Civic Engagement and Service Specialist

Position summary

Applications are welcome from all qualified candidates. In line with UAE regulations, Emirati candidates are encouraged to apply.

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint a civic engagement and service specialist reporting to head of civic engagement service.

The civic engagement and service specialist plays an essential role in managing and delivering culturally grounded civic engagement and service programs that connect NYUAD students with Abu Dhabi's diverse communities. They develop and sustain local community partnerships and co-create outreach, cultural, and educational opportunities that help students engage meaningfully with the UAE's culture, history, traditions, and social landscape.

The incumbent serves as a department delegate in community and government-facing settings, leading the coordination of signature annual events, cultural field programs and initiatives. They are responsible for managing program delivery and logistics across the department's cultural stewardship and community service portfolios, ensuring seamless coordination with stakeholders including vendors, community partners, government entities, and NYUAD departments, and ensuring compliance with UAE law and NYUAD policies. They lead Give Where You Live, Project Outreach, and the Kashtah Journey programs, and manage the department's online volunteering platform. The specialist works closely with faculty, staff, and students to share information on programs and upcoming events, and leads training for these programs, as needed.

Key responsibilities

Civic engagement & service programs

Create detailed project plans for all signature large-scale annual events (e.g. The Great Nurdle Hunt, Iftar Sa’em, etc), outlining timelines, milestones, and deliverables, and ensuring that all deadlines are met

Assist the assistant director in planning, coordination, and delivery of the Give Where You Live (GWYL) program, including all student engagement, logistics, and partner coordination

Recruit, train, and supervise student volunteers participating in Give Where You Live (GWYL) and Project Outreach (PO) activities

Lead the coordination and delivery of Project Outreach (PO), managing all logistics and student engagement

Identify and develop volunteering opportunities at key events and initiatives in Abu Dhabi that align with institutional goals and UAE community priorities

Ensure all logistical and operational aspects of programs are planned and executed seamlessly, including volunteer recruitment and registration process management, transportation arrangements, event setup and breakdown, and risk management

Serve as the department's GivePulse domain administrator, posting and managing all departmental programs on the platform

Ensure all GivePulse program listings are accurate, up to date, and consistent with departmental branding and messaging, and support student check-in, registration, and data tracking through the platform

Support the development of learning outcomes for community service programs and initiatives, implementing both quantitative and qualitative assessment for program enhancement, and developing protocols, manuals, and training materials, as needed

Conduct post-event evaluations to assess the success of each event, identify areas for improvement, and gather feedback from stakeholders

Collaborate with external partners to ensure that each event aligns with their goals and objectives, and to secure their support and participation

Develop and implement strategies to promote each event, including outreach to target audiences, social media campaigns, and coordination with the assistant director on communications

Student cultural stewardship (Kashtah Journey & National Identity Programs)

Annually plan at least four cultural and service outing themes (Desert, Sea, and Mountain) for students in the fall and spring semesters in collaboration with the Class Year Experience (CYE) team

Develop and manage a budget for the outings and ensure proper allocation of funds

Train student lead volunteers to ensure that each outing is culturally appropriate, respectful, and educationally grounded

Develop a detailed schedule and itinerary for each outing, including transportation arrangements and site visits

Coordinate with local organizations and community partners to develop volunteer service opportunities and cultural activities that align with the themes of the outings

Recruit and train chaperones and volunteers prior to each outing

Manage communication with students and leaders regarding the outings, including providing pre-trip information and post-trip feedback

Develop an evaluation process to assess the impact of the outings on the participating students and the community partners involved and prepare a report to share with the head of civic engagement & service

Make adjustments and improvements to the outings based on feedback and evaluation results

Coordinate the operational delivery of the National Identity Program in partnership with Sandooq Al Watan and other cultural agencies

Coordinate the quarterly delivery of the Al Ghafah Network meetings

Build and maintain working relationships with local cultural partners, including the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority

Represent the department and the head at government-invited cultural events, field trips, and community activities when the head and/or assistant director are unavailable

Ensure all cultural programming is delivered in compliance with UAE traditions, values, and regulatory expectations

Student capacity building

Support the assistant director with the Sufara’a student capacity building program as needed

Support in the recruitment, selection, and training for Sufara’a members, as well as Sufara’a alumni relationships

Organize educational activities to orient student leaders to the UAE context, relevant regulations and cultural expectations for service and giving back

Assess and measure student learning throughout the program, reporting results to the head of civic engagement & service for iterative improvement

Collaborate with other university departments and stakeholders to promote and leverage the program to achieve wider institutional goals

Strategically identify engaging content for the civic engagement & service newsletter and/or social media

Create and maintain relevant documentation and communication materials, such as event briefs, marketing materials, and website content

Outreach program development and implementation

Identify and participate in volunteering opportunities at key events or initiatives in Abu Dhabi (to participate alongside other university students) that align with institutional goals and priorities

Recruit, train, and supervise student volunteers to participate in outreach volunteering events or programs

Ensure all logistics and operational aspects of the events are planned and executed seamlessly, such as volunteer recruitment and registration, event setup and breakdown, catering and transportation arrangements, and risk management

Support the development of learning outcomes for outreach programs and initiatives, implementing both quantitative and qualitative assessment for program enhancement, and developing protocols, manuals and training materials as needed

Analyze, recommend, and implement improvements to outreach programming to benefit student personal development and community impact

Continuously identify and research new event ideas and trends, and recommend new signature events that align with the goals and objectives of the civic engagement & service department

Manage all department donation drives and community campaigns throughout the academic year

Continuously identify and research new event ideas and trends, and recommend new signature events that align with the goals and objectives of the department

Other duties as assigned

Engage in divisional projects as needed

Support students and the university’s mission in student-facing initiatives as required, inclusive of serving as an essential staff member in the event of an emergency

Required education

Bachelor's degree

Required experience

2+ years experience in higher education, community development or related field

Proven track record in working with community entities, building new partnerships and managing multiple collaborators, particularly within the UAE context

Excellent organization, presentation, written communication, and interpersonal skills

Awareness of and interest in UAE cultural landscape and heritage

Strong organizational skills to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities effectively

Strong verbal and written communication skills

Knowledge of how to effectively collaborate with various stakeholders

Preferred experience

Fluency with Arabic

Other information about NYUAD

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the arts, sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai form the backbone of NYU’s global network university, an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity.

This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education, one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world, NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought, advanced research, knowledge creation, and sharing, through its academic, research, and creative activities.