Coordinator for Civic Engagement Programs

About the Gephardt Institute

The Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement fosters a vibrant culture of civic engagement across Washington University, realized by engaged citizens, scholarship, and partnerships that advance the collective good. Through both academic and co-curricular initiatives, the institute educates students for lifelong engaged citizenship, catalyzes partnerships that respond to community needs and priorities, and infuses civic engagement throughout the Washington University experience.

As a university-wide interdisciplinary initiative, the Gephardt Institute reports to the Provost and serves all academic schools, university departments, undergraduate students, and graduate students. The institute is non-partisan and proactively seeks to support and include diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and ideologies, with a strong attention to equity.

The Gephardt Institute team is comprised of individuals who are mission-driven, values-focused, dynamic, collaborative, visionary, and passionate about the role of civic engagement in a thriving democracy. The institute upholds the values of inquiry, empathy, collaboration, integrity, equity, and action. The staff focuses on three primary audiences: undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and community organizations in the St. Louis region.

Since the institute’s founding in 2005 by Congressman Dick Gephardt, the professional staff size has grown from two to twelve, with six or more part-time and short-term professional positions and 22 paid interns/fellows from undergraduate and graduate programs. The institute offers a broad range of programs and services to the Washington University community and to partners in the St. Louis region, such as the Civic Scholars Program; support for faculty teaching Community-Engaged Courses; Engage Democracy; K-12 and youth initiatives; new student engagement; and the Civic Engagement Fund.

To learn more about the Gephardt Institute, please visit http://gephardtinstitute.wustl.edu.

Position Summary

The Coordinator for Civic Engagement Programs provides programmatic and administrative support to the Assistant Director for Civic Engagement Education. With a focus on the Civic Scholars Program and Goldman Fellows Program, the Coordinator supports recruitment, selection, special events, communications, fundraising activities, stewardship, assessment, and related efforts. The Coordinator also supports special projects related to civic engagement education, such as workshops and collaborative initiatives with campus and/or community partners.

Key Responsibilities

1. Coordinate administrative and programming functions of the Civic Scholars Program and the Goldman Fellows Program.

Coordinate marking, recruitment, and selection processes. Plan, implement, and evaluate special events such as information sessions, orientation sessions, fall break immersion trips, local immersions, overnight retreats, student presentations, fundraising and stewardship events, receptions, and alumni events. Submit receipts and other financial transactions for processing.

Provide course support such as arranging guest speakers, preparing materials for class, and coordinating special class sessions. Liaison with Assistant Director for Strategy and Evaluation to facilitate evaluation, assessment, and documentation of programs.

2. Facilitate communications and donor relations for the Civic Scholars Program and the Goldman Fellows Program.

Liaison with Alumni & Development staff and Manager of Marketing & Communications to facilitate the creation of fundraising communications, donor reports, and stewardship materials. Facilitate student or alumni meetings with donors, special events with donors and prospective donors, and coordinate alumni networks.

Liaison with Manager of Marketing & Communications to assure high quality print and electronic communications for applicants, nominators, donors, and supporters – including website, external collateral, social media, and video. Coordinate the content and distribution of quarterly alumni newsletters.

3. Assist with the development and implementation of civic engagement programs such as workshops or collaborative programs with campus and/or community partners.

Coordinate and implement plans for workshops, dialogues, panels, community partner meetings and special events on or off campus. Plan, implement and evaluate new civic engagement education initiatives, events, and special projects under the direction of the supervisor. Support community partnership efforts of the institute by assisting with site visits and planning processes.

4. Contribute to initiatives, meetings, and events of the Gephardt Institute, including planning processes, special projects, and special events, donor cultivation and stewardship, and grant/proposal applications. Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Demonstrated experience with project management and event planning.
• Demonstrated experience with and enthusiasm for civic and community engagement.

Preferred Education/Experience

• Master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration, Social Work, Non-Profit Management, or related field.
• 1-3 years professional experience in higher education that includes project management, development communications, event planning, and/or student programming.
• Professional experience in a college/university office addressing civic engagement, community service, and/or community outreach.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with one or more social issues addressed by civic engagement.

Critical Skills/Expertise

• Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, project management and event planning skills. Strong time management, attention to detail, ability to manage multiple priorities, and ability to forecast and plan work across teams, while maintaining a landscape view of priorities, values, and vision.
• Energy, vision, initiative, creativity, empathy, humility, tolerance for ambiguity, ability to embrace and navigate change, sound judgment, diplomacy, tact, and sense of humor.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability and sensitivity in interacting with a racially, culturally, and socioeconomically diverse range of stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, campus colleagues, alumni, community partners, donors and prospective donors, and senior-level administrators and external advisors. Commitment to continuous learning about cultural humility and equity.
• Strong writing and editing skills with strong attention to both detail and nuance.
• Enthusiasm and ability to work in a dynamic environment with multiple functions, audiences, and priorities.
• Ability to function both independently and collaboratively in team-based environment.
• Ability and willingness to work evening and weekend hours for special projects and events in service to the institute’s mission.

To Apply

Please submit application materials, including a resume and cover letter, to http://jobs.wustl.edu (Job ID 44127).