Job Description

Scheduled Hours

37.5The Office for Socially Engaged Practice (OSEP) seeks an Assistant Director of Engagement to provide management of Design/Build initiatives, and operational administrative leadership for OSEP’s programs, initiatives, and strategic priorities. Reporting to the Director, the Assistant Director will play a central role in shaping collaborative public initiatives and processes that include the administrative infrastructure and financial processes that underpin mutually beneficial partnerships.

The Assistant Director will work closely with the Director, to oversee operational systems, public partnerships, and develop and manage key design/build initiatives. This position will also contribute to the development and management of faculty support programs, oversee student positions, and participate in University-wide initiatives that strengthen OSEP’s impact across campus and within the broader community.

The ideal candidate will be a collaborative leader who excels at community design, has experience in co-design projects and engagement methods, and has experience in organizational management, and program coordination that supports dynamic academic environments grounded in a commitment to long-term partnership and accountable to communities.

Administration and Management of Strategic Initiatives

• Manage and evolve existing community-engaged design and research initiatives including: Design Openings, University City Public Art Series, and Summer Public Design Workshop
  • Manage collaborative, interdisciplinary teams that include community partners, students, faculty, and external collaborators.
  • Coordinate with Faculty Leads providing administrative support for faculty engagements to ensure they are on schedule, within budget, and mutually beneficial partnerships.
  • Manage administrative and financial operations between WashU stakeholders and community partners ensuring Sam Fox community engagements are grounded in ethical transparency and shared decision-making.
  • Support faculty and student work by providing guidance on best practices in socially engaged and public-interest design.
  • Oversee documentation and dissemination of community engaged work in ways that are accessible, respectful, and useful to Sam Fox, community partners and broader audiences.
  • Interface with regulatory agencies, as needed.

• Manage City StudioSTL Fellowship Program
  • Liaise with Firms, coordinating application process, placement, community projects, and community partners.
  • Manage budget and program accounting and operations.
  • Assist in stewarding new partners and St. Louis based firms.
  • Conduct evaluation and reporting of program.

Institutional Alignment and Coordination

• Develop robust relationships with faculty and students at the Sam Fox School on socially engaged practices.
• Act as a connector across WashU, building relationships with aligned centers, institutes, and departments to support interdisciplinary, community-engaged work, including: the Confluence Collaborative, In St. Louis for St, Louis, Public Exchange, Gephardt Institute,CRE2, Center for Humanities, and the Center for the Environment.
• Collaborate with WashU engagement teams as needed on initiatives that increase University connections to pressing issues in the St. Louis region.
• Serve on institutional committees, including Confluence Collaborative, Gephardt Institute and other entities, as needed, including faculty engagement, search committees, and application review committees.
• Strengthen internal networks that expand the reach and impact of socially engaged practice at WashU.

Strategic Operations and Management

• Work closely with Director to support and strengthen the administrative and operational infrastructure of OSEP.
• Collaborate with the Director on the design and planning of OSEP’s annual budget.
• Contribute to strategic planning related to fundraising and partnership development.
• Establish and measure key data points to assess the effectiveness of the Center’s outreach and revenue-generating initiatives.
• Facilitate the development of new content and create opportunities for outreach and national representation on issues of socially engaged practiced, community engaged teaching, and collaboration.
• Ensure participation within the St. Louis region and across the disciplines represented at the Sam Fox School including: architecture, art, design, community development, and public interest design.
• Cultivate and sustain meaningful, trust-based relationships with community-based organizations, neighborhood groups, nonprofits, and public agencies across St. Louis.
• Serve as a liaison between OSEP and community partners, supporting long-term collaboration rather than transactional engagement.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration that bridge academic resources with community-defined priorities.

Communications/Documentation

• Coordinate proper archiving of project work.
• Develop strategies to amplify OSEP's work to local and national audiences.
• Develop communications plan for social media and external communications of OSEP’s initiatives.
• Coordinate with Sam Fox Communications and external partners as necessary for communications.
• Coordinate and/or executes documentation of projects, academic and public programs.

OSEP Student Mentor and Supervisor

• Supervise OSEP interns, fellows and practicum students.
• Support the planning and implementation of OSEP student internship, and fellowship positions, including orientation, programming, and cohort development.
• Work with Director to integrate interns and fellows into the broader intellectual life of OSEP.
• Assist the Director in managing OSEP internship program.
• Supervise students, providing weekly check-ins and direct support on projects and office tasks.
• Provide oversight for the supervision of 1-3 Brown School practicum students as a field instructor.
• Develop projects tailored to students’ interests and skills.
• Provide regular feedback and support for execution of projects.

Fundraising and Grant Writing

• Identify and coordinate grant applications for existing projects.
• Assist Director in identifying strategic opportunities for new programs and initiatives.
• Maintain necessary grant and contract compliance, including budget, financial reporting, and project activity reporting.
• Work with SFS Research Office and Advancement to identify and submit for grants.
• Coordinate reporting and stewardship efforts for funded projects and donor relationships.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:
Job Location/Working Conditions

• Normal office environment.

Physical Effort

• Typically sitting at desk or table.
• Repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement.
• Occasional lifting (<25lbs).
• Ability to move to on and off-campus locations.

Equipment

• Office equipment.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree

CertificationsProfessional Licenses

No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience:

Infrastructure And Architecture (3 Years)

Skills:

3D Modeling, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop

Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Required Qualifications:

• Three years of experience in Architecture, urban design, planning and/or community-engaged development program management.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master degree in Architecture, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Urban Studies, Public Policy, or a related field.

• Five years of combined experience in the areas of community engagement and/or cross-cultural communication

• A clear commitment to equitable, community-centered approaches to design and research.

• Teaching experience in an accredited architecture program.

• Experience working in St. Louis or similar urban contexts.

• Professional licensure in a related field.

• Demonstrated knowledge of community engaged design and/or public interest design.

• Project development and management skills including demonstrated ability to manifest the vision of an idea, align stakeholders around the idea, create an execution plan, and bring the idea to fruition.

• Knowledge of the local arts community is a plus.

• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to manage students and staff and to work collaboratively with a variety of project partners, public and private institutional partners, academic and professional allies, and non-profit organizations.

• Strong computer proficiency related to graphic design, office administration, project completion and potential publications.

• Demonstrated ability to work with a variety of project partners, subcontractors, material suppliers and non-profits and coordinate between them.

• Ability to effectively interact with university faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

• Written skills should demonstrate a wide range of flexibility in format, including web content, journalism, proposals, reports, social media, and other formats, and audiences including students, faculty, alumni, funders, and stakeholders.

• Experience and sensitivity working in environments of complex power and political dynamics.

• Understanding and a willingness to learn about and interact with a wide range of diverse identities and experiences.

• Skills in evaluation, assessment, and reporting.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Master's degree

CertificationsProfessional Licenses

No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Work Experience:

No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Skills:

Art Fabrication, Budget Management, Community Designs, Community Work, Diversity Awareness, Evaluation Methods, Grant Writing, Graphic Design, Interpersonal Communication, Multiple Project Management, Multitasking, Nonprofit Organizations, Oral Communications, Organizing, Project Development, Project Funding, Project Management, Stakeholder Management, Time Management, Willingness to Learn, Written Communication

Grade

G12

Salary Range

$58,400.00 - $99,700.00 / AnnuallyThe salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please emailCandidateQuestions@wustl.eduor call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.

• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.

• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.

• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.

• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.