Assistant Director of Student Leadership and Development (Grant Writer)

UNC-Chapel Hill•Chapel Hill, NC

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Student Leadership and Development at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work reports directly to the Director of Student Leadership and Development and plays a key role in advancing student success, leadership development, and professional preparation across undergraduate and graduate programs. This position is responsible for designing, implementing, and expanding innovative opportunities that strengthen student leadership, enhance professional development, and enrich the educational experience for social work students. Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, community partners, alumni, and students, the Assistant Director helps create a dynamic learning environment that prepares emerging social work leaders for impactful careers in practice, policy, advocacy, research, and community engagement. Approximately 70% of the position is dedicated to grant development, resource cultivation, and long-term program sustainability. The Assistant Director identifies and pursues federal, state, foundation, and private funding opportunities; develops competitive grant proposals; cultivates strategic partnerships with external stakeholders; and implements sustainability strategies that expand and strengthen student leadership initiatives, fellowship programs, and financial support opportunities. This position also evaluates program outcomes, prepares reports for funders, and works collaboratively with School leadership to ensure programs remain innovative, scalable, and financially sustainable. Approximately 25% of the position focuses on assisting with the management and implementation of the School’s Student Leadership and Development initiatives under the supervision of the Director. Responsibilities include supporting student recruitment and selection processes, coordinating leadership programming, monitoring student participation and progress, assisting with budget and stipend administration, evaluating program outcomes, and providing individualized support to students participating in leadership and professional development opportunities. The Assistant Director also contributes to strategic planning, continuous quality improvement, and operational oversight of leadership initiatives. As part of these management responsibilities, the Assistant Director provides support for the Golden Policy Fellowship Program, one of several signature student leadership initiatives within the School. In collaboration with the Director of Student Leadership and Development, the Assistant Director assists with recruitment, onboarding, student advising, programming, stipend administration, partnership development, and program evaluation to ensure fellows receive comprehensive academic and professional support throughout their participation. The Golden Policy Fellowship Program prepares future social workers to lead systems change through direct practice, community engagement, management, and policy leadership. The program strengthens North Carolina’s child and family well-being workforce by preparing highly skilled professionals committed to serving children, youth, and families across the state. Fellows may receive up to $30,000 in financial support over three years, including a $10,000 post-graduation investment for graduates who obtain employment in underserved North Carolina communities. The remaining 5% of the position is dedicated to other duties as assigned, including representing the School on committees and workgroups, participating in special projects and events, supporting divisional initiatives, and contributing to the School’s mission of student success, community engagement, and organizational excellence.

Requirements

Minimum of three (3) years of experience managing programs, initiatives, or projects in higher education, nonprofit, government, workforce development, human services, or related settings.
Experience coordinating program operations and multiple concurrent projects, including planning, implementation, tracking, evaluation, and reporting.
Experience developing, writing, editing, and coordinating grant proposals, funding requests, or other external funding applications.
Experience collecting, analyzing, and reporting data to assess program outcomes, inform decision-making, and support continuous improvement efforts.
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports, proposals, presentations, and correspondence for diverse audiences.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to effectively manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
Demonstrated experience coordinating programs, projects, student leadership initiatives, or community-based activities.
Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with faculty, students, community partners, funding agencies, and external stakeholders.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience using databases, survey tools, and project management software.
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends in support of program activities, events, and student engagement initiatives.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Higher Education, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
Experience supporting workforce development initiatives, student success programs, fellowships, scholarships, internships, apprenticeships, or other career pathway programs.
Demonstrated success securing grant funding from foundations, corporations, government agencies, or other external funding sources.
Experience managing grant-funded programs, including compliance, budget oversight, reporting requirements, and funder relations.
Experience developing and monitoring program budgets and financial tracking systems related to grants or sponsored programs.
Project management experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives involving multiple departments, community partners, and external organizations.
Experience planning and coordinating conferences, trainings, workshops, large-scale events, or professional development programs.
Experience coordinating contracts, vendor relationships, speaker logistics, and event-related documentation and procurement processes.
Knowledge of higher education student support services, community engagement strategies, and workforce development best practices.

Responsibilities

Designing, implementing, and expanding innovative opportunities that strengthen student leadership, enhance professional development, and enrich the educational experience for social work students.
Identifying and pursuing federal, state, foundation, and private funding opportunities.
Developing competitive grant proposals.
Cultivating strategic partnerships with external stakeholders.
Implementing sustainability strategies that expand and strengthen student leadership initiatives, fellowship programs, and financial support opportunities.
Evaluating program outcomes.
Preparing reports for funders.
Supporting student recruitment and selection processes.
Coordinating leadership programming.
Monitoring student participation and progress.
Assisting with budget and stipend administration.
Contributing to strategic planning, continuous quality improvement, and operational oversight of leadership initiatives.
Assisting with recruitment, onboarding, student advising, programming, stipend administration, partnership development, and program evaluation for the Golden Policy Fellowship Program.
Representing the School on committees and workgroups.
Participating in special projects and events.
Supporting divisional initiatives.