Director of Community Opportunity Initiatives (Civic Engagement & Opportunity)

Johns Hopkins University•Baltimore, MD

5d•$102,295 - $179,375•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Community Opportunity Initiatives is a key position in Johns Hopkins University’s Office of Civic Engagement and Opportunity. The Director works closely with the Vice President for Civic Engagement and Opportunity, the Office of the President, the Office of Public Impact Initiatives, and the Vice President for Economic Impact to advance the university’s strategy and anchor commitment to strengthening Baltimore City and neighborhoods around its campuses, advancing economic growth, and enriching the institution’s mission. The portfolio has a significant focus on education and youth opportunity, including developing, coordinating, and executing initiatives that expand educational access, attainment, pathways, and opportunities for children and young people in Baltimore City. The role also supports the wider work of the office, including community and civic engagement, economic opportunity and inclusion, public impact initiatives, institutional partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and other high-priority initiatives. Working across Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and external partners, the Director serves as a connector, strategist, project leader, and trusted representative of the Vice President. The Director manages a complex portfolio, prepares the Vice President for meetings and decisions, coordinates cross-institutional teams, builds stakeholder relationships, and moves priorities from strategy to execution. The position calls for strong judgment, discretion, initiative, relationship management, and project management in a complex, fast-paced environment. The Director leads and supports strategic planning and execution, partnership development, data analysis, project and change management, and grant management. The position also develops community engagement strategies, coordinates listening sessions and stakeholder convenings, prepares executive and public-facing communications, and provides project leadership for named public impact initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Eight years of work experience in economic development or a directly related field.
Three years of experience in a strategy development role.
Additional education may substitute for required experience, and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma or equivalent, subject to the JHU equivalency formula.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives and translating strategy into execution.
Demonstrated success working in a complex, fast-paced environment involving time-sensitive or high-profile projects and diverse internal and external constituents.
Strong project management, relationship management, analytical, writing, and communication skills.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, initiative, and diplomacy when representing a senior executive and institution.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, establish clear priorities, and consistently deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines.
Experience with public-private partnerships, philanthropy, community engagement, economic inclusion, or public impact initiatives.
Experience working with elected officials, government agencies, community leaders, nonprofit organizations, business leaders, funders, or media.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Vice President on creating and executing the Economic Impact agenda and developing team strategy.
Deliver high-priority projects and milestones supporting the Office of Economic Impact’s strategic initiatives.
Build collaborative relationships across Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Health System, community groups, and external agencies to improve project delivery and identify opportunities.
Connect internal teams and external audiences, and build influence, impact, and leadership accountability for the Office of Economic Impact across the enterprise.
Represent the team and Vice President with internal and external constituencies, including on relevant committees and in leadership, staff, faculty, and student forums.
Lead the University’s education and youth opportunity portfolio, including efforts to improve educational access, attainment, and career pathways for Baltimore City children and youth.
Maintain relationships with Baltimore City Public Schools, educators, nonprofit partners, funders, and government officials to support education initiatives.
Gather and analyze complex data from across Johns Hopkins and external demographic, socioeconomic, business development, and educational sources; use findings to recommend process and workflow changes that support measurable outcomes.
Identify change-management priorities and develop project ideas into initiatives aligned with program strategy and system-wide economic impact objectives.
Develop content with the Vice President for discussions and reviews with senior leadership.
Lead project management across a portfolio, coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives and balancing effort according to project priorities.
Consult with grantees and partners to develop high-impact projects and help ensure grants meet outcome goals.
Conduct site visits, provide operational guidance, and convene stakeholder meetings as needed.
Develop relationships and approaches for engaging scholars, practitioners, and community members to identify investment opportunities aligned with strategy.
Review letters of inquiry and grant proposals and prepare written analyses and funding recommendations; draft and edit proposal summaries and progress reports for foundation leadership.
Design and execute community engagement strategies that strengthen Johns Hopkins’ role as a trusted civic and community partner.
Coordinate stakeholder convenings, listening sessions, and partnership activities that deepen community voice and participation.
Draft speeches, briefing documents, public-facing materials, and other communications, often in partnership with the Office of Communications.
Provide project leadership for the Baltimore Strategic Impact Initiative, HopkinsLocal, Live Near Your Work, the JHPD PAL Center, and the Henrietta Lacks Building Community Advisory Committee.
Perform other duties as assigned.