Program Manager for the Center of Civil Dialogue and Civic Engagement

University of Wisconsin Stout•La Crosse, WI

About The Position

The Program Manager for the Center for Civil Dialogue and Civic Engagement (CDCE) at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse manages the daily operations of CDCE programs, services, and events. Reporting to the Director, the Program Manager develops and implements educational programming that fosters belonging, community engagement, and cross-cultural understanding. The role collaborates with student groups, university departments, and community partners; organizes community-building events; supports campus climate initiatives; supervises student staff; and contributes to assessment and continuous program improvement. The position emphasizes responsiveness to campus needs, cross-campus collaboration, and alignment with UWL’s mission of supporting student success. The Program Manager creates educational materials and experiences focused on different perspectives, civil dialogue, and civic empowerment; designs and delivers programs, workshops, and presentations; and manages Campus Thread, a free clothing closet supporting student career readiness. The role also supports data-informed policy revisions, assesses programs and events, and reports results to campus leadership, partners, and stakeholders. Administrative duties include maintaining CDCE’s website, social media, and marketing materials; assisting with reports; and supporting financial planning and administration, including budget monitoring, purchase orders, invoices, payments, and financial reconciliation. The Program Manager collaborates on campus-wide and divisional events, provides guidance and training for campus partners, and oversees recruitment, training, scheduling, performance, and development of student staff. The position is in the Center for Civil Dialogue and Civic Engagement. Compensation is $51,000 per year. Applications received on or before November 16, 2026 receive priority consideration; review continues until the position is filled. Initial interviews are virtual, with shortlisted candidates invited to campus. The university does not provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in education, counseling, sociology, ethnic and racial studies, communications, or a related field.
At least 3 years of demonstrated ability to work with students from varying backgrounds and understanding of barriers to student success.
Experience coordinating large-scale campus events and initiatives, including logistical planning, budgeting, and assessment.
Experience designing and leading educational workshops and professional development sessions related to a department’s mission, vision, and values.
Experience training and supervising student staff.
Demonstrated oral and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
Legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and able to maintain work authorization throughout the employment term.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing and implementing campus-wide programming on civil discourse, civic empowerment, and discussions of varied perspectives.
Ability to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with faculty, staff, and community partners to enhance student learning and engagement.
Bilingual ability in English/Spanish, Hmong, or other languages.
Master’s degree in student development, student affairs administration and higher education, or a related field.
Proficiency with social media.
Strong computer proficiency with Shop UW+, Peoplesoft, Qualtrics, and Canvas.

Responsibilities

Manage daily operations of CDCE programs, services, and events.
Develop and implement educational programming that fosters belonging, community engagement, and cross-cultural understanding.
Create educational materials and coordinate experiences that expose students to different perspectives, promote civil dialogue, and empower students civically.
Encourage critical thinking and develop communication, problem-solving, and mutual-respect skills.
Design and deliver programs, workshops, and presentations that help participants navigate complex topics, foster belonging, and support student success.
Manage Campus Thread, a free clothing closet for students, and initiatives that promote career readiness and preparation for life and work after college.
Collaborate with the CDCE Director on data-informed policy revisions using relevant data and current trends.
Manage assessment of events and programs, report results to campus leadership, partners, and stakeholders, and assist in evaluating CDCE programming.
Maintain the CDCE website, social media, and marketing materials.
Assist the Director with reports, including End of Year and AIDAC reports.
Support financial-needs reviews and budget planning and management, including preparing and monitoring budgets, processing purchase orders, managing invoices and payments, and reconciling financial records.
Collaborate with the CDCE Director to design and lead campus-wide programs and events with faculty, staff, and student organizations.
Provide structured guidance for community-building and training programs for campus partners.
Support alignment of campus climate priorities with broader division initiatives.
Lead divisional programming and manage multiple celebrations and events throughout the academic year, including catering, staffing, and budgets.
Recruit, train, and oversee the performance of office and Campus Thread student staff, including hiring, promoting, scheduling, and approving work hours.
Mentor student staff on relevant campus issues and support their career-readiness skill development through feedback and guidance.
Perform other duties as assigned that reflect the unit and division’s mission and values.