The Assistant Director for Civic Engagement Programs drives student engagement and leadership by developing and implementing “Engaging in Democracy” programs and resources that promote active participation in civic life. The role also leads the Mulliss Center’s signature events—including orientation initiatives, the Celebration of Service, and other campus-wide events—that connect students to meaningful community experiences. Serving as a mentor and advisor, the Assistant Director supports student-led civic engagement organizations, fostering leadership, collaboration, and campus-wide impact. The position also advances experiential learning efforts through coordination with the Experiential Learning Advisory Team (ELAT) and the Catalyst initiative, which centralizes resources and highlights high-impact opportunities for students across Davidson. The position reports to the Director of Civic Engagement & Bonner Scholars.
LOCATION & BENEFITS
Davidson College is located a short drive from Charlotte, NC, the state’s largest city. As an employer, Davidson offers numerous benefits, including:
- 4 weeks of vacation in the first year of employment, plus college holidays
- Health insurance
- A 403(b) retirement plan to which the College contributes 9.5% of salary after one year of employment
- Tuition assistance for employees after one year of employment; and tuition assistance for dependents after 7 years of continuous full-time employment
RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Development and Management
- Develop and implement all “Engaging in Democracy” programming and resources.
- Develop and implement the institutional civic action plan collaboratively engaging stakeholders from across campus. Develop and steward relationships with external organizations for democratic engagement including: All in, NC Campus Engagement, Students Learn/Students Vote, etc.
- Develop and implement the Mulliss Center for Civic Engagement’s signature events including but not limited to community engagement events as part of New Student Orientation, Celebration of Service, etc
- Coordinate events and data collection for the Experiential Learning Advisory Team and the Catalyst initiative including 2 annual events promoting the Catalyst initiative. Represent the initiative at open houses, involvement fairs, etc. Maintain program website and marketing.
Marketing
- Build a robust awareness of Engaging in Democracy Programs & Resources, The Mulliss Center’s signature events, and the Catalyst Initiative through a range of strategies including social media assets, overview workshops, publicity campaigns, WildcatSync news stories, etc.
Student Advising
- Advise service and social action groups and support the events of those groups
- Support the Director Civic Engagement & Bonner Scholars in advising the Civic Engagement Council. Coordinate collaborative events between the Mulliss Center for Civic Engagement and the Civic Engagement Council.
- Meet regularly with the student leaders of Davidson Votes and Center for Political Engagement.
- Offer consultation to individual students or student groups interested engaging in the community beyond boundaries of campus
Research & Assessment
- Maintain and update the Experiential Learning Advisory team’s participant databases and disaggregate data to understand if experiences are reaching all students. Support the team to develop its annual report. Benchmarking best practices and trends in experiential learning initiatives at liberal arts /peer institutions.
- Support the Director of the Mulliss Center with research and program development
Professional Development
- Collaborate with members of the Experiential Learning Advisory Team to develop professional development resources for faculty and staff related to high impact experiential learning including centralized digital resources, workshops, discussions, etc.
- Develop and maintain the Faculty Community Engaged Learning Resource google site
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will be a collaborative, student-centered professional who is highly organized, experienced in program coordination, and committed to fostering civic engagement, leadership development, and meaningful community impact. Required qualifications include:
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in higher education, nonprofit management, or a related field preferred.
- Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and coordinating programs, events, or initiatives in higher education, civic engagement, or community-focused organizations.
- Strong commitment to student-centered learning, civic engagement, and leadership development.
- Experience advising or mentoring student-led organizations and supporting student leadership initiatives.
- Excellent organizational, project management, and communication skills, including the ability to coordinate multiple programs and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
- Familiarity with experiential learning, civic engagement programs, or service-learning initiatives strongly preferred.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team.
- Experience in assessment, program evaluation, or data-driven decision-making a plus.
- All candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.
Information about how to submit an application can be found at https://employment.davidson.edu.