Community Engagement Director

Wayne State University•Detroit, MI

9d•$120,000 - $125,000•Onsite

About The Position

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Community Engagement Director at its Detroit campus location. Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society. Job Purpose The Community Engagement Director (CED) is responsible for Wayne State University's (WSU) community engagement efforts across Detroit and Southeast Michigan, including campus stakeholder relations and local and regional government relations. The role builds and sustains relationships with city, county, and regional officials, and with community leaders, organizations, and stakeholders, in service of the university's institutional priorities and its role as an engaged anchor institution in the region. Reporting to the Chief of Government Relations and Community Engagement (GRACE), the CED develops and implements an integrated local government relations and community engagement strategy. The role identifies opportunities for collaboration and public investment with local and regional stakeholders, builds and documents community partnerships and programming, and represents the university at civic and community events across the region. The role proactively looks for ways to connect campus activities and stakeholders to opportunities in and around government and community entities. The CED works with the GRACE team and its goals to keep local, regional, state, and federal-level engagement aligned and strategic, and may support other advocacy activities as needed. The CED collaborates with Alumni Relations to engage alumni in advocacy and community leadership, works with UCAM and academic and administrative units to coordinate engagement activities, and helps establish consistent practices for tracking and evaluating the impact of community and government relations work across campus. The CED makes specific recommendations on WSU’s sponsorship strategy and execution of that strategy, and acts as a key partner and implementer for sponsorship activities. The specific mix of local government relations and community engagement responsibilities may shift as the team grows. The CED should expect the scope of this role to evolve over time.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, political science, urban planning, communications, or a related field.
Experience (5+ years) in community engagement, local government relations, public policy, or a closely related field.
Management experience including, but not limited to, planning, development and implementation of programs/policies, contract or vendor management, and development and oversight of financial resources and budget planning.
Collaborative and solutions-oriented approach with demonstrated ability to work effectively across teams and stakeholder groups in a complex organizational environment. Ability to build and maintain productive relationships while supporting shared institutional goals.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage professionally with community leaders, government officials, university leadership, faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
Strong organizational and coordination skills, including the ability to manage multiple initiatives, follow through on priorities, and support implementation of engagement activities aligned with institutional objectives and GRACE’s strategic goals.
Ability to assess community and political dynamics, synthesize input from diverse stakeholders, and provide thoughtful, strategic guidance to support institutional decision-making.

Nice To Haves

Master degree is preferred.
Experience in multiple settings (community organizations, government, higher education) preferred.
Supervision of staff is not required at this time but could be in the future, and management experience is helpful.
General knowledge of issues facing higher education and familiarity with civic and governmental environments preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop, document, and execute a strategic community engagement plan for Wayne State University, in collaboration with colleagues within GRACE and relevant entities across WSU. This documented plan should be flexible to grow and change over time, reflect the multiplicity of communities in the city and region, include data and measures of success, and align with available resources for sponsorships, programming, and outreach. Track and measure activities and outcomes.
Lead development and implementation of a local and regional government relations strategy for Wayne State University across Detroit and Southeast Michigan. Identify opportunities for collaboration, partnership, and public investment with municipal, county, and regional stakeholders. Monitor and analyze local legislative and regulatory developments affecting the university and provide timely updates and recommendations to GRACE leadership.
Cultivate and maintain relationships, networks, and contacts with local and regional officials, their staff, and related organizations and associations. Work in coordination with Alumni Affairs to identify and engage alumni and community leaders who can support university priorities in governmental and public policy settings.
Build, develop, document, and track mutually beneficial partnerships, relationships, and programming with community leaders, organizations, and alumni engaged in community leadership across Detroit and Southeast Michigan. Proactively look for and seek to create opportunities for Wayne State students, faculty, staff, and alumni to be engaged in community and local government initiatives.
Work with partners on campus and in the community to develop, implement, and measure the impact of signature engagement programs and events. Support campus events involving elected officials and community partners.
Advise university leadership on community matters while communicating WSU priorities and decisions to community stakeholders, helping to clarify institutional actions and address misunderstandings when they arise. As requested and led by the President or her/his designate, support the President's office on community matters of importance to the President. Coordinate sponsorship opportunities on- and off-campus.
Perform other related duties as assigned. The scope of this role may evolve as GRACE's local government relations and community engagement functions grow.