Assistant Director for Civil Discourse Programs

Davidson College • Davidson, NC

1d

About The Position

Davidson College seeks applications for the role of Assistant Director for Civil
Discourse Programs for the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative (DCI)
[https://www.davidson.edu/offices-and-services/deliberative-citizenship-initiative] and
Deliberative Citizenship Network (DCN), in the D.G. and Harriet Wall Martin
Institute for Public Good [https://www.davidson.edu/institute-public-good]. The
Martin Institute integrates academic research, civic engagement, public policy,
creative expression, and ethical leadership to foster collaboration that equips
students to address society’s challenges and emerge as ethical public leaders.
The Institute’s work is organized around five interrelated program areas,
including the Beacon Program for Deliberation & Free Expression
[https://www.davidson.edu/institute-public-good/deliberation-free-expression],
for which the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative (DCI) and the recently
launched Deliberative Citizenship Network (DCN) are flagship programs.

The DCI creates opportunities for Davidson students, faculty, staff, alumni and
members of the wider community to productively engage with one another on
difficult and contentious issues facing our community and society. It hosts a
student Fellows Program, a Deliberative Pedagogy Program, Deliberative
Facilitator Training Workshops, Deliberative Forums, Speaker Series, and small
group discussions called D Teams. The DCI also leads the Deliberative
Citizenship Network (DCN), a new multi-year national initiative that will
support 100 colleges and universities across the country in developing programs
that foster civil discourse and constructive engagement across differences. 

The Assistant Director for Civil Discourse Programs plays a central role in
advancing Davidson’s national leadership in civil discourse programming. The
primary responsibility of the Assistant Director for Civil Discourse Programs is
coordinating and implementing a range of dialogue and deliberation initiatives
that bring students, faculty, staff, and community members together to engage
constructively with challenging civic, social, and cultural issues. These
programs are designed to model and cultivate the habits, skills, and
institutional structures necessary for a thriving culture of civil discourse.
Most of the civil discourse programs developed by this position will be open to
both in-person participation from members of the Davidson community and virtual
participation from members of the Deliberative Citizenship Network and the
broader public.

The position reports to the Program Director of the Deliberative Citizenship
Initiative and Deliberative Citizenship Network and works in close collaboration
with other team members. The DCI and DCN are led by the DCI Faculty Director,
who serves as the Project Director and Principal Investigator of the Department
of Education Grant supporting the DCN’s creation. The Faculty Director provides
day-to-day direction and programmatic leadership for the DCI and DCN and guides
the work of the Program Director in advancing the program’s priorities.

Collaborative, highly organized professionals motivated to strengthen civil
discourse in higher education are encouraged to apply to join our team that
values intellectual openness, innovation, and partnership. 

Davidson College is located a short drive from Charlotte, NC, the state’s
largest city. As an employer, Davidson offers numerous benefits, including:

4 weeks of vacation in the first year of employment, plus college holidays
Health insurance
A 403(b) retirement plan to which the College contributes 9.5% of salary
after one year of employment
Tuition assistance for employees after one year of employment

This is a four-year, fixed term appointment primarily supported by a grant from
the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary
Education. There may be opportunities for longer-term employment contingent upon
additional funding.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and relevant experience in civil discourse facilitation or related fields
• Demonstrated experience organizing events, programs, or initiatives involving diverse participants
• Strong organizational, communication, and facilitation skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
• Commitment to and experience with fostering civil discourse, deliberative dialogue, and constructive engagement across differences
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in communication studies, philosophy, management, public policy, political science, or a related field
• Experience working in higher education or civic engagement organizations
• Experience facilitating dialogue or deliberative programs
• Familiarity with civil discourse and deliberative dialogue initiatives

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and implement a portfolio of civil discourse programs that foster open inquiry and constructive engagement across differences. These programs include deliberative forums, D Teams, student deliberation projects, and speaker events that bring diverse perspectives into structured conversation.
• Lead the planning and execution of deliberative forums that combine expert perspectives with structured small-group deliberative dialogue. These events bring together students, faculty, staff, and community members to engage thoughtfully with complex and contested issues in public life.
• Coordinate the Deliberative Citizenship Fellows program, a cohort of Davidson students trained to facilitate civil discourse and deliberation programs on campus and within partner communities. Responsibilities include recruiting fellows, organizing training opportunities, and supporting fellows in facilitating deliberation programs.
• Support the development and facilitation of small-group deliberation programs such as Deliberative “D” Teams and other structured deliberation programs that allow students and community members to engage in sustained discussions across lines of difference.
• Coordinate civil discourse speaker events that feature scholars, practitioners, and civic leaders engaged in advancing free expression, respectful dialogue, and democratic deliberation. Work closely with DCI leadership to identify speakers who represent a wide range of viewpoints and intellectual perspectives.
• Collaborate with partner institutions participating in the Deliberative Citizenship Network to support the development of civil discourse programs on their campuses. Share program models, provide guidance on event design and facilitation structures, and assist institutions in adapting programs to their local contexts.
• Collaborate with DCI leadership and the external evaluator to collect feedback, assess program effectiveness, and refine program design. Maintain records and documentation that support assessment of program outcomes and continuous improvement.
• Assist in developing operational guides and program manuals that document best practices for hosting civil discourse programs such as deliberative forums, community conversations, speaker events, and student deliberation projects. These materials will support partner institutions in replicating successful programs on their own campuses.

Benefits

• 4 weeks of vacation in the first year of employment, plus college holidays
• Health insurance
• A 403(b) retirement plan to which the College contributes 9.5% of salary after one year of employment
• Tuition assistance for employees after one year of employment

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees