Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives: Cultivating Conversation and Dialogue

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Overview

Reporting to the Chief of Staff and Assistant Vice President for Strategy and Operations in the Office of the Secretary and Vice President for University Life (OSVPUL), the Assistant Director serves as the program manager for the university-wide Cultivating Conversation initiative and related University Life programming. This position requires a high degree of independence and is responsible for coordinating the operational planning and execution of programs that advance the university's commitment to collaborative excellence and engaging across difference.

The Assistant Director provides day-to-day operational leadership for the initiative, ensuring the successful planning, coordination, and delivery of workshops, events, meetings, and related activities. The role oversees all aspects of program logistics, including venue and vendor coordination, catering, event promotion and communications, registration management, staffing coordination, preparation of program materials, and on-site event execution. The Assistant Director coordinates the logistics and hospitality for external speakers, facilitators, and partner organizations; serves as the primary operational liaison for campus and external stakeholders; and ensures a high-quality experience for participants and guests.

The Assistant Director supports related committees and working groups, maintains project plans, operational documentation, and budget tracking records, supports purchasing and payment processes, and monitors project timelines to ensure activities remain on schedule. The position assists in the implementation of assessment and evaluation processes, tracks program participation and outcomes, contributes to reports and dashboards, and uses data to support continuous improvement and informed decision-making.

The Assistant Director supervises and coordinates the work of student employees and temporary staff supporting the initiative, providing training, scheduling, and day-to-day direction to ensure high-quality program delivery. Working collaboratively across the university, the Assistant Director develops and implements operational processes that improve efficiency while maintaining a high standard of customer service and attention to detail. The successful candidate will be highly organized, responsive, service-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while anticipating needs, solving problems creatively, and exercising sound judgment in a fast-paced environment. The Assistant Director may perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Abilities
1. Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills. Ability to build productive relationships with diverse stakeholders using tact, discretion, diplomacy, and sound judgment while maintaining confidentiality and representing Yale professionally.

2. Outstanding verbal and written communication skills. Ability to prepare reports, correspondence, presentations, and promotional materials, communicate effectively with diverse audiences, and convey information clearly and professionally.

3. Demonstrated experience planning and executing meetings, workshops, and events. Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
4. Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively, manage multiple projects, improve operational processes, supervise student employees, and exercise initiative, creativity, accountability, and sound judgment in a fast-paced environment.
5. Highly responsive, dependable, and service-oriented professional with excellent judgment and integrity. Proficient with Microsoft 365 applications, budget tracking, data collection, and program assessment to support continuous improvement.

Preferred Skills, Education, and Experience

1. Demonstrated record of project or program management, communications and/or events management and production, particularly in higher education.

2. Experience working effectively with faculty, university leaders and administrators, students, and alumni.

3. Proven record of accomplishment working with sensitive or confidential information.

4. Advanced degree preferred.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Oversees the advancement and growth of the program. Gives direction and leadership supporting the philosophy, mission, strategy, and annual goals and objectives. Assumes primary accountability for disseminating and publishing all program information to create public awareness and support of the program. 2. Works closely with leadership, internal and external colleagues, and community residents to further develop and implement strategic plans. 3. Identifies, solicits, and cultivates community partnerships and collaborations to assist in the development and growth of the program. Develops the metrics to identify and measure the success of the program. Responsible for measurements of grant success and related evaluation. 4. Assists in identifying and evaluating potential future funding sources, and contributes to the submission of grants and contracts supporting the program, including the annual submission and writing of all content areas and budgetary sections of grant applications. Develops and manages the program’s operating budget. 5. Develops the administrative infrastructure of the program. Manages human resource and administrative functions of the program, including staffing and hiring, supervision, performance development, counseling and discipline, if warranted. Oversees and manages information systems, facilities, and space needs. 6. Investigates, identifies, implements, and oversees the maintenance of systems to gather, track, and report information to support the initiatives of the program. Tracks all program activities and regularly informs leadership of progress on each initiative. Recommends structural or programmatic adjustments, changes or additions based on full knowledge of missions, goals, and objectives. 7. Initiates, designs, and manages the compilation of program communications; identifying outreach potential, and promoting philanthropic and collaborative support of the program. Contributes to the development and assists in the management of content on the program’s website and monitors all changes and additions to the editorial content. 8. May perform other duties as assigned. Required Education and Experience Bachelor's degree in a related field and four years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Job Posting Date

08/12/2026

Job Category

Professional

Bargaining Unit

NON

Compensation Grade

Administration & Operations

Compensation Grade Profile

Supervisor; Senior Associate (P5)

Salary Range

$68,000.00 - $120,500.00

Time Type

Full time

Duration Type

Staff

Work Model

Hybrid

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

Salary offers are determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role’s grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through  their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.