Director of Outreach and Engagement

Job Description

The Outreach and Engagement Director for the School of Applied Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources at Minnesota State University, Mankato leads strategic recruitment, marketing, and partnership efforts to grow and sustain Ag-related academic programs. This role involves:

• Recruitment & Marketing: Designing and executing outreach campaigns to attract prospective students and raise awareness of current and future programs.
• Partnership Development: Building strong relationships with K-12 schools, colleges, industry groups, and statewide organizations to expand career and academic pathways.
• Student Support: Guiding students from inquiry through graduation, including advising and retention strategies in collaboration with university teams.
• Event Coordination: Planning and managing School-sponsored events, including budgeting, scheduling, stakeholder communication, and problem-solving.
• Program Growth & Inclusion: Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion while enhancing student experience, enrollment, and industry engagement.

Reporting to the Executive Director, this position plays a central role in shaping a vibrant, inclusive, and future-focused agricultural education ecosystem.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree related to agricultural education, educational leadership, student affairs/development, marketing or other related major plus two years of experience working in a college or university in outreach, recruiting, customer service, project management, advising and/or marketing related area (Conferred on an official transcript at the time of application).

### Or

• Bachelor's degree related to agricultural education, educational leadership, student affairs/development, marketing or other related major plus four years of experience working in a college or university in outreach, recruiting, customer service, project management, advising and/or marketing related area (Conferred on an official transcript at the time of application).

• Demonstrated ability to develop, refine and track operational budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, develop and orchestrate recruitment and student advising-related activities.
• Strong organizational and multi-tasking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to handle and process sensitive and confidential information.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with a diverse population of students, faculty, staff and external parties and commitment to fostering a diverse working and learning environment.

Preferred Qualification

• Knowledge of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum and/or similar transfer curriculum in other states.
• Familiarity with higher education trends, especially with non-traditional adult learners, and experiential education.
• Ability to organize work and create internal processes to support performance outcomes.
• Ability to learn and retain a wide-range of institutional information.
• Demonstrated high-level of comfort with phone, internet, and face to face sales outreach.

Other Requirements

Work safely at all times... personal protective equipment.

This position requires a valid, applicable driver's license... driver's license if they drive a vehicle on state business...

This position requires a passing background check... throughout employment...

Occasional in-state and out-state travel may be required...

Some weekend and evening hours may be required.

Telework (Yes/No)

Based on the essential functions... following work modes:

• Telework: Up to 40% of the time. A position with a work arrangement that allows an employee to perform work on a regular basis at a telework location that is not the employee's permanent/principal work location.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:

A complete online application will include the following attachments. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the search committee.

• Cover Letter
• Non-Photo Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Contact Information for three (3) references
• Unofficial Transcript(s) of your highest completed degree
• A brief (no more than one-page) diversity statement presenting a commitment to or experience working in an equity-minded environment