Director of Outreach and Engagement (AA26114)

Minnesota State University, Mankato • Mankato, MN

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Outreach and Engagement Director for the School of Applied Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources at Minnesota State University, Mankato leads strategic recruitment, marketing, and partnership efforts to grow and sustain Ag-related academic programs. This role involves: Recruitment & Marketing: Designing and executing outreach campaigns to attract prospective students and raise awareness of current and future programs. Partnership Development: Building strong relationships with K–12 schools, colleges, industry groups, and statewide organizations to expand career and academic pathways. Student Support: Guiding students from inquiry through graduation, including advising and retention strategies in collaboration with university teams. Event Coordination: Planning and managing School-sponsored events, including budgeting, scheduling, stakeholder communication, and problem-solving. Program Growth & Inclusion: Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion while enhancing student experience, enrollment, and industry engagement. Reporting to the Executive Director, this position plays a central role in shaping a vibrant, inclusive, and future-focused agricultural education ecosystem.

Requirements

• Master’s degree related to agricultural education, educational leadership, student affairs/development, marketing or other related major plus two years of experience working in a college or university in outreach, recruiting, customer service, project management, advising and/or marketing related area (Conferred on an official transcript at the time of application).
• Or Bachelor’s degree related to agricultural education, educational leadership, student affairs/development, marketing or other related major plus four years of experience working in a college or university in outreach, recruiting, customer service, project management, advising and/or marketing related area (Conferred on an official transcript at the time of application).
• Demonstrated ability to develop, refine and track operational budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, develop and orchestrate recruitment and student advising-related activities.
• Strong organizational and multi-tasking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to handle and process sensitive and confidential information.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with a diverse population of students, faculty, staff and external parties and commitment to fostering a diverse working and learning environment.
• Work safely at all times, which includes but is not limited to, participating and completing all required safety trainings, as well as performing all job tasks in accordance with Minnesota State University, Mankato policies and procedures utilizing appropriate tools, equipment and personal protective equipment.
• Requires a valid, applicable driver’s license, as well as a DVS records check with an acceptable rating.
• Requires a passing background check under Minnesota Statutes 299C.60 to 299C.64 – Minnesota Child Protection Background Check Act.
• It is the employee’s responsibility to notify the supervisor no later than the beginning of your next shift of any charges, allegations, convictions that may impact their standing under the applicable background check.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum and/or similar transfer curriculum in other states.
• Familiarity with higher education trends, especially with non-traditional adult learners, and experiential education.
• Ability to organize work and create internal processes to support performance outcomes.
• Ability to learn and retain a wide-range of institutional information.
• Demonstrated high-level of comfort with phone, internet, and face to face sales outreach.

Responsibilities

• Designing and executing outreach campaigns to attract prospective students and raise awareness of current and future programs.
• Building strong relationships with K–12 schools, colleges, industry groups, and statewide organizations to expand career and academic pathways.
• Guiding students from inquiry through graduation, including advising and retention strategies in collaboration with university teams.
• Planning and managing School-sponsored events, including budgeting, scheduling, stakeholder communication, and problem-solving.
• Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion while enhancing student experience, enrollment, and industry engagement.

Benefits

• 11 paid Holidays
• Vacation Time
• Sick Time
• six weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• low cost medical and dental insurance with low deductibles ($250 - $1500)
• a Pension Plan
• 457(b) and 403(b) retirement plans and other retirement investment options
• pre-tax medical and dental expense (with roll-over option) and dependent care accounts
• employer paid life insurance
• short and long term disability
• professional development
• a tuition waiver program for employees and their dependents

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director