Community-Engaged Learning Specialist

Whitman College • Walla Walla, WA

94d

About The Position

The Community-Engaged Learning Specialist advances the College’s commitment to providing immersive learning opportunities for all students. This role fosters faculty development in community-based pedagogies, best practices and ethical approaches to integrating community partnerships into teaching and research. The Specialist supports faculty in building sustainable collaborations and coordinates community-connected academic initiatives, such as science outreach programs, contributing to meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for students. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Faculty Development (ADFD), the Specialist supports the implementation of the College’s strategic plan around immersive learning, particularly as it relates to building community engagement into courses.

Requirements

• Master’s degree AND 3+ years of experience with community-engaged learning in higher education; OR a combination of relevant education, training, and experience.
• Ability to actively and positively contribute to the College’s core values of diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism and access.
• Knowledge of current best practices in Community-Engaged Learning within higher education, including ethical frameworks for partnership and pedagogy.
• Strong program leadership skills, with the ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment and build faculty buy-in for community-engaged learning initiatives.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills, including the ability to coordinate complex logistics and multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with faculty partners across the full curriculum, supporting integration of community-engaged learning into courses and research.
• Familiarity with compliance considerations, including risk management and policies related to off-campus learning, travel and working with minors and other vulnerable populations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences, including faculty, staff, students and external community partners.
• Capacity for program assessment and data-informed decision-making to improve and sustain community-engaged initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Expand opportunities for community-engaged learning across academic programs through faculty partnership.
• Guide and consult with faculty about community-engaged learning activity at all stages, from ideating new courses or initiatives to improving and refining existing ones.
• Plan and execute professional development events and workshops for faculty across the College who seek to integrate community engagement into their courses, scholarly activity, and academic programs.
• Manage approval processes for community-engaged courses and promote their visibility for current and prospective students.
• Act as a liaison on behalf of the College to create and cultivate respectful, mutual relationships with a variety of local organizations including non-profits, local businesses, tribal communities, and local, state and federal agencies.
• Collaborate with partners across the College, and liaise with the Center for Career and Community Engagement.
• Manage related academic program logistics and off-site travel.
• Ensure compliance with College policies related to travel, protection of minors and other vulnerable populations.
• Assess effectiveness of related programs and recommend data-driven improvements as needed.

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances.
• Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and long term disability insurances with the capability to elect additional voluntary coverage.
• 403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with a 10% matching contribution after eligibility requirements are met.
• Paid Time Off: 20 accrued vacation days, 12 accrued sick days, 13 paid holidays.
• Tuition Remission – Dependent Children.
• Employee tuition waiver for two Whitman courses per semester.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Relocation assistance for eligible employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Master's degree