"Community-Engaged Learning Specialist"

Community-Engaged Learning Specialist

Compensation: $65,000 - $72,500 annually

WHITMAN COLLEGE

Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman's vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.

Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college's working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO).

POSITION PURPOSE

The Community-Engaged Learning Specialist advances the College's commitment to providing immersive learning opportunities for all students. This role fosters faculty development in community-based pedagogies, best practices and ethical approaches to integrating community partnerships into teaching and research. The Specialist supports faculty in building sustainable collaborations and coordinates community-connected academic initiatives, such as science outreach programs, contributing to meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for students. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Faculty Development (ADFD), the Specialist supports the implementation of the College's strategic plan around immersive learning, particularly as it relates to building community engagement into courses.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Faculty & Pedagogical Support (40%)
  • Expand opportunities for community-engaged learning across academic programs through faculty partnership;
  • Guide and consult with faculty about community-engaged learning activity at all stages, from ideating new courses or initiatives to improving and refining existing ones;
  • Plan and execute professional development events and workshops for faculty across the College who seek to integrate community engagement into their courses, scholarly activity, and academic programs;
  • Manage approval processes for community-engaged courses and promote their visibility for current and prospective students.
• Community & Institutional Partnerships (30%)
  • Act as a liaison on behalf of the College to create and cultivate respectful, mutual relationships with a variety of local organizations including non-profits, local businesses, tribal communities, and local, state and federal agencies;
  • Collaborate with partners across the College, and liaise with the Center for Career and Community Engagement.
• Program Administration & Assessment (30%)
  • Manage related academic program logistics and off-site travel;
  • Ensure compliance with College policies related to travel, protection of minors and other vulnerable populations;
  • Assess effectiveness of related programs and recommend data-driven improvements as needed.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Must be able to explain and/or demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. Specifically,

• Ability to actively and positively contribute to the College's core values of diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism and access;
• Knowledge of current best practices in Community-Engaged Learning within higher education, including ethical frameworks for partnership and pedagogy;
• Strong program leadership skills, with the ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment and build faculty buy-in for community-engaged learning initiatives;
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills, including the ability to coordinate complex logistics and multiple stakeholders;
• Ability to collaborate effectively with faculty partners across the full curriculum, supporting integration of community-engaged learning into courses and research;
• Familiarity with compliance considerations, including risk management and policies related to off-campus learning, travel and working with minors and other vulnerable populations;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences, including faculty, staff, students and external community partners;
• Capacity for program assessment and data-informed decision-making to improve and sustain community-engaged initiatives.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree AND 3+ years of experience with community-engaged learning in higher education;
• OR a combination of relevant education, training, and experience.

Whitman College values diverse pathways to acquiring skills and knowledge and encourages applicants to demonstrate how their background aligns with the role.

BENEFITS

Whitman College offers a competitive benefits program that is designed to attract qualified candidates and retain talented employees. Full-time employees enjoy the following benefits:

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances.
• Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and long term disability insurances with the capability to elect additional voluntary coverage.
• 403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with a 10% matching contribution after eligibility requirements are met.
• Paid Time Off: 20 accrued vacation days, 12 accrued sick days, 13 paid holidays.
• Tuition Remission - Dependent Children
• Employee tuition waiver for two Whitman courses per semester.
• Employee Assistance Program
• Relocation assistance for eligible employees.
• Learn more about benefits eligibility here.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR JOB CANDIDATES

Contact Human Resources regarding requests for disability accommodation in the employment application process.

APPLICATION REVIEW

Application review will begin on October 17, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.

START DATE

December 2025