Assistant Director Administration & Academic Engagement - Center for Race, Ethnicity and Equity

Scheduled Hours

37.5

Position Summary

The Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity (CRE²) seeks an Assistant Director to provide operational leadership and administrative management for the Center’s programs, initiatives, and strategic priorities. Reporting to the Senior Associate Director, the Assistant Director will play a key role in coordinating the Center’s administrative infrastructure and financial processes to support CRE²’s mission of advancing transformative research, learning, and community engagement on race and ethnicity.

The Assistant Director will work closely with Center leadership to oversee operational systems, support budget planning and grant activity, and ensure the effective coordination of programs, partnerships, and academic initiatives. This position will also contribute to the development and management of research support programs, graduate fellowships, and initiatives that strengthen the Center’s impact across campus and within the broader community.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic and collaborative leader who excels at organizational management, program coordination, and building administrative systems that support dynamic academic and research environments.

Job Description

Grant Development, Partnerships, and Institutional Coordination

• Coordinate reporting and stewardship efforts for funded projects and donor relationships.

• 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

Academic Programs and Fellowship Coordination

• Support the planning and implementation of CRE²’s graduate and faculty fellowship programs, including orientation, programming, and cohort development.

• Coordinate workshops, seminars, and professional development opportunities for fellows and affiliates.

• Work with faculty affiliates and Center leadership to integrate fellows’ research and programming into the broader intellectual life of the Center.

• Provide logistical and programmatic support for fellows and student engagement initiatives.

• Assist in the development and coordination of undergraduate engagement opportunities and research programs connected to the Center’s mission.

Administrative and Operational Management

• Maintain administrative systems, operational procedures, and internal workflows that support the efficient management of the Center’s programs, events, and daily operations.

• Coordinate internal planning processes and logistical infrastructure necessary for Center programs and partnerships.

• Work with Center leadership to develop communications, outreach materials, and program resources that support the Center’s mission and visibility.

• Assist in maintaining consistent processes for program planning, coordination, and execution across Center initiatives.

• Work closely with Center leadership to support and strengthen the administrative and operational infrastructure of the Center.

• Collaborate with Center leadership on the design and planning of the Center’s annual budget.

• Manage financial operations of the Center, including monitoring expenditures, coordinating with staff responsible for daily accounting processes, and ensuring alignment with institutional policies.

• Scope, coordinate, and manage resources necessary to support the Center’s operational infrastructure and programmatic initiatives.

• Develop, articulate, and maintain infrastructure goals, processes, and operational systems that support the Center’s mission and long-term sustainability.

• Conduct regular evaluation and management of the Center’s operational processes and administrative systems.

• Oversee the development and implementation of logic models and assessment tools designed to evaluate the Center’s effectiveness and programmatic impact.

• Provide oversight and coordination of administrative support staff.

• Complete special projects as directed by senior leadership.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:
Job Location/Working Conditions

• Normal office environment.

• Ability to travel to various on and off campus locations.

Physical Effort

• Typically sitting at a desk or table.

• Repetitive wrist, hand, or finger movement.

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 or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

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

Work Experience:

Relevant Experience (3 Years)

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

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

More About This Job

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3–5 years of experience in higher education, nonprofit, or cultural institutions, with demonstrated success in engagement, outreach, or program development.
• Familiarity with university advancement, foundation relations, or grants administration systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with others on the team and with other administrative and academic units.
• Demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards.
• Demonstrated high commitment to service excellence, diversity and equity.
• Demonstrated ability to independently perform the wide range of tasks associated with this position.
• Experience with electronic grants administration systems.
• Experience with grant proposals
• Strong analytic skills and the ability to think strategically and programmatically.
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks in a complex organizational environment, this includes attention to detail.
• Ability to implement plans to reach organizational goals.
• Ability to meet deadlines and complete tasks in a timely manner.
• Must be dependable, conscientious, thorough, accurate and reliable with respect to achieving the organization’s goals.
• Strong attention to detail. Excellent spelling, grammar, punctuation and writing skills essential.
• Creative Thinker and Strategist.
• High level of professionalism and institutional enthusiasm.
• Ability to interact with tact and diplomacy and to communicate successfully and effectively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and external visitors, and others.
• Excellent attitude and personality that takes ownership of projects and tasks.
• Self-starter.
• Must be able to establish and maintain excellent working relationships with all campus and external constituencies.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Master's degree

Certifications/Professional 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:

Confidentiality, Interpersonal Interactions, Multitasking, Oral Communications, Organizing, Prioritization, Sound Judgment, Working Independently, Writing

Grade

G11

Salary Range

$53,100.00 - $90,600.00 / Annually

The 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 email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or 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.