The Human Rights Program at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities invites applications for the position of Administrative Associate 2 (Job Code 8208A2). This position has the working title Assistant Director and functions as Program Coordinator. This is a 100%-time, 12-month, temporary position for one year (12 months), subject to the Universityâ™s Civil Service Employment rules. This position may be extended contingent upon availability of funding and satisfactory performance.

Since 2001, the Human Rights Program (HRP) has served as the energetic hub for creative and interdisciplinary research, teaching, and outreach in the field of human rights. The Programâ™s three-fold mission is to: 1) advance human rights scholarship through support for research and publications; 2) educate the next generation of human rights scholars and professionals; and 3) engage with serious human rights issues through timely projects, public programs and internships. The HRP is at the forefront of educating emerging human rights leaders and creates and sustains multidisciplinary and multi-institution capacities and highly impactful initiatives.

With the Director charting the intellectual agenda of the Program, the Assistant Director (AD) ensures the implementation and success of programs and activities. The AD works closely with the Director and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Program, including financial administration, communications, program and event management, and curricular support.

The Human Rights program is affiliated with the Institute for Global Studies (IGS) and the West Bank Administrative Hub in the College of Liberal Arts. The Assistant Director contributes to the leadership and operations of IGS in areas of expertise and need. This position offers an opportunity to work with flexibility and allows for a partially remote work arrangement.

Job Responsibilities

Program Management and Planning (40%)

• In consultation with the Director, support strategic planning to ensure programming aligns with the goals and objectives of the Program, College, and University.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with human rights faculty and programs at UMN to create a multi-disciplinary and cross-departmental community that leads to increased collaborations.
• Identify and monitor relevant university, governmental, and private foundations for funding opportunities that align with research, educational, and advocacy interests.
• Write portions of grants, help to develop grant budgets, monitor grant preparation timelines, and approve grant expenditures.
• Provide administrative support for programs and funded projects; develop and manage project timelines; oversee program planning and execution in coordination with internal and external partners.
• Administer program fellowship and scholarship processes including advertising fellowships, selection of recipients, communication of results, and distribution of awards.
• Recruit, hire, train, and manage student workers and interns.
• Administer research projects and maintain a strong understanding of them by attending programs and meeting with organizers and participants.
• Build and maintain an alumni and stakeholder database.
• Represent HRP to other administrators and outside organizations with shared authority to make commitments on administrative policy and procedures.
• Liaise with IGS accountant, executive accounts specialist, scholarships/fellowships coordinator, events coordinator, administrator, and other IGS Hub staff on program needs.

Financial Administration (20%)

• Direct the fiscal activities of the Program, including budgeting, cost negotiation, expenditure and income forecasting, long-range fiscal planning, contract and grant applications, endowment, year-end financial reports.
• Establish programming budgets with the Director; manage budgets for grants, projects, and programs, create and project budgets for internal and external funding.
• Provide reporting support, developing fiscal and programmatic reports for internal and external funders.
• Make purchases, monitor and approve expenditures, ensure timely and accurate processing of contracts and financial paperwork.

Communications (30%)

• Develop and coordinate communication strategies that promote the Human Rights Program, graduate and undergraduate programs, and HRP-sponsored events.
• Direct campus and public communications, oversee general communications by student staff ensuring that work is accurate, professional, and consistent with the HRP mission.
• Manage the production of regular newsletter communications, including but not limited to a bimonthly newsletter and student and faculty listservs.
• Coordinate social media channels, tracking trends and engagements, provide recommendations for areas of growth.
• Manage digital projects, including website management and project promotion.
• With Director, produce an annual report of Program achievements, events, and items of note and the accomplishments of faculty and students affiliated with the Program

Curricular Support & Mentorship (10%)

• Serve as Graduate Program Coordinator and assistant to the Director of Graduate Studies for the graduate minor in human rights.
• Facilitate undergraduate and graduate student recruitment efforts.
• Work with the HRP Director, UMN faculty, and staff to identify and implement curricular opportunities in human rights that enhance the Programâ™s mission.
• Directly support students with their human rights studies and field activities.
• Help the director advise on classes and internships, and involve students in events and opportunities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a field that engages human rights (liberal arts, social sciences, public affairs, human rights) with at least 2 years of professional experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal six years.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, and the ability to act independently and proactively while working in a collaborative environment, while maintaining strong attention to detail and an emphasis on precision and timeliness of execution.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Applications.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (e.g., formal training, experience collaborating with historically underrepresented and minoritized communities, public engagement initiatives, NGO management).

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree in the social sciences or humanities, preferably with an emphasis human rights and justice.
• Demonstrated successful experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and completing complex administrative functions (financial, curricular, student services, human resources) in a research university or 4-year liberal arts college.
• Experience fostering constructive relations with community partners and/or engaging with community members, professionally or in a volunteer capacity.
• Experience comparing, verifying, and reconciling quantitative and qualitative data.

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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