Director of Unitas and Community Enrichment, Villanova University

Bryn Mawr College; Bryn Mawr (PA); On-site; GBP 83,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Villanova University seeks a Director of Unitas and Community Enrichment for the Charles Widger School of Law. The role drives inclusion, equity, and community engagement across the Law School, reporting to the Vice Dean and coordinating with the Unitas Committee and university partners.

You will lead strategic initiatives, develop educational programs, and engage students, faculty, and staff to advance Unitas values within the school's culture, operations, and teaching mission.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in higher education, preferably in legal education; or 5 years of experience with developing Unitas-related programs within an organization.
• Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively and independently.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strong interpersonal relationships with students;
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strong interpersonal relationships with faculty, staff, legal professionals, and the public.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking, listening, and empathy skills.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Strong analytical skills; Strategic planning, assessment, and reporting ability.
• Sound judgement, creativity, and attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple initiatives and priorities.
• Understanding of the challenges faced by first-generation law students and other underrepresented groups in law school.
• Working knowledge of essential office technology applications, including MS Office Suite, calendar programs, email, and voicemail.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan aimed at fostering inclusivity, belonging, and community engagement within the Law School.
• Support the recruitment, retention, and success of students, faculty, and staff from all backgrounds, with particular attention to individuals from historically underrepresented groups.
• Promote an inclusive academic and work environment that values diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences while encouraging respectful dialogue and intellectual rigor.
• Design and deliver trainings for students, faculty, and staff that advance cultural competence, mutual respect, and awareness of equity-related issues within legal education and the profession.
• Develop and oversee academic programming, workshops, and speaker series that reinforce the Law School’s commitment to generosity, respect, and equitable treatment regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, or socio-economic background.
• Lead and coordinate Unitas-related educational initiatives and community-strengthening programs that enhance engagement, dialogue, and shared values across the Law School community.
• Represent the Charles Widger School of Law at external events, conferences, and initiatives that promote Unitas values and inclusive excellence within the legal profession.
• Participate in ongoing professional development opportunities, including webinars, seminars, and conferences.
• Establish and maintain memberships in professional organizations dedicated to community engagement, inclusion, and organizational best practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned, including service on Law School or University committees.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Program development

Stakeholder engagement

Public speaking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

JD degree or relevant master's

5+ years in higher education leadership

Tools

MS Office Suite

Calendar software

Job description

The Director of Unitas and Community Enrichment is responsible for strengthening and advancing the Charles Widger School of Law's institutional commitment to fostering an inclusive, values-driven academic community. Serving as a strategic leader and campus partner, the Director will guide, implement, and assess initiatives that promote belonging, equity, mutual respect, and community engagement across the Law School.

The Director works collaboratively with senior leadership, including the Vice Dean; the faculty and staff Unitas Committee; students; and University partners to establish and execute a strategic vision that embeds Unitas values into all aspects of the Law School's culture, operations, and educational mission. The Director actively engages with students, faculty, staff, and administrators and provides regular reports to the Vice Dean regarding the progress, effectiveness, and impact of Unitas initiatives.

The Director is charged with cultivating a law school community that is enlightened, compassionate, culturally competent, professionally skilled, and socially responsible.

Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University's mission and values.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Program Development

• In partnership with the Vice Dean and the Unitas Committee, develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan aimed at fostering inclusivity, belonging, and community engagement within the Law School.
• Support the recruitment, retention, and success of students, faculty, and staff from all backgrounds, with particular attention to individuals from historically underrepresented groups.
• Promote an inclusive academic and work environment that values diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences while encouraging respectful dialogue and intellectual rigor.

Training, Education, and Programming

• Design and deliver trainings for students, faculty, and staff that advance cultural competence, mutual respect, and awareness of equity-related issues within legal education and the profession.
• Develop and oversee academic programming, workshops, and speaker series that reinforce the Law School’s commitment to generosity, respect, and equitable treatment regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, or socio-economic background.
• Lead and coordinate Unitas-related educational initiatives and community-strengthening programs that enhance engagement, dialogue, and shared values across the Law School community.

Student and Community Engagement

• Serve as a strategic advisor and partner to student affinity and identity-based organizations, supporting leadership development, program planning, and organizational sustainability.
• Provide ongoing coaching, guidance, and institutional support to student leaders to ensure effective programming and alignment with Unitas values.
• Act as a central liaison on matters related to community climate, facilitating communication and collaboration among students, faculty, staff, student organizations, and Law School leadership.

Collaboration and Institutional Partnerships

• Partner with the Office of Career Strategy and Advancement to develop and support Unitas-related employment initiatives and to improve equitable career outcomes for students.
• Collaborate with the Admissions team to strengthen outreach, application rates, and yield across diverse populations.
• Work with the Alumni and Development Office to identify and secure philanthropic support for Unitas initiatives and programming.
• Assist in developing and maintaining Unitas-related content for the Law School website, publications, and official communications.
• Coordinate with the University Vice President for Unitas and Community Enrichment to align Law School initiatives with broader University goals and programs.

Other Functions

• Represent the Charles Widger School of Law at external events, conferences, and initiatives that promote Unitas values and inclusive excellence within the legal profession.
• Participate in ongoing professional development opportunities, including webinars, seminars, and conferences.
• Establish and maintain memberships in professional organizations dedicated to community engagement, inclusion, and organizational best practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned, including service on Law School or University committees.

Minimum Qualifications:

Formal Education

• 5 years of experience in higher education, preferably in legal education; or 5 years of experience with developing Unitas-related programs within an organization;
• Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively and independently;
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strong interpersonal relationships with students;
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strong interpersonal relationships with faculty, staff, legal professionals, and the public;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking, listening, and empathy skills;
• Excellent organizational and project management skills;
• Strong analytical skills; Strategic planning, assessment, and reporting ability;
• Sound judgement, creativity, and attention to detail;
• Ability to effectively manage multiple initiatives and priorities;
• Understanding of the challenges faced by first-generation law students and other underrepresented groups in law school;
• Working knowledge of essential office technology applications, including MS Office Suite, calendar programs, email, and voicemail.

Preferred Qualifications:

• JD degree from an ABA accredited law school, with a high level of academic success; or Master’s degree in the social sciences, human resource management, or a related field.
• Experience in legal recruitment and hiring, university admissions, or counseling.

Salary Posting Information: This position falls within salaried grade 17 and the range is $110,000-125,000. The final salary will be determined with consideration of several factors including the selected candidate’s qualifications, department budget availability, market data, and internal equity.