Associate Director for Employer & Community Engagement

About the job

Job Description

The Information School’s Institute for Neurodiversity & Employment (INE) has an outstanding opportunity for Associate Director of Employer and Community Engagement to join their team.

This opportunity is a direct hire via the search waiver process.

About this Opportunity
Reporting to the Director of the Institute for Neurodiversity and Employment (INE), the Associate Director of Employer and Community Engagement provides leadership for the Institute’s employer and community-facing strategy. This role leads INE's employer and community engagement, overseeing a complex partnership portfolio that spans employers, neurodivergent advocate communities, educators, families, schools, community organizations, workforce partners, and UW collaborators.

This is a hybrid position with an expectation to work on-site at the UW Seattle campus at least three days per week; the remaining days may be worked remotely, with supervisor approval.

• Key Responsibilities
• Strategy, Vision & Leadership (45%)
• Shape the Institute's strategic direction as a member of its Executive Committee, co-leading annual priorities, resource planning, and organization-wide integration.
• Own the Institute's employer engagement strategy and education portfolio—building employer partnerships and designing workshops, certificate programs, and training resources grounded in accessibility and neurodiversity-affirming principles.
• Build and lead a high-performing team that activates employers as partners in career exposure, mentoring, workplace learning, and pathway development.
• Drive growth of revenue-generating offerings—including consulting, executive education, and certificate programs—owning financial planning and revenue targets for this portfolio.
• Serve as a senior spokesperson for the Institute, strengthening visibility, trust, and credibility with community, employer, and advocacy audiences, while supporting fundraising efforts and establishing key external partnership agreements.

• Employer Partnerships & Engagement Stewardship (15%)
• Lead the Founding Employers Group, a strategic advisory body of partner organization leaders shaping the Institute's employer-facing work.
• Partner with executive-level stakeholders to assess workforce trends and organizational readiness for neuroinclusive hiring, accommodations, and advancement.
• Represent the Institute with employer executives, HR and talent leaders, and corporate relations partners, directing cross-functional initiatives with clear goals and deliverables.

Community Engagement and Neurodivergent Stakeholder Stewardship (10%)
Build and sustain trusted relationships with neurodivergent communities, advocacy groups, schools, and families, setting the strategic direction for the Neurodivergent Community Forum.
Ensure community voice and lived experience shape employer engagement, program design, and career readiness pathways for teens, young adults, educators, and families.

• External Education, Training, and Capacity-Building Programs (10%)
• Set the vision and content priorities for employer and community training on neuroinclusive hiring, workplace culture, and advancement.
• Lead cross-campus partnerships to deliver high-quality, practical learning experiences, and oversee evaluation to continuously refine offerings.

• Research Translation, Outcomes, and Continuous Improvement (10%)
• Partner with Institute leadership to translate research into practical tools, training content, and resources that drive real-world impact.
• Define success metrics and oversee data-driven continuous improvement across employer and community engagement programs.

• Additional Responsibilities (5%)
• Engage actively in iSchool and University-wide initiatives, events, and professional development to stay current on emerging trends in the field.

• Supervisory Responsibilities (5%)
• Directly supervise a team of professional staff, overseeing hiring, onboarding, coaching, and performance management to build a thriving, high-impact team.

Required Qualifications
To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

• Minimum Qualifications
• Master’s degree in management, human resources, public affairs, disability studies, human services, education, organizational development, or other relevant field.
• 3 years of progressively responsible experience in program operations, project management, organizational change, process improvement, service design, program evaluation, HR program implementation, workforce development, or related work requiring independent judgment.
• Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
• Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Manager.

• Additional Qualifications
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects with multiple stakeholders, manage timelines and deliverables, and communicate effectively across roles and levels.
• Demonstrated experience providing supervision, staff leadership, or functional leadership for professional staff, project teams, or cross-functional workstreams.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating cross-functional stakeholders to define requirements, assess needs, and implement changes.
• Demonstrated experience producing written recommendations for leadership, such as options analyses, findings summaries, implementation roadmaps, or decision briefs.
• Demonstrated ability to use quantitative and/or qualitative data and stakeholder feedback to assess effectiveness and recommend improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment in ambiguous, high-visibility, or non-routine situations.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including leaders, managers, HR professionals, employees, community partners, and employer partners.

• Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in HR, talent development, organizational development, workforce development, or related employment systems work within higher education and/or complex organizations.
• Applied experience in neuroinclusion, disability inclusion, accessibility, or inclusive workplace practices.
• Experience designing and delivering training for leaders/managers and facilitating communities of practice.
• Experience with evaluation design and measurement, such as survey design/administration, focus groups/interviews, logic models, or dashboards.
• Experience working with external employers across sectors, including adapting consultation or training to organizational context and readiness.

• Working Conditions
• Occasional schedule flexibility is required to support evening or weekend events, typically a few times per quarter. Advance notice will be provided, when possible, for required schedule adjustments related to special events or programming needs.
• Occasional travel within the UW campuses and partner sites across Washington state and the US.
• Ability to attend and manage events for extended periods of time and oversee setup.
• This position is funded by external grant support and differs from traditional University of Washington staff roles in that continued employment is contingent upon the availability of grant funding. The initial funding is expected to continue through August 2030, with the possibility of extension, subject to renewed or additional funding. Candidates should be aware that the duration and continuation of this role depend on successful grant renewals or the acquisition of alternative funding sources.

About the Team
The UW Institute for Neurodiversity and Employment (INE) is a new collaborative effort to bring together leading scholars and practitioners from various disciplines to build the capacity of the University of Washington, Washington State, and the nation to create meaningful employment opportunities and career experiences for neurodivergent people. We carry out our mission in collaboration with community leaders, employers, nonprofits, and foundations through translational research, applied professional education and training, community empowerment, advocacy, and leading the way as a neuroinclusive university and employer. The Institute champions the integration of studied workplace practices that support neurodiverse workers, prioritizing equity and accessibility for Institute staff, faculty, students, and guests.

In the Information School, there is an expectation that all faculty and staff will step up where they see an opportunity to apply their special expertise or talents, speak up when they identify opportunities or concerns, and lead by taking actions that exemplify the Information School’s core values. Leadership within the Information School is expressed in diverse ways reflecting the variety of styles and cultures that are represented by our faculty and staff.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:
$138,540.00 annual Pay Range Maximum:
$138,540.00 annual Other Compensation:
up to $8k one-time relocation incentive Benefits:
For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/ Shift:
First Shift (United States of America) Temporary or Regular?
This is a regular position FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):
100.00% Union/Bargaining Unit:
Not Applicable
About the UW

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81 .

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu .

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law .