Job description
Whittier, CA
Whittier College is an independent, four-year Liberal Arts College distinguished by its small size (1600 undergraduates) and a nationally recognized liberal arts program.Whittier College has a history of strong and innovative interdisciplinary programs and a diverse student body.The College is ideally situated in the scenic hills eighteen miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
Director of Community and Experiential Education
The Office of Academic Affairs at Whittier College is seeking a Director of Community and Experiential Education. Continuing a proud tradition of community engagement—a hallmark of a Whittier College education dating back to 1915—the Office of Experiential Education (OEE) promotes course-based, community-engaged learning in addition to faculty-student research, internship opportunities, and volunteer opportunities that address compelling community needs and integrate with the academic experience. . We seek a director to advance OEE’s mission by 1) developing mutually beneficial partnerships between Whittier College and its Southern California community to increase opportunities for experiential learning, 2) supporting faculty to integrate experiential education across the curriculum, and 3) collaborating with the Career and Professional Development Center to ensure students have relevant experiential opportunities as they explore career paths.
Whittier College has been designated an “engaged campus” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and has been namedby the Corporation for National and Community Service to the “President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction.”
The Director will oversee all aspects of OEE including short-term and strategic planning, daily operations and personnel, financial management, and external stakeholder stewardship. The Director will coordinate with the Development office on fundraising and donor stewardship. The Director’s role involves a deep understanding of community partners’ needs and developing projects in mutually valuable terms centered on student success. To this end, the Director will foster relationships among Whittier College, local government entities, community-based organizations (CBOs), arts organizations, and small businesses in Whittier and surrounding communities and work collaboratively with Whittier College faculty, staff, and students to support impactful community engagement and student learning.
Hours: Monday – Friday
Exempt Status: Exempt
Full Time/Part Time status: Full Time
Salary Range: $90,000-$100,000 annually; Salary will commensurate with experience, skills, and knowledge.
Reports to: Vice President for Academic Affairs
Location/Department: Whittier College (Main Campus)/ Office of Experiential Education
POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Planning and Assessment
Develop, implement, and assess innovative approaches for OEE initiatives that are aligned with the College’s vision, mission, and priorities and include input from diverse audiences/representatives from the communities served.
Advance relationships between the College and the community by: 1) identifying innovative community engagement and experiential learning opportunities; 2) brokering engagement requests between the community and the College; and, 3) researching and assessing activities to continuously improve upon the partnerships and quality of life in the community.
Collaborate with campus and community members to contribute to a growing body of knowledge about the impact of community-college partnerships on engaged campuses, student learning, and community-identified areas of opportunity and concern. OEE collaborates with and supports faculty to ensure these activities are integral to their scholarly and teaching efforts.
Program Implementation
Supervise OEE staff and student workers, manage daily operations, and develop and implement relevant policies and procedures.
Provide expertise and logistical support for interdisciplinary collaborations and external partnerships and the development of course-based community engagement, internships, fellowships, and other experiential opportunities to align with the liberal arts curriculum.
Administer the Whittier Civic Scholars Program and develop academic programming and cohort-building activities.
Organize Academic Affairs campus events that showcase experiential education such as the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity conference.
Budget management and fundraising
Collaborate with Development and with Sponsored Programs to cultivate prospective donors, obtain external funding, effectively manage grants, and steward gifts and donor relations.
Manage OEE budgets and funding in compliance with institutional policy and donor terms and conditions.
Oversee the creation and maintenance of all OEE promotional materials, website, and social media platforms in collaboration with Communications staff.
Off-Campus Community Relations
Develop and deepen community partnerships with regional non-profit, community-based organizations and businesses.
Define and implement norms regarding partner expectations for student placements.
Help develop and maintain MOUs and waivers with community and industry partners.
Represent OEE in the community including participation on boards and committees.
Organize and oversee on-campus events for community partners.
Maintain relationships with campus COMPACT and local, state, and national organizations supporting and recognizing engaged campuses (e.g., Carnegie Community Engagement classification).
On-Campus Collaborations
Report to and advise the Vice President for Academic Affairs on OEE initiatives, events, funding prospects, and operational issues.
Support and collaborate with the Faculty Liaison/Director of Whittier Works.
Develop and maintain systems for tracking engagement activities, participation, and outcomes in collaboration with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.
Coordinate fundraising efforts with Development: prospective donor identification, stewardship and data base tracking.
Chair the Community Engagement Advisory Committee composed of campus stakeholders.
Serve on Academic Affairs leadership committees and other college-wide committees with a community focus including ex-officio participation on relevant faculty committees.
Collaborate with campus partners to provide faculty development opportunities emphasizing best practices for experiential and community-engaged learning that isembedded throughout the curriculum.
Collaborate regularly and coordinate programming with the Center for Career and Professional Development
Collaborate broadly with college divisions and offices as appropriate on initiatives related to community engagement, including Student Life, Athletics and Admissions.
Position Specifications and Requirements:
A Master’s degree is required with at least five years of relevant community experience. Community experience is defined as work at nonprofit agencies, including government, or preferably in institutions of higher education.
Outreach experience involving nonprofit agencies and community and industry partners is desirable.
Previous experience managing staff, including staff development, is mandatory.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen to diverse stakeholders and cultivate an organizational climate based upon respect, kindness, open communication, and teamwork.
Evidence of engagement with a diverse student population, many of whom are first-generation and/or come from underrepresented groups; commitment to enhancing the cultural competency and diversity of faculty and staff.
Understanding of best practices that empower students, staff, and faculty to address contemporary community needs.
Evidence of collaborative efforts that engage a variety of stakeholders.
Familiarity with budget and management operations, including strategic planning and assessment.
Familiarity with grant seeking and administration and donor cultivation.
The ability to use evidence (data, research, etc.) to inform decision-making.
Application Deadline: until the position is filled.
How to apply
The position is based in Whittier, California. To be considered for this position, please submit your cover letter and resume to: [email protected] or mail to Whittier College, Attn: Human Resources Manager, 13406 E Philadelphia Street Whittier, CA 90608. AA/EOE.
Whittier College is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants because of race, religion creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, or sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by State or Federal Law
