Associate Director – Civic Discourse Initiatives

Working Title: Associate Director Civic Discourse Initiatives

State Role Title:N/A

Position Type:Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Office of the President Unit

Department: 520128 - BCT FOR IHE

Pay Rate:Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only positionNo

Is this a grant-funded positionYes. This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon continued funding.

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated positionNo

Beginning Review Date:3/28/2026

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginias beautiful Shenandoah Valley the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington D.C. and Richmond VA.

JMU is a selective public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21000 undergraduate and 1800 graduate students with over 1000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts science and technology and professional disciplines at the undergraduate masters and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

Are you passionate about strengthening democratic culture elevating student voices and building a campus community capable of engaging across differences The Madison Center for Civic Engagement at James Madison University is seeking an innovative and dynamic Associate Director of Civic Discourse Initiatives to lead one of the nations most comprehensive campus-based civic discourse programs.

This is a highimpact role for a collaborative educator facilitator and program builder who thrives in a fastpaced environment and cares deeply about preparing the next generation of students for using constructive dialogue in a complex world.

About the Role:
The Associate Director will spearhead the Madison Centers signature free-speech and deliberative dialogue initiative Better Conversations Together our immersive first year effort; supporting faculty and student leadership development; and shaping campuswide and nationwide dialogue opportunities.

You will also play a key leadership role in managing two major grants civic discourse grants coordinating multi-institutional partners faculty fellows external organizations and assessment teams to advance national work in deliberative pedagogy.

This position is handson studentcentered and deeply collaborativeideal for someone who brings both vision and operational excellence.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Lead and Evolve Better Conversations Together:
*Oversee program components including orientation deliberations workshops events and collaborative programming with campus partners.
*Develop and refine student learning objectives; coordinate assessment with JMU Center for Assessment and Research Studies (CARS); and use data to continuously strengthen program quality.
*Provide realtime facilitation coaching to Democracy Fellows and ensure program delivery at the highest standard.
*Design new civic discourse programming that expands the universitys capacity for constructive dialogue.

Supervise and Train Democracy Fellows:
*Provide leadership mentorship and professional development to 1015 undergraduate student facilitators.
*Deliver ongoing facilitation training hold structured weekly team meetings and support student success and readiness for future careers.

Coordinate Nationally Recognized Grant Initiatives:
*Support the Madison Centers national faculty fellows for deliberation program and partner in issueguide development research and deliberative pedagogy training with fellows.
*Manage logistics for monthly meetings virtual workshops and biannual convenings.
Align highered and K12 civic discourse projects in collaboration with national grant partners.
*Coordinate assessment efforts with JMU CARS and JMU Center for Advancement Research in Education (CARE) ensuring full implementation across anchor campuses and partner institutions.

Qualifications:

We are looking for a candidate with deep expertise in civic discourse dialogue facilitation and democratic engagement who can lead both people and programs with clarity and creativity.

Required Knowledge Skills & Abilities:
*Masters Degree
*Expertise in constructive dialogue debate and/or deliberationboth facilitating and teaching others.
*Experience teaching collegelevel civic discourse leadership or related coursework.
*Demonstrated ability to design deliberative forums dialogue experiences and assessment strategies.
*Strong project management skills and ability to oversee complex multi-partner initiatives.
*Experience supervising staff or students designing professional development and leading studentfocused programs.
*Capacity to create innovative workshops curriculum and tools that help communities navigate difficult conversations.
*High proficiency with platforms such as Excel Qualtrics/QuestionPro MS Teams BeInvolved and Canva or comparable platforms.
*Exceptional communication relationship-building problem-solving and organizational skills.

Additional Posting Information:

JMUs Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information please visit of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age color disability gender identity or expression genetic information national origin parental status political affiliation race religion sex sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access inclusion and diversity for all students faculty staff constituents and programs believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: .

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at or You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office located at 752 Ott Street Harrisonburg VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.