Director of Strategic Engagements and Grant Initiatives
Director of Strategic Engagements and Grant Initiatives
Job ID: 302323
Location: GHC - Floyd Campus
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular
About Us
Georgia Highlands College is a multi-campus, state college member of the University System of Georgia. Founded in 1970 as Floyd Junior College, it now serves more than 6,000 students in Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama across its five locations in Rome, Cartersville, Marietta, and Dallas. GHC currently offers over 30 areas of study with associate degree and bachelor's degree options both in the classroom and online.
We are a growing and progressive institution with opportunities for great employees to grow in a fast-paced and challenging work environment that encourages employee wellness and overall success. Our combined efforts at GHC have led to numerous awards, honors, and countless stories of success for students and employees. This includes our most recent honor of being recognized as one of the semifinalists for the 2023 and 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
Job Summary
This position will serve as a bridge between GHC's functions and its mission, working with the Georgia Highlands College Foundation and the Office of the President to ensure that existing events align with the college's mission as well as cultivating new partnerships that will open doors to additional resources. It also serves as a strategic integrator of presidential priorities, ensuring alignment between institutional initiatives, engagement efforts and the college's broader mission. The Director focuses on advancing high-impact projects, strengthening institutional visibility through coordinated engagement strategies and supporting the President's Office through planning, analysis and executing of key initiatives. This position excludes administrative support and governmental relations functions.
Responsibilities
Is responsible for understanding, supporting and carrying out the college's mission and new strategic plan and ensuring that our story is being told through functions, events and partnerships throughout the community
Strategic Engagement
- Aligns institutional events, partnerships, and engagement opportunities with strategic priorities, ensuring consistency with the college's mission and goals
- Identifies and develops strategic partnership opportunities with community organizations, industry, and regional stakeholders to support institutional growth and visibility
- Develops frameworks and processes to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of events, initiatives, and partnerships
- Collaborates with the Director of Development and other divisions to support engagement strategies that contribute to resource development
- Leads the planning and execution of high-impact, cross-divisional initiatives originating from the President's Office
- Develops strategic content (e.g., briefing materials, summaries, institutional messaging) to support presidential priorities and initiatives
- Maintains oversight of institutional storytelling across events and initiatives to ensure alignment with strategic messaging
- Tracks progress on presidential priorities and provides updates, analysis, and recommendations to senior leadership
Strategic Initiatives & Project Management
- Leads the planning, coordination, and execution of presidential and institutional signature events, including Commencement, President's Scholars Day, and other high-impact college functions
- Develops and maintains a comprehensive, strategic calendar of institutional events, aligning timing, audience, and purpose with institutional goals
- Serves as project manager for select high-priority initiatives on behalf of the President, ensuring alignment, accountability, and timely execution
- Coordinates cross-divisional efforts related to strategic initiatives, without assuming operational or administrative responsibilities of individual units
- Develops project plans, timelines, and deliverables for initiatives led by the President's Office
- Provides analysis and recommendations to inform decision-making related to institutional priorities and emerging opportunities
- Prepares executive-level materials, including summaries, reports, and presentations, in support of strategic initiatives
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in communications, business, education or related field from an accredited institution
- Minimum of 5 years progressive leadership experience and proven record of significant experience in cultivating community relationships
- Experience in creating strategic content including written material and social media engagement
- Familiarity with grant funding sources
Proposed Salary
$65,000 - $70,000 annually
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Strong written/oral communication skills
- Community ties and relationships which could lead to additional resources for the college
- Ability to engage with diverse stakeholders
- Experience with organizing events and meetings with targeted audiences
- Experience with strategic content development ¿ researching, planning, and creating targeted content to achieve specific goals
Contact Information
For more information or questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources by email at mailto: jobs@highlands.edu?subject=Job%20Opening%20Questions
For technical support, please contact the Shared Services Center at (877) 251-2644 or mailto: oneusgsupport@usg.edu?subject=Job%20Opening%20Questions
USG Core Values
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Conditions of Employment
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with Georgia Highlands College, as determined by Georgia Highlands College in its sole discretion, confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check.
Offers are made expressly subject to the applicable federal and state laws, to the statutes, rules and regulations of this institution and to the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG), which are available for your inspection upon request.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Georgia Highlands College provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
To apply, visit https://careers.hprod.onehcm.usg.edu/psp/careers/CAREERS/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=302323&PostingSeq=1
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