Project Director, Campus Action Planning (CAP)

Project Director, Campus Action Planning

Who we are

Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. As the largest national higher education association dedicated solely to higher education civic and community engagement, Campus Compact enables higher education institutions to develop students’ citizenship skills and forge effective community partnerships. Our resources support senior administrators, faculty, staff, and students as they pursue community-based teaching, scholarship, and action in the service of positive change.

Today, we stand at a defining moment: we are ready to scale our impact when the stakes for our work have never been higher. We know that higher education has a critical role to play in fostering democratic principles and culture by addressing polarization, strengthening civic participation, and ensuring students are prepared to navigate and shape our democracy. Thanks to the investment of philanthropic partners, Campus Compact is preparing for a period of significant growth and expansion, particularly in the areas of innovation, scaling, and coalition building. 

About the Project

The Campus Action Plan for Civic & Community Engagement (CAP) Project is a national initiative that supports colleges and universities in developing and implementing institution-wide strategies for civic and community engagement. Through convenings, cohorts, learning communities, and technical support, CAP engages campus leadership teams in advancing equitable partnerships, integrating civic and community engagement into curricula, and expanding opportunities for students and educators to address real-world challenges. It emphasizes accountability, sustainability, and ethical engagement as core components of institutional change. Key activities of the CAP Project include: 

• Call-to-Action Symposia: in-person and virtual events
• CAP Institutes: regional multi-day, in-person events engaging campus team
• Innovation Cohort: yearlong cohort of campuses utilizing innovative strategies
• Chief Executive Engagement Officers Learning Community

About the Role

The Project Director, Campus Action Planning (Project Director), serves as the strategic and operational leader for the Project. The Project Director plays a central role in advancing Campus Compact’s national strategy to rebuild trust between higher education institutions and their communities by leading the design, delivery, and continuous evolution of the CAP Project at scale. The Project Director has end-to-end responsibility for the planning, execution, alignment, and overall success of this complex, multi-component project. They ensure that all aspects of the CAP Project advance Campus Compact’s strategic priorities, meet funder requirements, and deliver meaningful value to participating institutions.

The Project Director leads the cross-functional CAP Project team; guides internal and external stakeholders; and exercises judgment, prioritization, and decision-making authority to ensure high-quality implementation and continuous improvement. While working collaboratively with senior leadership and partners, the Project Director is accountable for outcomes, timelines, and impact.

To ensure seamless execution of events, campus support activities, and project deliverables, the Project Director will work closely with the following individuals: 

• Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives 
• Senior Vice President, Strategy 
• CAP Project Lead Fellow & CAP Fellows 
• CAP Project Coaches
• CAP Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant

Additionally, the Project Director will collaborate with other members of the Campus Compact staff, most frequently members of the Communications and Events Team and the Finance & Administration Team. This is a remote, full-time, exempt, fixed-term position that is funded for 12 months from start date, with continuation contingent on external funding, with regular travel required.

Key Responsibilities

Undertaken in collaboration with relevant Campus Compact staff and project stakeholders: 

Project Planning & Management 

• Oversee implementation of CAP Project at a national scale, supporting engagement across hundreds of institutions and multiple, concurrent programmatic pathways.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all phases of the CAP Project, translating project goals into actionable implementation strategies.
• Develop, manage, and continuously refine comprehensive project plans, timelines, and workflows across multiple project components.
• Identify risks, dependencies, and opportunities; make informed decisions to maintain project momentum and quality.
• Ensure alignment across CAP Project activities, internal teams, and external partners.

Financial Stewardship & Funder Alignment

• Exercise budgetary oversight and financial stewardship in partnership with the supervisor and Finance & Grants staff, adhering to guidelines, reporting requirements, and contractual obligations.
• Contribute to funder communications, reports, and documentation, ensuring accuracy and strategic framing.

Convenings & Event Implementation

• Lead the strategic design, planning, and execution of all Project convenings, including Project Team retreats and meetings, Call-to-Action events, CAP Institutes, and learning communities.
• Establish clear objectives, outcomes, and success metrics for events and program activities.
• Plan and execute comprehensive logistics for all project events, including venue selection/coordination, catering, audio-visual needs, registration systems, and materials preparation. 
• Serve as a visible project leader during convenings, representing Campus Compact to senior campus leaders and partners.
• Plan and execute marketing and communications plans for each event to ensure messaging reaches the appropriate audiences.
• Develop and organize effective communication for all stakeholders (e.g., facilitators, participants, speakers), including registration information (landing pages, emails), and pre- and post-event information.

Stakeholder Engagement,  Representation & Partnerships

• Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships with peer organizations, networks, and field leaders to strengthen CAP as an ecosystem solution and amplify its national impact.
• Build and maintain strong relationships that foster trust, alignment, and shared accountability.
• Serve as a primary point of engagement for internal and external stakeholders, including campus leaders, fellows, coaches, consultants, and partners.
• Represent the CAP Project in internal planning discussions and external-facing contexts, as appropriate.

Communications & Knowledge Sharing

• Partner with Communications staff to shape project messaging, narratives, and dissemination strategies.
• Ensure timely, clear, and consistent communication with all stakeholder groups including funders.
• Manage the strategic collection and use of success stories, testimonials, and lessons learned.
• Prepare and distribute program updates, announcements, and reminders to various stakeholder groups.
• Support CAP-related marketing and communications, including webpage updates, resource library maintenance, email newsletters, social media content coordination, and promotional materials.

Evaluation, Learning & Continuous Improvement

• Partner with monitoring and evaluation consultants to define success metrics and learning goals.
• Use qualitative and quantitative data to inform decision-making, program improvements, and strategic adaptations.
• Synthesize findings into actionable insights for internal leadership, funders, and external audiences.
• Provide strategic insights and recommendations to senior leadership informed by CAP implementation, participant feedback, and field trends.

Operational Excellence

• Lead through a distributed delivery model, providing direction and coordination across fellows, coaches, consultants, vendors, and partners to ensure cohesion, quality, and accountability.
• Establish and maintain systems, processes, and documentation standards that support efficient and transparent project operations.
• Ensure effective meeting design, facilitation, and follow-through, delegating tasks as appropriate.
• Maintain oversight of project communications channels to ensure responsiveness and consistency.

Take on other responsibilities as needed and appropriate

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum 4+ years of demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects, programs or initiatives, preferably in the nonprofit or higher education sector.
• Experience engaging senior leaders, external partners, and consultants as peers and collaborators.
• Strong understanding of civic and community engagement, social responsibility, and higher education. 
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgment, and drive results with a high degree of autonomy.
• Experience organizing large-scale events, including logistics for virtual and in-person convenings.
• Experience designing and facilitating professional learning for adult audiences.
• Experience successfully engaging with senior campus administrators, faculty and faculty development professionals, and community engagement professionals.

Expectations:

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into execution.
• Strong project and program leadership skills, including influencing without direct authority.
• A confident writer who can craft compelling language across communications channels (and has excellent proofreading skills).
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interface effectively and build relationships across diverse stakeholders.
• Deep personal and professional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Proven track record of consistently meeting deadlines and delivering high-quality work.
• Commitment to equity-centered, evidence-informed practice and nonpartisan civic engagement.
• Strong collaborative project manager with the confidence to take the lead on projects, organize others, and solve problems.
• Analytical skills to interpret data and make action-oriented recommendations.
• Highly organized, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, remote environment.

Preferred Experience With:

• Campus wide strategic planning efforts, whether at an individual institution level or across a network of institutions. 
• Project management, communication, data collection, and customer relationship management software (e.g., Asana, Figma, Slack, Google Suite, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, FormAssembly, Salesforce).
• Engaging with external funders (e.g., foundations, government agencies, sub-grantees).

As an employee of Campus Compact, you strive to represent & live Campus Compact’s Shared Values & Commitments in both how you show up for and work with your colleagues as well as Compact’s partners and communities:

• Equity: We prioritize full participation and diversity of thought, experience, and background. We center equity in our actions, processes, and practices to uplift diverse voices and perspectives.
• Growth mindset: We consistently push ourselves and each other to do and be better. We are motivated by growth—embracing new ideas, prioritizing continuous learning, and meeting challenges head-on.
• Accountability: We recognize that long-term change requires individual and shared ownership of personal and organizational actions. We own our mistakes, give each other grace, collaborate openly, and hold ourselves to high standards of integrity.
• Responsiveness: We ensure our offerings, resources, and approaches are flexible, grounded in feedback, and responsive to the challenges of our time.
• Transparency: We are direct and authentic within our team, with our members, and with our partners. We know that building trust starts with consistent, honest, and transparent communication.

Internal & External Relationship Management:

• Works cross-functionally with strategy, communications, advancement, and operations teams
• Maintains regular communication with funders and national partners

Primary Internal & External Contacts Associated with this Position

• Campus Compact, Senior Manager for Strategic Initiatives 
• Campus Compact, Senior Vice President for Strategy 
• Campus Compact, Grants Specialist
• Campus Compact, Events Manager
• Campus Compact, Communications Manager
• CAP Project Lead Fellow & Fellows 
• CAP Project Coaches
• CAP Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant
• CAP Innovation Cohort
• CAP Chief Executive Officer Learning Community
• CAP National Forum for Chief Administrators of University Engagement and Outreach Partners

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function in a satisfactory manner.  The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical requirements

• This is primarily a sedentary position that requires the ability to sit at a desk and use a computer and phone for most of the day. 
• Minor bending and lifting periodically (mostly related to helping with events and office management needs)
• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Additional Information

• Position Type: This is a remote, full-time, exempt, fixed-term position that is funded for 12 months from start date, with continuation contingent on external funding.
• Location: This is a remote position with regular travel required for CAP Project Events/Meetings, Staff Gatherings, and other Campus Compact Events.
• Reporting Structure: Senior Vice President, Strategy
• Compensation Band:  $85,000-90,000
• Benefits: Campus Compact provides a competitive benefits package, including national healthcare coverage, generous paid time off, and an employer retirement contribution. The organization prioritizes employee well-being and professional development and lives out those values through a flexible work environment, an inclusive and caring culture, and dedication to professional development. 
  • Organizational Breaks:
    • Winter Break: Dec. 24th - Jan. 1st
    • Summer Reset: Week of July 4th

Application:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, with priority given to applicants who apply by Monday, January 5, 2026.

We would like this position to start as soon as is reasonably possible, but ideally no later than Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

 

To Apply:  

You will be expected to upload a Resume and answer the Acknowledgement and Application Questions.

**Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, with priority given to applicants who apply by January 5th, 2026. 

Campus Compact strives to attract and retain a diverse and talented staff who will contribute to the organization’s goals, mission, and vision. We encourage individuals of all ethnic, racial, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply. Campus Compact is committed to increasing our team’s diversity, consistent with the values of our network. Campus Compact is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals. It does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, height, weight, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member), or any other basis prohibited by law. 

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Campus Compact participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Campus Compact will only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.