Director of Access and Engagement - College of Education, Health, & Human Sciences - UTK

University of Tennessee•Knoxville, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, the Director of Access and Engagement will serve as the college's chief subject matter expert on access and engagement and will develop and execute a college-wide plan to increase access and engagement for faculty, staff, and students. This individual will develop strategies, initiatives, and protocols to aid the college in its goal of supporting and retaining faculty, staff, and students. This person will also lead, design, and sustain a major university–community partnership centered on a purpose-built community in a nearby neighborhood. This community-centered role will build and steward a long-term, multi-agency partnership—one that responds directly to the priorities identified by residents and local organizations. The Director will serve on the dean’s leadership team and advise on work related to access and community engagement.

Requirements

Master’s Degree (fields may include education, public health, social work, public administration, counseling, nonprofit management, community development, or related)
Experience supervising others
Experience working effectively within diverse communities, particularly those with histories of underinvestment or marginalization.
Knowledge of higher education, particularly about access to higher education and retention of students, staff, and faculty.
Proven ability to work effectively within diverse communities, particularly those with histories of underinvestment or marginalization.
Strong skills in collaboration, communication, facilitation, and conflict resolution.
Commitment to equity, community-defined priorities, and ethical engagement practices.
Ability to design, implement, and assess programs and initiatives.
Strong project management skills.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral Degree
Demonstrated experience in community engagement, nonprofit leadership, community organizing, or coalition-building.
Experience coordinating multi-agency partnerships or cross-sector collaborations.
Experience working with purpose-built communities or place-based initiatives.
Experience with grant writing, fundraising, and resource mobilization.
Experience teaching at the university level.
Knowledge of housing, public health, education, or other human-services sectors.
Familiarity with community-engaged research, participatory methods, or evaluation frameworks.

Responsibilities

Lead Community Partnership Efforts: Build and steward a long-term, multi-agency partnership that responds directly to the priorities identified by residents and local organizations.
Design, lead, and sustain a major university–community partnership centered on a purpose-built community in a nearby neighborhood.
Identify potential solutions to the priorities of residents/local organizations and involve stakeholders in selecting optimal resolutions.
Serve as the primary liaison between the university, the purpose-built community, and partnering agencies (e.g., nonprofits, schools, housing organizations, health providers).
Design and build a partnership model focused on sustainability, trust, equity, and capacity-building.
Ensure community members feel meaningfully connected to the university and that the partnership provides genuine benefit for residents.
Place student interns within the community, in collaboration with partner agencies.
Seek and secure grant funding to support the work of the community.
Collaborate with faculty on research projects, following engaged scholarship standards.
Lead College-Wide Access and Engagement Plan: Develop a college-wide plan to include coaching and mentoring of students, staff, and/or faculty.
Plan engagement activities for the purpose of developing a sense of belonging, with the goal of retaining students, staff, and/or faculty.
Develop large- and small-scale professional development and education programs for faculty, students, and/or staff.
Supervise Staff and Oversee Budget: Manage and provide guidance and direction for a staff of three, including the Coordinator of Access and Engagement, an Administrative Assistant, and a Faculty Fellow.
Create and manage the office budget, in accordance with state guidelines.
Participate in College and University Leadership: Attend university and college level meetings that support the work of Access and Engagement; implement initiatives extending from these meetings, and communicate across groups, as needed.
Data Collection, Analysis, and Evaluation: Survey, analyze, interpret feedback information, and prepare and submit reports (e.g., Impact Summary, annual report, student programs).
Collaborate with other college leaders on data gathering efforts to develop academic and performance statistics for the university that are accurate, relevant, and measure the effectiveness and efficiency of the programs and services offered through the Access and Engagement work.
Identify and implement changes to programs as needed, to ensure outcomes align with strategic objectives.