Director of the Holleran Center

Job Summary:

The Director of the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement (HCCGE) provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and a mission-driven vision for community engagement and service initiatives at Alvernia University. This role is responsible for advancing Franciscan values by designing, implementing, and evaluating impactful internal programs, cultivating strategic external partnerships, and guiding student development initiatives that promote collaborative, community-based service. The Director ensures that programming addresses identified community needs, fosters student learning, enhances civic responsibility, and supports holistic growth, while positioning the HCCGE as a central hub for meaningful engagement across the University and broader community.

Essential Functions:

Mission, Culture & Leadership 

• Model Alvernia’s Franciscan values through compassionate service, ethical leadership, and commitment to fostering a welcoming and respectful community for all. 

• Cultivate a student culture that prioritizes transparency, accessibility, and proactive communication. 

Strategic Leadership & Oversight

• Provide leadership and strategic oversight for major university programs, including the Holleran Center Community Service Programs, Reading Collegiate Scholars Program, Alternative Breaks, and Service-Learning, ensuring alignment with institutional mission and community impact goals.

• Lead the strategic visioning, planning, and assessment of the Holleran Center, establishing long-term priorities, measurable outcomes, and innovative models that expand access to community engagement for diverse learner populations, including online students.

• Direct the strategic use of volunteer tracking systems (e.g., Galaxy Digital’s Get Connected) to assess program impact, inform institutional reporting, and demonstrate the scope and outcomes of student civic engagement across the university.

• Provide leadership, supervision, and professional development for Assistant Directors and Holleran Center staff, setting performance expectations and ensuring operational excellence across all engagement programs.

Institutional & External Partnerships

• Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships with community stakeholders, public agencies, and educational institutions to expand service opportunities that enhance student engagement, experiential learning, and retention.

• Serve as a senior liaison to Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, and Institutional Advancement to integrate community engagement into institutional planning, curriculum development, and student success strategies.

• Represent the University on local and regional boards, professional associations, and higher education forums, serving as an ambassador for Alvernia’s mission, civic leadership, and Franciscan values.

• Partner with Marketing & Communications leadership to establish communication strategies that amplify engagement narratives, elevate Alvernia’s civic mission, and strengthen visibility for recruitment and advancement purposes.

• Collaborate with Institutional Advancement to identify, cultivate, and secure philanthropic and corporate funding to sustain and expand community engagement programs.

Program Direction & Policy Development

• Provide strategic direction and oversight for university-wide service initiatives that annually engage over 1,000 students, faculty, staff, and alumni, ensuring mission alignment and measurable community impact.

• Develop and review policies, procedures, and guidelines governing community engagement, service-learning, and civic participation to ensure compliance, equity, and alignment with university values.

• Allocate resources strategically across programs and initiatives based on assessment data, institutional priorities, and emerging community needs.

• Lead Holleran Center staff meetings and contribute to university committees related to community engagement, mission integration, and civic responsibility.

• Establish assessment frameworks and evaluation standards for community engagement programs, utilizing qualitative and quantitative data to drive continuous improvement, demonstrate mutual benefit, and inform strategic decision-making.

Assessment & Accountability

• Evaluate programs, set measurable goals for service initiatives, and produce annual impact reports highlighting student participation, community partnerships, and outcomes.

• Build and maintain systems for assessing and communicating the impact of community engagement initiatives, using data and storytelling from both student and community perspectives to demonstrate institutional and societal outcomes.

Resource Management

• Create and manage the Holleran Center’s annual budget, providing regular updates and ensuring effective stewardship of university and external resources.

• Collaborate with Institutional Advancement and senior leadership on strategic funding priorities and grant opportunities that advance sustainable and equitable community engagement.

• Oversee the recruitment, hiring, and development of Holleran Center staff, ensuring alignment with university standards and fostering an inclusive, high-performing team culture.

• Work with academic and university leadership to integrate community engagement and the University’s mission of service into strategic planning, curriculum, and co-curricular experiences, including orientation, course projects, and student-led initiatives.

Other Responsibilities

• Must be able to work occasional evenings and weekends to support university-sponsored events and programs.
• Perform additional duties, as assigned to support departmental and organizational needs

Qualifications/Education:

• Strong commitment to Alvernia University’s mission, values, and goals
• A master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, Social Work, Community Development, Organizational Leadership, or a related field is required.
• 5-7 years’ experience in staff supervision and leadership, budget management, community partnership development, fundraising, grants and/or donor engagement, assessment and reporting, and policy development.
• Proven experience and enthusiasm for community engagement, service-learning, and civic leadership
• Excellent oral and written communication, with the ability to represent the University externally
• Independent, proactive, and collaborative leadership skills
• Exceptional organizational and time management abilities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish is preferred

Physical Requirements:

• Attendance is required in order to perform the duties of this job.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.

Employee Benefits:

Join a team that values your well-being! We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your family:

• Robust Health Coverage: Choose from three offered medical plans, plus dental and vision.
• Financial Security: Enjoy University-paid life/AD&D insurance and long-term disability, with options for short-term disability and supplemental coverage for you and your family (including accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity plans). Flexible spending accounts are also available.
• Exceptional Retirement: Start saving immediately with our 403(b) Retirement Plan. You'll get 100% immediate vesting, a University gift contribution, and a generous match up to 5% of your deferrals.
• Time Off & Flexibility: Take advantage of 18 paid holidays each year and the possibility of flexible or hybrid work options for many roles.
• Invest in Your Future: Enjoy tuition remission benefits for yourself and your dependents.
• On-Campus Wellness: Benefit-eligible employees on our main campus receive free access to our Medical & Counseling Center.
• Employee Meal Plan: This plan provides convenient, flexible dining options on campus at a reduced cost.