"Associate Director, Community Affairs"

Working at Yale means contributing to a better tomorrow. Whether you are a current resident of our New Haven-based community- eligible for opportunities through the New Haven Hiring Initiative or a newcomer, interested in exploring all that Yale has to offer, your talents and contributions are welcome. Discover your opportunities at Yale!

Salary Range

$68,000.00 - $120,500.00

The Associate Director, Community Affairs, plays a vital role in advancing Yale University’s mission through strategic community engagement, public programming, and advocacy support. This highly visible position builds and sustains strong relationships with local stakeholders, facilitates collaborative initiatives across and between the Yale and New Haven communities, and strengthens the university’s presence and partnerships throughout the New Haven region. The Associate Director serves as a key contributor to major institutional efforts, supports high-profile community-facing projects and events, and manages operations of a community facility. The role also provides critical support in executing university-wide fellowship programs and civic engagement strategies that reflect Yale’s deep commitment to its surrounding communities.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Ability to cultivate and sustain strategic relationships with a wide range of community stakeholders, such as neighborhood leaders, nonprofit partners, and elected officials.
• Skilled in representing an institution in diverse public settings and responding diplomatically to community concerns, demonstrated expertise in managing complex projects and events from conception through execution.
• Ability to coordinate across departments, manage timelines, and handle logistical details to deliver high-quality programs that serve both institutional and community needs, strong operational management skills, including scheduling, space utilization, and maintenance oversight.
• Experience ensuring that community-use facilities are accessible, efficiently run, and aligned with the needs of local organizations and partners, advanced writing, editing, and digital communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, persuasive messaging for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated experience such as producing newsletters, managing website content, drafting stakeholder correspondence, and developing communication strategies that align with institutional goals and the understanding of local government structures and legislative processes.
• Ability to support advocacy strategies by monitoring policy developments, preparing briefing materials, and attending public meetings. Skilled in building credibility and representing institutional interests in civic settings.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

Familiarity with New Haven neighborhoods, history, and community dynamics. Personal or professional experience in the region is strongly valued.

Preferred Education and Experience

Degree in Communications, Social Sciences, Public Affairs, or a related field that provides a strong foundation for the responsibilities of this role. Minimum of five years progressively responsible experience in community relations, government relations, or public affairs, demonstrating a strong track record of leadership and accomplishment.

Physical Requirements

The position involves a considerable amount of physical activity, including extensive walking and standing during community outreach activities and special events. Occasional need to move heavy items (up to 50 pounds).

Principal Responsibilities

1. Oversees the advancement and growth of the program. Gives direction and leadership supporting the philosophy, mission, strategy, and annual goals and objectives. Assumes primary accountability for disseminating and publishing all program information to create public awareness and support of the program.
2. Works closely with leadership, internal and external colleagues, and community residents to further develop and implement strategic plans.
3. Identifies, solicits, and cultivates community partnerships and collaborations to assist in the development and growth of the program. Develops the metrics to identify and measure the success of the program. Responsible for measurements of grant success and related evaluation.
4. Assists in identifying and evaluating potential future funding sources, and contributes to the submission of grants and contracts supporting the program, including the annual submission and writing of all content areas and budgetary sections of grant applications. Develops and manages the program’s operating budget.
5. Develops the administrative infrastructure of the program. Manages human resource and administrative functions of the program, including staffing and hiring, supervision, performance development, counseling and discipline, if warranted. Oversees and manages information systems, facilities, and space needs.
6. Investigates, identifies, implements, and oversees the maintenance of systems to gather, track, and report information to support the initiatives of the program. Tracks all program activities and regularly informs leadership of progress on each initiative. Recommends structural or programmatic adjustments, changes or additions based on full knowledge of missions, goals, and objectives.
7. Initiates, designs, and manages the compilation of program communications; identifying outreach potential, and promoting philanthropic and collaborative support of the program. Contributes to the development and assists in the management of content on the program’s website and monitors all changes and additions to the editorial content.
8. Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Minimum requirement of Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and four years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.