Director of the Center for Civil Discourse and Civic Engagement

Position Summary & Description

This is a non-represented management position.

This position is grant funded, however intended to be Regular and Full Time upon completion of grant funding.

The Director of the Center for Civil Discourse and Civic Engagement provides strategic leadership, vision, and oversight for a FIPSE grant-funded university-wide initiative to advance constructive dialogue, civic engagement, and a culture of respectful exchange across difference. Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Director is responsible for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Center’s programs, partnerships, and institutional impact. The Director leads cross-divisional efforts that engage students, faculty, staff, and community partners, and ensures alignment with the University’s mission, strategic priorities, and federal grant requirements.

This position oversees all operational aspects of the Center, including personnel, budget management, program development, assessment, and compliance with federal and institutional guidelines. The Director serves as the primary institutional leader and representative of the Center, fostering collaboration, building campus-wide capacity for dialogue, and advancing initiatives that support student success, campus climate, and institutional effectiveness.

This is a 12-month management position, fully funded by the FIPSE grant and subject to continued federal funding.

Position Qualifications

MINIMUM:

• Master’s degree
• Minimum of five years of professional experience in higher education or a related field

PREFERRED:

• Demonstrated experience in program development, leadership, and cross-divisional collaboration
• Experience with grant-funded initiatives, including reporting and compliance
• Background in civic engagement, dialogue facilitation, conflict resolution, or related areas

Previous Work Experience:

• Minimum five years of higher education experience with particular focus on working with teams, units, or cross-divisional projects.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership experience with proven results.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and cross-divisionally to achieve desired outcomes.
• Understanding of, sensitivity to, and respect for the university’s diverse student, faculty, and staff populations.
• Demonstrated experience with decision-making, data analytics, and management skills in a complex organization.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated organizational, time management, and problem-solving abilities. Experience working with student success initiatives. Ability to understand and adapt to the ongoing, changing needs of all student and employee types.

Candidates must have the communication skills and cross-cultural abilities to maximize their effectiveness with diverse groups of students, colleagues, and community members.

Candidates must communicate effectively and perform well in the interview(s).

Essential Functions

Strategic Leadership & Institutional Integration

• Provide vision, leadership, and strategic direction for the Center and its role within the University.
• Build and sustain cross-divisional partnerships to integrate civil discourse and civic engagement into academic and co-curricular environments.
• Serve as the primary representative of the Center to internal and external stakeholders, including university leadership, community partners, and national organizations.
• Advance institution-wide initiatives
• Develop, implement, and assess programs, trainings, and initiatives that promote civil discourse and civic engagement across the IUP community.
• Lead the design and delivery of student-facing initiatives, including dialogue programs, leadership development opportunities, and campus-wide events.
• Utilize data, assessment tools, and best practices to evaluate effectiveness and guide continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with institutional partners to align programming with student success and engagement goals.

Grant Management, Assessment, and Compliance

• Oversee all aspects of the FIPSE grant, including implementation, reporting, and compliance with federal requirements.
• Collaborate with the Research Institute and other relevant offices to ensure proper fiscal management, documentation, and reporting.
• Lead assessment efforts to measure program outcomes and institutional impact, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Personnel and Budget Management

• Supervise Center staff, including graduate assistants and student employees, providing leadership, training, and performance oversight.
• Develop and manage the Center’s budget, including federal grant funds, in accordance with university and federal guidelines.
• Allocate resources strategically to support programmatic priorities and long-term sustainability.

Resource Development and Other Duties

• Identify and pursue additional funding opportunities to support and expand Center initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the Center’s mission.

The work of this position occurs in a typical office environment. Although infrequent, periods of heavy exertion may occur. Incumbent must have the following abilities:

1. Regular, reliable and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job function, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, professional, harmonious working relationships with others.
2. This position requires work outside normal business hours including evenings and weekends as needed to partner effective, provide prompt customer service and/or as requested by senior HR management.
3. Ability to travel to field locations and meeting/training sites by motor vehicle when required.
4. Communicate both orally and in writing to issue, receive and carry out instructions and orders effectively and to convey information to a variety of co-workers and the general public.
5. Use of variety of common office machines such as telephones, calculators, copiers, computer terminals, keyboards, auxiliary printers, and similar equipment.
6. Perform manual duties such as lifting and carrying various weight limits.
7. Duties performed may require stooping, kneeling, bending, stretching and prolonged standing.
8. Provide assistance and guidance to internal and external customers.
9. Follow oral and written instructions