Director of Community Engagement & Experiential Learning

The University of Texas at Arlington; Arlington (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Benefit eligible

Job summary

The University of Texas at Arlington invites applications for the Director of Community Engagement & Experiential Learning. The role provides strategic leadership to promote civic responsibility, leadership, public service, and hands-on learning that support student success and career readiness.

Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, the director collaborates across campus and with community partners to expand high-impact opportunities, assess programs, and secure

Qualifications

• Master's degree and 5 years in higher education or 11 years combined experience.
• Experience leading university-wide initiatives and collaborative programs.
• Doctoral degree preferred for advancement in campus initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and advance comprehensive community engagement initiatives aligned with university priorities.
• Coordinate civic engagement programs and campus partnerships for leadership and policy engagement.
• Sustain and enhance experiential learning programs with Maverick Advantage and Honors College collaborations.
• Lead and evaluate HIPs expansion across the student experience and report on outcomes.
• Manage budgets, grants, sponsorships, and reporting for civic engagement efforts.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Relationship building

Data analysis

Program assessment

Supervisory experience

Education

Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Public Administration, Education, Nonprofit Management, or related field

Job description

Purpose of Position

The Director of Community Engagement & Experiential Learning provides strategic leadership for initiatives that promote civic responsibility, leadership, public service, and experiential learning. Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President and Dean of Students, the Director develops and maintains innovative programs that advance student success, strengthen community partnerships, and support the University's goal of preparing citizens and scholars to lead and serve. Through collaboration with Academic and Student Affairs departments, community and state partners, and national organizations, the Director leads and expands high-impact learning opportunities that foster student development, prepare them for leadership and service, and encourage career readiness.readiness.

Essential Functions

• Develop, implement, assess, and continuously improve comprehensive community engagement initiatives aligned with institutional strategic priorities.
• Coordinate civic engagement-related programs, including serving as the liaison and sponsor of the University's participation in Campus Compact’s Newman Civic Fellows and Scholars program, and involvement with the Up to Us Network, promoting civic leadership, financial literacy, and public policy engagement through student-led initiatives.
• Sustain and develop, assess, and enhance the University’s experiential learning programs in support of institutional goals, in partnership with academic departments, community organizations, nonprofit agencies, government entities, and industry partners. This work includes guiding Maverick Advantage program initiatives that connect students with transformative learning experiences and co-curricular engagement opportunities. It also involves collaborating with faculty and staff to expand interdisciplinary, community-engaged, and applied learning experiences, with particular emphasis on expanding the partnership with the Honors College’s experiential learning efforts.
• Support the University’s partnership with the Institute for Citizens and Scholars’ College Presidents for Civic Preparedness program, including coordinating current programs and developing new initiatives which meet the Civic Commitments.
• Ensure programs are effectively promoted, documented, and support reporting needs for the program.
• Oversee and provide support for the Follett Student Leadership Center, including its numerous leadership programs such as the Texas Leadership Scholars, Maverick Leadership Trainers, and the Leadership Honors Program.
• Guide community service efforts, including Alternative Breaks, service days, community partnerships, civic learning experiences, voter engagement activities, and recognition programs.
• Oversee and support the Center for Service Learning initiatives to sustain and expand the integration of service learning approaches and activities across the curriculum, foster faculty engagement and student interest, and enhance the partnerships with community partners to provide experiential learning opportunities for students.
• In addition to the High Impact Practices (HIPs) noted previously in the position description, provide leadership for the expansion of further HIPs across the student experience to enhance learning and related educational opportunities that enhance student engagement and retention.
• Establish and maintain a database of student engagement in HIPs.
• Initiate and lead the Public Service Leadership Academy, including curriculum development, student recruitment, programming, and assessment of learning outcomes.
• Develop fiscal resources, including grants and sponsorships to support relevant activities.
• Manage departmental budgets to ensure effective stewardship of funding for civic engagement and experiential learning programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Public Administration, Education, Nonprofit Management, or a related field and five (5) years of experience in higher education, civic engagement, experiential learning, leadership development, or related areas to include supervisory experience and experience leading university-wide initiatives; OR eleven (11) years of an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in a related field with experience in campus initiatives, community-engaged learning, leadership programs, programs encompassing High-Impact practices, program assessment, grant writing, and external funding.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of civic engagement, community partnerships, experiential learning, and student leadership development.
• Ability to develop strategic initiatives that advance student success and institutional priorities.
• Strong collaboration and consensus-building skills with faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
• Ability to analyze data and use assessment results to improve programs and demonstrate outcomes.
• Excellent communication, organizational, project management, and relationship-building skills.

Work Schedule

• Monday through Friday; 8:00am through 5:00pm
• Some evenings and weekends as needed for events and programs.

Benefits Information

Position is benefit eligible: Yes

We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to our employees at the University.

https://www.uta.edu/hr/employee-benefits