Asst Director of Strategic Partnerships, Comm, & Engagement

Company: Robert W Woodruff Library Of The Atlanta Universit
Location: Atlanta
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

The Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library (AUC RWWL) supports the teaching and learning missions of four institutions of higher learning that comprise the world’s largest consortium of HBCUs—Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College. Conveniently located and easily accessible to the campuses, the Woodruff Library is the center of intellectual and social life at the Atlanta University Center. The AUC-RWWL is looking for a highly motivated individual that will lend oversight and provide strategic for external partnerships and programmatic engagement. Reporting to the CEO and Library Director, this position serves as a member of the Senior Leadership team, and provides organizational leadership for partnerships including communication, grants, donor relationships, and programming. The Director of Strategic Partnerships, Communication, and Engagement works closely with faculty of the member institutions and may serve as a liaison for selected activities of the library’s Board of Trustees. The incumbent is engaged professionally, participates in local, regional, and national initiatives, and has experience or an interest in non-profit governance. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Primary Responsibilities Provide strategic leadership and execution for organizational initiatives that increase visibility and engagement with key audiences. Oversee and coordinate organizational level projects to ensure alignment with Library priorities, timelines, and desired outcomes. Lead project management processes for high visibility initiatives, including planning, scope development, resource coordination, risk assessment, execution, and evaluation. Direct organizational communications to ensure consistent messaging across internal and external platforms. Coordinate grant development activities in partnership with program and departments, including proposal planning, submission processes, and reporting requirements. Cultivate, along with the CEO/Library Director, and manage friendraising strategies that strengthen relationships with stakeholders, partners, and supporters, Plan and oversee signature events and promotional activities that highlight collections, resources, services, and expertise. Establish metrics to assess engagement, visibility, and impact, and use findings to inform continuous improvement. Serve as a key representative of the organization in external engagements that advance strategic partnerships and institutional reputation. Community Engagement Steers the organization in cultivating and maintaining dynamic programmatic relationships with member institutions and community partners in metro Atlanta Provides strategic leadership and oversight for the Library’s communication initiatives in both print and digital formats towards promoting institutional awareness. Responsible for designing, implementing, and directing integrated and comprehensive Library engagement programs that appropriately and consistently promotes interaction and connection between AUC Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center, and surrounding/related communities Partners with the AUC and other communities to develop distribution opportunities for advancing scholarship and collection awareness Engages AUC faculty, staff, organizations in collaborative public programming associated with existing and emerging digital and physical archival collections With the staff, curates physical and digital collections, media displays, and other initiatives to allow for audience engagement Partners with Library Director to identify opportunities to expand engagement and serve as a liaison between the Library and external organizations Contributes to the development and of new community partnerships to support Library and AUC wide initiatives Works with the Associate Library Director to operationalize grants, special initiatives, and other projects as necessary Donor Relations Implements a multi-year plan to advance institutional efforts to increase community connections and donations, and in and relationships Evaluates the impact of existing community/donor relationships to make, recommend and implement strategies for the future Identifies opportunities to connect and honor emerging and potential donor groups Leads the organization’s pursuit of external funding, identifying and developing proposals that advance Library initiatives. In conjunction with relevant library departments, builds and sustains partnerships with Atlanta University Center member institutions and external organizations to increase the visibility and use of the library’s holdings Works closely with the Director of the Archives Research Center to cultivate notable donations/donor relationships Cultivates and strengthens relationships through the Library’s Friends Council, fostering engagement and friend-raising opportunities that support Library initiatives. Administrative Support Supervises, coaches, and evaluates permanent and temporary staff Actively contributes to Library activities through membership on committees and working groups Develops process for documenting, tracking, and reporting partnership activities Serves as creative resource for communication (i.e. social media, web pages) Participates in strategic planning, development of new initiatives, resource and policy development, and governance Participates in library wide solutions in support of the library’s mission and its operations Assists with the formation and review of policy, contracts, budgets, and planning EDUCATIONAL/TRAINING REQUIREMENTS: ALA-accredited master’s degree in Library and Information Science or advanced degree with experience relevant to the position EXPERIENCE: Proven record of visionary leadership with the ability to articulate, advance, and gain support for a compelling vision across diverse audiences Demonstrated success in project management from planning through execution and assessment Experience leading teams and complex initiatives with accountability for outcomes Effective management of programs and services to ensure quality, efficiency, and impact Strong track record in building and sustaining community relationships and partnerships Familiarity with the life-cycle of grants and grant administration Strong written and verbal communication skills KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Set priorities, embrace and drive change initiatives, and to use collaborative and inclusive leadership skills Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships across teams and partner organizations Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and credibility Facilitate teamwork and guide groups toward shared goals and outcomes Communicate clearly and listen effectively to diverse stakeholders Capacity to navigate complex environments with professionalism and sound judgment SALARY & BENEFITS: Salary commensurate with experience; benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, company paid disability plans, company match retirement plan (TIAA-CREF). APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Interested applicants should submit an official application on our website using this link . The Robert W. Woodruff Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To learn more about our Library, visit us online at www.auctr.edu . T

Keywords: Robert W Woodruff Library Of The Atlanta Universit, Columbus , Asst Director of Strategic Partnerships, Comm, & Engagement, Administration, Clerical , Atlanta, Georgia