WCL Associate Director, Weekes Center for Leadership

University of Minnesota; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 69,000 - 74,000; Part time

Job summary

The University of Minnesota, Weekes Center for Leadership invites applications for an Associate Director, a 12-month, 49% staff appointment in the Department of Applied Economics, St. Paul Campus.

This student-centered leadership role drives program design, implementation, and management of innovative experiences for undergraduates. The role focuses on launching Ignite & Inspire mentoring, alongside digital externships and learning modules on talent development, AI literacy, and personal

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with 5+ years in related roles.
• Experience designing and implementing educational or co-curricular programs.
• Excellent organizational, project management, and communications skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in mentoring and student support.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, launch, and ongoing management of Ignite & Inspire mentoring program.
• Design, promote, and facilitate leadership development workshops and modules.
• Develop a digital internship program with campus partners.
• Establish and oversee program evaluation to measure impact and outcomes.
• Provide student engagement and advising support.
• Assist the Director with day-to-day administrative functions and events.

Skills

Organizational skills

Project management

Communication skills

Team collaboration

DEI commitment

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (desired)

Job description

About the Job

TITLE AND LOCATION
Director, Weekes Center for Leadership. 12-month, 49% staffappointment. Located in the Department of Applied Economics, St.Paul Campus, University of Minnesota.

Position Summary

The Weekes Center for Leadership in CFANS seeks a dynamic andcreative professional to serve as the Associate Director. Reportingto the Center Director, the Associate Director is a key hands-onleader responsible for the design, implementation, and managementof the Center's innovative student-facing programs. This positionis charged with building a vibrant portfolio of leadershipexperiences, including workshops, learning certifications, andco-curricular programs designed to equip students with the skillsand confidence to excel.

A primary focus for the Associate Director will be the developmentand launch of the "Ignite & Inspire" peer-to-peer mentoringprogram, a cornerstone initiative designed to support first- andsecond-year students through their transition to college. TheAssociate Director will also work closely with the Director tocreate other high-impact opportunities, such as a digitalexternship program and learning modules on essential talentdevelopment topics like personal finance, self-leadership, and theapplication of artificial intelligence. This role is ideal for astudent-centered professional passionate about leadership educationand talent development.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Development and Management (70%)
  • Lead the ground-up development, launch, and ongoing managementofthe "Ignite & Inspire" peer-to-peer mentoring program. Thisincludes recruiting, selecting, and training junior and seniorstudent mentors; matching them with first- and second-year mentees;and developing a structured curriculum and activity calendar.
  • Design, promote, and facilitiate a variety of leadershipdevelopment workshops, non-credit learning modules, andcertification programs on topics such as personal finance,wellness, AI literacy, and self-leadership.
  • Collaborate with the Director and campus partners to develop anew digital internship program, connecting CFANS students withrelevant remote work experiences.
  • Establish and oversee systematic program evaluation processes tomeasure student impact, satisfaction, and learning outcomes.
• Student Engagement and Advising (20%)
  • Serve as the primary point of contact and resource for studentsparticipating in Center programs.
  • Foster a welcoming and supportive environment within the Center’sphysical space, encouraging student interaction and communitybuilding.
  • Provide direct support and guidance to student mentors,facilitating regular check-ins and ongoing training sessions.
• Administrative Support (10%)
  • Assist the Director with the day-to-day administrative functionsof the Center.
  • Manage program logistics, including event scheduling,communications, and tracking of participation data.
  • Contribute to the creation of marketing and promotional materialsfor the Center’s activities.

Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and a minimum of five yearsof experience in program development, student affairs, leadershipeducation, academic advising, or a related area.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing educationalor co-curricular programs for college students.
• Exceptional organizational, project management, and communicationskills.
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of acollaborative team.
• A strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion inmentoring and student support.

Desired

• Specialized Certification or Master's degree in Higher Education,Student Affairs, Counseling, Career Coaching, Leadership Studies,or a related discipline.
• Direct experience managing a peer-mentoring program.
• Experience creating and delivering training curricula orworkshops for students.
• Familiarity with student development theories and high-impacteducational practices.
• Proficiency with technology and its application in programmanagement and student engagement.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $68,640 - $73,840 ($33,634 - $36,182 at 49%time) ; depending on education/qualifications/experience.

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty,Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and TempCasual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversityand inclusion in enriching the employment experience of itsemployees and in supporting the academic mission. The University iscommitted to attracting and retaining employees with varyingidentities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to andopportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment withoutregard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender,age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteranstatus, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successfulcompletion of a background check. Our presumption is thatprospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminalconvictions do not automatically disqualify finalists fromemployment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among thelargest public research universities in the country, offeringundergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude ofopportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of oneof the nation’s most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities,students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit fromextensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers,international corporations, government agencies, and arts,nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized byForbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employerfor Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and best employer by State(2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence &Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-lifeflexibility.