Assistant Director Administration & Academic Engagement - Center for Race, Ethnicity and Equity

Position Summary

The Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity (CRE²) seeks an Assistant Director to provide operational leadership and administrative management for the Center’s programs, initiatives, and strategic priorities. Reporting to the Senior Associate Director, the Assistant Director will play a key role in coordinating the Center’s administrative infrastructure and financial processes to support CRE²’s mission of advancing transformative research, learning, and community engagement on race and ethnicity.

The Assistant Director will work closely with Center leadership to oversee operational systems, support budget planning and grant activity, and ensure the effective coordination of programs, partnerships, and academic initiatives. This position will also contribute to the development and management of research support programs, graduate fellowships, and initiatives that strengthen the Center’s impact across campus and within the broader community.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic and collaborative leader who excels at organizational management, program coordination, and building administrative systems that support dynamic academic and research environments.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Grant Development, Partnerships, and Institutional Coordination

• Coordinate reporting and stewardship efforts for funded projects and donor relationships.
• Contribute to strategic planning related to fundraising and partnership development.
• Establish and measure key data points to assess the effectiveness of the Center’s outreach and revenue-generating initiatives

Academic Programs and Fellowship Coordination

• Support the planning and implementation of CRE²’s graduate and faculty fellowship programs, including orientation, programming, and cohort development.
• Coordinate workshops, seminars, and professional development opportunities for fellows and affiliates.
• Work with faculty affiliates and Center leadership to integrate fellows’ research and programming into the broader intellectual life of the Center.
• Provide logistical and programmatic support for fellows and student engagement initiatives.
• Assist in the development and coordination of undergraduate engagement opportunities and research programs connected to the Center’s mission.

Administrative and Operational Management

• Maintain administrative systems, operational procedures, and internal workflows that support the efficient management of the Center’s programs, events, and daily operations.
• Coordinate internal planning processes and logistical infrastructure necessary for Center programs and partnerships.
• Work with Center leadership to develop communications, outreach materials, and program resources that support the Center’s mission and visibility.
• Assist in maintaining consistent processes for program planning, coordination, and execution across Center initiatives.
• Work closely with Center leadership to support and strengthen the administrative and operational infrastructure of the Center.
• Collaborate with Center leadership on the design and planning of the Center’s annual budget.
• Manage financial operations of the Center, including monitoring expenditures, coordinating with staff responsible for daily accounting processes, and ensuring alignment with institutional policies.
• Scope, coordinate, and manage resources necessary to support the Center’s operational infrastructure and programmatic initiatives.
• Develop, articulate, and maintain infrastructure goals, processes, and operational systems that support the Center’s mission and long-term sustainability.
• Conduct regular evaluation and management of the Center’s operational processes and administrative systems.
• Oversee the development and implementation of logic models and assessment tools designed to evaluate the Center’s effectiveness and programmatic impact.
• Provide oversight and coordination of administrative support staff.
• Complete special projects as directed by senior leadership.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:
Job Location/Working Conditions
• Normal office environment.
• Ability to travel to various on and off campus locations.
Physical Effort
• Typically sitting at a desk or table.
• Repetitive wrist, hand, or finger movement.
Equipment
• Office equipment.

Required Qualifications

Education:
Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.

Work Experience:
Relevant Experience (3 Years)

Preferred Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in higher education, nonprofit, or cultural institutions, with demonstrated success in engagement, outreach, or program development.
• Familiarity with university advancement, foundation relations, or grants administration systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with others on the team and with other administrative and academic units.
• Demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards.
• Demonstrated high commitment to service excellence, diversity and equity.
• Demonstrated ability to independently perform the wide range of tasks associated with this position.
• Experience with electronic grants administration systems.
• Experience with grant proposals
• Strong analytic skills and the ability to think strategically and programmatically.
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks in a complex organizational environment, this includes attention to detail.
• Ability to implement plans to reach organizational goals.
• Ability to meet deadlines and complete tasks in a timely manner.
• Must be dependable, conscientious, thorough, accurate and reliable with respect to achieving the organization’s goals.
• Strong attention to detail. Excellent spelling, grammar, punctuation and writing skills essential.
• Creative Thinker and Strategist.
• High level of professionalism and institutional enthusiasm.
• Ability to interact with tact and diplomacy and to communicate successfully and effectively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and external visitors, and others.
• Excellent attitude and personality that takes ownership of projects and tasks.
• Self-starter.
• Must be able to establish and maintain excellent working relationships with all campus and external constituencies.

Education:
Master's degree

Skills:
Confidentiality, Interpersonal Interactions, Multitasking, Oral Communications, Organizing, Prioritization, Sound Judgment, Working Independently, Writing

Grade

G11

Salary Range

$53,100.00 - $90,600.00 / Annually