Associate Director, Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement

Details•San Diego, CA

58d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of San Diego, School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES), in partnership with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, hosts the long-established Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement. The Community Engagement Classification serves as the leading framework for higher education community engagement work and is widely used to establish benchmarks and criteria for effectively institutionalizing community engagement across diverse institutional contexts. The classification serves as a national method for recognizing exceptional institutionalization of community engagement. Reporting to the Assistant Dean for Assessment and Accreditation/Executive Director, the Associate Director of Community Engagement Classification Operations serves as the primary operational and programmatic lead for the University of San Diego’s role as the institutional host of the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. This position provides day-to-day coordination and management of activities associated with the classification, ensuring a high-quality, equitable, and impactful national framework that supports institutional learning and recognition in community engagement. The Associate Director is responsible for managing complex, multi-stakeholder processes, including communications, applicant support, technical assistance, reviewer recruitment and training, convenings, resource development and continuous improvement of the classification framework and review process, while coordinating closely with the Assistant Dean/Executive Director and Dean of SOLES on strategic priorities and external engagement. This role requires a highly organized, strategic, and collaborative leader who thrives in a dynamic environment and brings a strong understanding of higher education, community engagement, and large-scale initiative management.

Requirements

Masters Degree in higher education, public administration, nonprofit management, or a related field.
Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in program management, preferably within higher education or a related sector.
Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives with strong attention to detail and organizational systems.
Experience designing and facilitating events, workshops, webinars, and/or training programs.
Very strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop clear executive-level communications and materials.
Proven ability to build and maintain relationships across diverse constituencies, including institutional leaders, faculty, and external partners.
Experience coordinating review, evaluation, or assessment processes (e.g., accreditation, grant review, or similar).
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and community engagement in higher education contexts.

Nice To Haves

PhD or EdD in higher education, public administration, nonprofit management, or a related field.
Six or more years of experience as described above.
Experience with the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification or similar frameworks.
Familiarity with GivePulse
Experience supervising staff or leading teams.
Familiarity with data systems, reporting tools, and project management platforms.
Experience supporting national initiatives, networks, or field-building efforts.

Responsibilities

Leads the day-to-day administration of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, ensuring effective execution of all operational components across the classification cycle.
Manages timelines and workflows to support institutional participation; overseeing application processes and guidance materials; and coordinating National Advisory Committee and other key meetings.
Oversees the GivePulse platform and the university CRM system.
Translates strategic priorities into operational plans and ensures seamless implementation.
Maintains detailed oversight of logistics, documentation, and internal systems that sustain the classification.
Develops and executes a comprehensive communications strategy to build awareness, drive engagement, and ensure successful participation in the classification.
Manages communications with prospective and current applicants, responding to inquiries, and supporting the creation of clear, accessible guidance materials.
Supports the design and facilitation of webinars, workshops, communities of practice, and informational sessions.
Ensures consistent messaging and high-quality engagement while maintaining website content and communication channels.
Ensures high levels of responsiveness, clarity, and customer service for institutions across diverse contexts.
Oversees the full lifecycle of the application review process, including recruitment, selection, and onboarding of reviewers and consultants.
Designs and implements reviewer training, managing evaluation workflows, and ensuring alignment with established standards and criteria.
Ensures a fair, equitable, and transparent peer-review system and coordinates the preparation and distribution of institutional feedback.
Engages scholars and practitioners in the field to inform ongoing refinement of the classification.
Plans and executes a range of events and convenings, including virtual and in-person gatherings, to build community, share knowledge, and advance the field of community engagement in higher education.
Coordinates logistics, develops agendas, manages speakers and participants, and ensures alignment with broader strategic goals.
Ensures the successful execution of these events while supporting broader field-building and network development efforts.
Supports the ongoing refinement and evolution of the Community Engagement Classification framework and application.
Gathers and synthesizes feedback from applicants, reviewers, and partners; contributing to revisions of indicators, definitions, and guidance materials; and ensuring the framework remains relevant, inclusive, and responsive to the field.
Supports associated research activities, benchmarking, and documentation efforts that inform future classification cycles and contribute to the broader knowledge base of the field.
Serves as a liaison between the host institution and the Carnegie Elective Classification central office, the Carnegie Foundation, and key partners, including national organizations, the National Advisory Committee (NAC), higher education associations, and external vendors.
Supports partnership development, fundraising and resource development, institutional recruitment efforts, and activities that contribute to the classification's financial sustainability, including revenue-generating initiatives such as convenings, training offerings, and related programming.
Represents the classification in meetings, presentations, and professional settings as appropriate and is expected to travel to conferences, events, and campuses.
Supports the Executive Director and Dean in developing a Center that will carry the work beyond the classification host cycle.
Oversees data tracking, reporting, and documentation related to classification activities, including applicant participation, review outcomes, feedback reports, and program metrics.
Prepares reports, briefing materials, and summaries to support internal decision-making and external communication.
May work with graduate students and other campus researchers to disseminate research findings based on application data and the state of the field.
May also support budgeting, contract management, and supervision of staff, consultants, or student employees contributing to the initiative, ensuring alignment with broader strategic and operational goals.