculty to appropriate community partners, ensuring reciprocal relationships, updating syllabi to include appropriate graded assignments and reflection activities, and sharing best practices for project design and implementation.
  • Support implementation through logistics, local travel coordination, access to CEL funding, and additional student workshops.
  • Support assessment through class‑specific surveys, class visits to lead reflection discussions, and CEL rubric training to assess related assignments.
  • Evaluate CEL program goals, processes, and operations, and implement alternative procedures to meet program objectives as necessary.
  • Direct the maintenance of essential records and files, including the CEL class application process, PAWS designations, database and website upkeep, and CEL reporting.
  • Prepare detailed correspondence communicating expectations, requirements, processes, and timelines for CEL programming.
• Policy and Compliance–Collaborate with General Counsel to update waivers, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance with federal and/or state laws and regulations, and manage students' compliance with required forms and behaviors.
• Confidentiality and Support–Maintain integrity and appropriate confidentiality in program operations. Advise and counsel students, parents, and/or staff when emergent problems occur within the CEL program, consulting with the Director to resolve problems or policy concerns as needed.
• Program Evaluation–Develop findings, conclusions, and recommendations for assessment, promotion, and improvement of the CEL program.
• Community Engagement and Partnership Development
  • Develop and maintain community partnerships and support campus‑wide community engagement initiatives.
  • Maintain and develop mutually beneficial relationships with community partners and non‑profit organizations in the Trenton region.
  • Meet with interested partners to learn about their needs and connect them to appropriate CCE programs, faculty, or campus partners.
  • Attend and coordinate staff attendance at community meetings to build new relationships.
• Faculty, Student, and Stakeholder Support
  • Serve as a primary point of contact for CEL Courses‑related questions from faculty, students, community partners, and campus stakeholders.
  • Provide guidance on CEL expectations, course logistics, reflection activities, community partner coordination, student compliance requirements, and program timelines.
  • Coordinate with the CEL Director on complex issues, policy concerns, or matters requiring escalation.

First‑Year CEL Program Support

• Support First‑Year CEL programming as needed in coordination with the CEL Manager, who oversees the First‑Year CEL program. Assistance may include supporting service logistics, helping with service experience coordination, supporting assessment activities, and providing back‑up leadership of direct service experiences, including driving 15‑passenger vehicles when necessary.
• Attend and participate in professional development meetings, trainings, and conferences.

Required Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's degree supplemented by a Master's degree (preferred) in a field related to the position to be filled or equivalency as determined by the appointing authority.
• Experience with the culture of higher education institutions and experience working with faculty.
• Experience building and maintaining community partnerships, with Trenton‑area community partners preferred.
• Experience organizing and managing records and assessments.
• Experience designing and implementing plans and projects.
• Experience with community‑engaged learning theory and practice.
• Experience in training and public speaking.
• Familiarity with civic engagement and social change topics.
• Non‑provisional driver's license.

Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of the position. If the requested accommodation(s) cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, the applicant may not be eligible for the position. Applicants who require a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview should contact [e-mail].

Employer Qualifications

Employment at TCNJ is contingent upon the successful completion of an applicable background check, reference checks, and verification of identity and authorization to work in the United States (Form I‑9).

Employee Benefits

As a member of The College of New Jersey Community, eligible full‑time employees will be able to take advantage of a generous benefits package that includes health, welfare, and retirement benefits, including:

• Comprehensive benefit plans covering medical, dental, and prescription plans
• Generous leave entitlements program and Energy Savings Program
• Employee and dependent tuition waiver and reimbursement program
• Pension, retirement, and deferred compensation plans, group life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee affinity groups
• New Jersey State Employee Discount Program (Pet insurance, cell phone plan discounts, discounted amusement park tickets, etc.)
• Access to extensive learning opportunities

To view a comprehensive list of benefits available to employees, visit our Health Benefits Plans and Programs page to learn more.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should apply online and submit a letter of interest, resume (CV), as well as the names and contact information for three professional references. Applications submitted by the priority deadline of July 27, 2026, will receive primary consideration, with the review process commencing on that date. Applications will be considered until a viable final list has been found.

Equal Opportunity

The College is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive campus community that respects and uplifts individuals from all backgrounds. We value the varied perspectives, experiences, and talents of all members of our community and strive to create an environment where everyone has equitable access to opportunities for success. As an equal opportunity employer, we comply with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. We encourage applications from individuals whose lived experiences and professional interests align with our institutional mission of academic excellence, access, and integrity.