Job Description

Department:

Oak Institute - Staff

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Employee Type:

Job Summary:

The Associate Director of the Oak Institute for Human Rights provides operational and programmatic leadership in support of the Institute’s mission to advance human rights education, research, experiences, and practices at Colby College.  Reporting to the Director of the Oak Institute for Human Rights, the Associate Director manages the Institute’s day-to-day operations, coordinates the annual Oak Human Rights Fellowship, supports student engagement and experiential learning opportunities, coordinates and supports Institute communications and events, and develops relationships with campus and external partners.

Working closely with the Director, the Associate Director serves as a primary liaison for the Oak Human Rights Fellow throughout their time at Colby and coordinates the annual fellow search and selection process. The position also works collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, community organizations, and human rights organizations to strengthen the Institute’s programs, partnerships, and visibility.

The hiring range for this position is $65,000 - $75,000.

Essential Functions

To be successful in this position, an individual should be able to perform the essential duties and bring the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities that support the role. This list of duties is intended to be representative rather than exhaustive, and additional responsibilities will be assigned as needed.

 

Institute Operations and Program Management

 

• Partner with the Director to manage the Institute’s day-to-day operations, including budget planning and monitoring, administrative processes, correspondence, the drafting/editing of reports and other documents, and development and improvement of Institute procedures.
• Coordinate Institute lectures, symposia, seminars, reading groups, and other campus and community programs, including planning, scheduling, communications, and event logistics.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with faculty, staff, students, and other College centers, institutes, and programs to support Institute priorities.
• Monitor program activities, timelines, and operational needs and identify opportunities to strengthen processes and support the Institute’s continued development.

 

Oak Human Rights Fellowship

 

• Coordinate the annual search and selection process for the Oak Human Rights Fellow, including outreach and promotion, maintenance of international contacts, application processes, and organizational support for the selection committee.
• Manage logistics associated with the Fellow's arrival, orientation, residency, and participation in the Colby community, including housing, transportation, family needs, visa-related coordination, travel, meetings, and on- and off-campus activities.
• Serve as a primary liaison between the Oak Human Rights Fellow, the College, and the broader community to support a successful fellowship experience.
• Build and maintain relationships with human rights organizations and other external partners to expand awareness of the fellowship and strengthen the Institute's professional network.

 

Student Engagement and Experiential Learning

 

• Partner with the Director to advise and engage the Oak Institute student committee and support student participation in Institute programs and initiatives.
• Manage the Institute's internship grant program, including promotion, application administration, selection-process support, applicant communications, and coordination of grant disbursement.
• Develop and maintain relationships with internship sites and institutional partners and help connect students with human rights-related internship, research, and experiential learning opportunities.
• Supervise and provide guidance to Oak Institute student research assistants and support their contributions to the fellowship search and other Institute initiatives.

 

 

Communications and Outreach

 

• Develop and manage the Institute's communications strategy across the website, social media, email, news announcements, digital media, and other communications channels.
• Develop written and visual communications that promote Institute programs, fellowship opportunities, student experiences, and other activities.
• Coordinate outreach to human rights organizations, community partners, and professional networks to increase awareness of the Institute's mission, programs, and fellowship opportunities.
• Represent the Institute and cultivate relationships with campus, community, national, and international partners as appropriate.

 

Position Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in human rights, international relations, political science, global studies, sociology, public policy, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience; advanced degree or additional education in human rights or an allied field preferred.
• Minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in human rights, higher education, international programs, nonprofit organizations, community engagement, or a related area.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students, faculty, staff, community members, volunteers, and individuals from a variety of cultural and international backgrounds.
• Experience coordinating programs, events, projects, or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication, editing, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, manage multiple priorities, and collaborate effectively as a member of a team.
• Experience or demonstrated interest in communications, digital content, social media, and public outreach.
• Familiarity with budgeting and financial administration; experience with database, web content management, or related technology platforms preferred.
• Appreciation for the mission of the Oak Institute and the role of human rights education and engagement within a liberal arts environment.
• Valid driver's license required and ability to meet the College's Fleet Safety Policy requirements.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends in support of Institute programs and events.

 

Physical/Mental Demands

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this position and/or may be encountered while performing essential functions.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

• To perform this role effectively, an employee is expected to handle employee information, documents, and sensitive matters with care, professionalism, and respect for privacy.
• This position involves working with a variety of timelines, including some that require quick turnaround and responsiveness to urgent needs.
• In this role, the employee will interact with members of the public and others in a variety of situations and conversations. Presenting oneself in a professional, respectful, and thoughtful manner at all times is an important part of the role.
• This position includes regular movement throughout office spaces, hallways, meeting rooms, and other campus locations.
• Daily work will involve extended use of a computer, including keyboard and mouse
• Physical requirements differ by position. In general, most roles involve lifting up to 10 pounds regularly, with some positions requiring occasional lifting of up to 35 pounds.
• Vision requirements for this position include the ability to see clearly at close and far distances and to adjust focus as needed.
• The work environment is dynamic and engaging, often involving multiple tasks and projects that require shifting focus and strong organizational skills..
• The noise level is generally moderate; however, there may be occasional moments of louder  sounds depending on campus activity.

 

Colby College supports the Americans with Disabilities Act and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

 

To Apply:

Interested candidates should apply electronically by clicking the “Apply Now” button on the Colby College website. Please upload a cover letter and resume to your application