A Community Relations Manager works for a business or organization to develop strategies and programs that represent the business favorably and which create a positive relationship with its community and customers. Manages community relations programs that are in alignment with business strategies. May direct or administer the charitable contributions, grants and volunteer programs.
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Assistant Director, Public Service Partnerships, UVA Madison House
Location
Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
Category
Student Services, Health, & Wellness
The Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia
Job Id
R0085213
Job Type
Full time
Madison House is the student-led volunteer center for University of Virginia students, committed to building a vibrant, engaged network of mutually-beneficial partnerships that address community-identified needs through student-led service. In alignment with UVA's strategic priority of preparing citizen leaders and fostering public service across Grounds, a core priority for Madison House is to deepen and enhance relationships with local nonprofit, government, and educational organizations. Madison House is seeking an Assistant Director, Public Service Partnerships.
The Assistant Director strengthens this work by serving as a key liaison between the University and the broader Charlottesville-Albemarle community. This role emphasizes an asset-based community development approach by amplifying the strengths, leadership, and resources that already exist within the community. The position leads partnership strategy, supports assessment efforts, and helps connect community organizations with well-trained, responsive, and reflective student volunteers to ensure that public service experiences are meaningful, educational, and community-driven.
Responsibilities Include:
Community Partnership Strategy & Relationship Management
Cultivate and sustain strong, mutually-beneficial relationships with 100+ community partners across a wide range of issue areas
Conduct an annual needs and priorities assessment with all community partners to inform volunteer program planning for the following academic year
Coordinate midpoint and end-of-semester check-ins with partners to assess partnership progress and identify needed changes
Maintain regular communication with partners to provide responsive, community-centered support
Field and document requests from community partners for new or expanded programs, meet with partners to better understand their goals, and develop a system for prioritizing opportunities based on alignment, capacity, and community need
Maintain accurate and updated contact information for all community partners to ensure consistent and effective communication
Plan and coordinate biannual gatherings for community partners, including a fall orientation/training and a spring celebration, as well as other networking events and opportunities to build community
Establish and facilitate a Community Partner Council to ensure community voice and feedback meaningfully inform Madison House programs, partnerships, and strategic priorities
Collaborate closely with the Assistant Directors of Student Programming to ensure community partner needs, volunteer opportunities, and student learning goals remain aligned.
Volunteer Program Development & Support
Collaborate with student leaders to co-create volunteer roles aligned with partner goals and community-identified challenges
Share relevant community feedback and assessment data with student leaders to guide program development and decision-making
Provide guidance, mentorship, and leadership development for student Program Directors and volunteers
Design and facilitate trainings that emphasize cultural humility, community context, and equity in service
Assessment and Evaluation
Help implement and refine systems for evaluating partnership strength, volunteer impact, and program outcomes
Collect, analyze, and communicate data to support continuous improvement in both community and student experiences
Contribute to internal and external reporting, storytelling, and strategic planning using insights from evaluation
Supervision
Supervise, support, and evaluate 1-2 AmeriCorps VISTA members focused on strengthening and expanding Madison House's community partnerships.
Provide ongoing mentorship, training, and project oversight to support the VISTAs' professional development and successful completion of program goals.
Collaborate with the VISTA(s) to identify opportunities for partnership growth, community outreach, and volunteer engagement that advance Madison House's mission and strategic priorities.
Madison House Representation and Development
Actively participate in the ongoing development of Madison House, including attendance at staff meetings, retreats, events, and board meetings
Build and maintain collaborative relationships on and off campus with diverse stakeholders, including university administration, faculty, staff, students, community leaders, and partner organizations
Represent Madison House in key community coalitions, networks, and working groups
Represent Madison House at university events, meetings, presentations, conferences, and on committees
Promote a culture of public service at UVA and support the university's aim to graduate citizen leaders committed to the greater good
Assist with additional Madison House programs and responsibilities as needed
Minimum Requirements
Master's degree in a relevant field; a Bachelor's degree and relevant experience may be substituted in lieu of a Master's
Minimum of 3 years of experience in community engagement, nonprofit work, volunteer management, community-engaged learning, or other related and transferable fields
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree in nonprofit management, public administration, public policy, education, student affairs, or a related field
3+ years of experience working in or in partnership with nonprofit organizations or community-based initiatives
Demonstrated experience developing and sustaining mutually-beneficial university-community partnerships
Experience using assessment and evaluation to identify community needs and priorities
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to work independently, collaboratively within a team, and across organizational boundaries
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and sustain relationships with diverse stakeholders
Advanced organizational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and see projects through from inception to completion
About the Position
As a community-facing position, work will take place primarily in-person in the Charlottesville community, at Madison House, or On Grounds at UVA. As a result, the employee will need to reside in the greater Charlottesville area. Occasional evenings and weekends required for student events or board meetings. Flexible schedule leading up to or following these requirements. The anticipated compensation range for this position is $60,000-65,000 commensurate with qualifications and experience.
This is a full-time, exempt level, benefited position with UVa benefits. This position is a restricted position and is dependent upon project need, availability of funding, and performance.
This position will remain open until filled but preference will be given to applications received by July 27, 2026. This position will not sponsor applicants for work visas. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment. This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.
To Apply
Applicants not employed at UVA please apply through the UVA job board; current employees please search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website and complete an application. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.
Please attach the following:
Cover letter
Resume/CV References will be completed via UVA's standardized process SkillSurvey. A total of five references will be requested via SkillSurvey during the final phase of the interview process, a total of three is required. For questions about the application process, please contact Michele Jarman, Academic Recruiter.
The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.