Bates College, a highly selective undergraduate liberal arts college, announces the search for the Director of the Harward Center for Community Partnerships.  The Center is a well-established institutional resource that advances the college’s commitment to cultivating informed civic action in its students.  Firmly rooted in the academic purpose of the college, the Center brings together four related spheres:  community-based learning and research; student leadership development; public policy programming; and environmental stewardship.

In each of the past few years, Bates students have performed on average 40,000 hours of academically-based community work, with 44 courses incorporating a community-based learning component and 48 senior theses including community-based research.  In its public policy sphere, the Center annually brings together public leaders, advocates, activists, and policy makers for civic forums on issues of importance to the local and wider communities.  The Center also has responsibility for the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, a coastal reserve of 600 acres in nearby Phippsburg, ME that is used for conservation, research, education and some limited public access.

Primary responsibilities of the Director include the following:

• Sustaining a Center that advances the mission of the college through development of community partnerships on the local, national, and international levels.
• Exercising collaborative leadership among faculty, students, staff, and community partners and engaging all collaborators in long-range planning, program development, and evaluation.
• Extending funding through grants, stewardship and targeted fundraising as well as managing the Center’s operating budget.  Leading an experienced staff of professionals to achieve the goals of the College.
• Cultivating new opportunities for community partnerships that emerge from academic programs, community needs, and student interests.
• Serving as a catalyst for connecting civic and community engagement with the intellectual life of the college community.  Working collaboratively with all campus offices to create new opportunities for engagement through existing structures (residential life, student activities, athletics, student organizations, student government, and chaplaincy).

Bates College is a vital part of the community of Lewiston, ME (population 41,500), a city of many strengths and challenges.  The population has increased over the decade because approximately 4,000 African refugees, primarily Somali, have made Lewiston their home.  Together with neighboring Auburn, the area is home to four colleges, all of which work cooperatively to share their rich intellectual and cultural resources with the community. At the same time, according to the 2010 census, three of the state’s seven extreme poverty tracts are located in Lewiston.  With community partners, the Center helps forge collaborations to address the many strengths and challenges of the community.

The successful candidate will demonstrate leadership and vision in fostering connections between intellectual life and community engagement.  He/she should have experience with and theoretical grounding in community based research.  The candidate should have experience with diverse community agencies; enjoy close collaboration with faculty; demonstrate experience with successful management of advisory boards and in the management of staff and volunteers. Graduate degree required; Ph.D. or other appropriate terminal degree is preferred.  Faculty status is possible and will depend on the candidate’s qualifications and the college’s needs.  The Director will report to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.  Preferred start date is July 1, 2012.

The search process will be conducted with respect for candidates’ needs for confidentiality.

Recruitment will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made.  Nominations, expressions of interest, and applications (including a current CV and a letter describing interest, qualifications and relevant experience) are invited and should be submitted via email (attachments are preferred) to BatesHCDir {at} wittkieffer(.)com.

Confidential inquiries and questions concerning this position may be directed to the consultants supporting this search, Sheila Murphy and Robin Mamlet, through the office of Kelly Torres at 630-575-6118.

Bates College values a diverse college community and learning environment, and believes in the transformative power of our differences. The college is committed to building and maintaining a workforce that accurately reflects the diversity of our student body, alumni network and local community. We encourage individuals of diverse backgrounds to apply and are committed to hiring individuals who value an inclusive work environment.