Center Senior Specialist, Experiential Learning

Smith College•College Place, WA

1d•$86,593 - $117,155•Onsite

About The Position

Connect on-campus learning with off-campus experiences - preparing students for local and national community engagements that deepen and enrich their education while bolstering Smith's strategic partnerships and role as a regional good neighbor. Support faculty and staff to connect student engagement experiences directly to the curriculum across all content areas (STEM, Arts/Humanities, Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary studies). Develop curricular and research connections and opportunities across Jandon programs. Liaise across college divisions, departments and centers to evolve and sustain strategic external partnerships for the reciprocal benefit of Smith and partner organizations and communities. Initiate evidence-based approaches to learning at the nexus of curricular and co-curricular work. Collaborate with faculty to support and assess reflective public scholarship. Develop accessible learning tools that support students in exploring experiential learning directly connected to their interests, academic work, and potential career trajectories. Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of independent project management experience or an equivalent combination of education/experience
Experience with college students preferred.
Background in developing course syllabi (ideally at undergraduate level)
Teaching experience designing and delivering workshops / training / mini-courses for faculty and students focused on public scholarship, CBL, equity and human rights (and related challenges of poverty and inequality)
Expertise in facilitation methods (E.g. Appreciative Inquiry; Future Search; Asset Based Organizing or similar)
Experience leading and initiating collaborative projects across multiple disciplines
Explicitly linking and integrating research, course-work and experiential learning with students and faculty
Demonstrated planning and program development skills.
Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree
Extensive experience working in or with community based nonprofits
Demonstrated excellence as a team player
Experience coordinating multiple constituents on collaborative projects
Self starter
Demonstrated experience balancing accountability for the priorities of this role with support for colleagues and the Jandon team as a whole.

Responsibilities

Develop and oversee a curricular support model for faculty engagement in community engaged learning (also known as community based learning - CBL).
Develop and evolve a portfolio of experiential learning initiatives and share data across centers and concentrations.
Expand a portfolio of CBL resources for faculty, including seeking grant funding and connecting faculty to community engagement opportunities.
Recruit and support faculty for Jandon sponsored work with community partners.
Support faculty to connect research and teaching priorities to the goals of community - based partners.
Develop and oversee delivery of resources for faculty, including workshops, course development and linking existing courses to community-based initiatives.
Liaise with Jandon team, community organizations and campus partners (E.g. Sherrerd Center for Teaching and Learning, Smith centers and concentrations).
Liaise with college-wide offices (E.g. Director of Communications and External Engagement, Smith centers) on maintaining and evolving a collaborative network of sustainable strategic organizational partnerships for Smith across the region.
Design, deliver and evaluate programs to respond to the experiential learning needs of diverse CBL students and faculty.
Align programs and methods with Jandon Center goals, the Smith strategic plan, and essential capacities for Smith students.
Deploy content knowledge and experience in training and facilitation to actively support and evolve Jandon Center goals and methods.
Manage assigned Jandon community partnerships.
Collaborate actively with Jandon team colleagues and promote the Center’s work.
Act as a resource to fellow team members and the Director.
Coordinate integrative learning events and activities related to student community engagement for staff and faculty across interested centers and concentrations.
Advise students on and link them to experiential learning opportunities.
Connect on-campus curricular and co-curricular learning with off-campus experiences.
Support the Jandon Center Director and team to evolve - develop, sustain, evaluate- the Jandon portfolio of local and national community engagements that enrich students' education.
Develop, sustain and manage a network of mentoring relationships for students through alums, faculty, staff and community partners.
Provide orientation and training to students on the ethics and core practices of community engagement.
Liaise across Smith centers, especially the Lazarus Center for Career Development, to support students to connect engaged learning and scholarship with unfolding life and career pathways.
Incubate and support student initiated research and social change projects.
Advise and connect students with campus, community and alum resources in support of their Jandon related work.
Oversee integrated Jandon communications and data analysis.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Director or the Director’s designee.
All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.