Director for Eastern Washington Community Relations

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If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

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The Opportunity:

WSU’s Office of External Affairs and Government Relations (EAGR) is seeking a Community Relations Director to amplify the university’s impact and elevate brand awareness across the diverse communities of Eastern Washington. Reporting directly to the Vice President of External Affairs and Government Relations, you will serve as the primary liaison to regional community organizations, chambers of commerce, municipal leaders, and industry partners in coordination with the Office of Corporate Engagement.

In this role, you will drive meaningful cross‑state collaboration in partnership with our Western Washington Community Relations Director. Through these efforts, you will cultivate high‑visibility partnerships that strengthen regional economic growth, elevate WSU’s institutional story, and champion student success and research excellence.

As the Director for Eastern Washington Community Relations, you will play a key role in advancing WSU's mission through strategic stakeholder engagement across Eastern Washington. EAGR is responsible for coordinating community stakeholder and government engagement for the WSU System for purposes of public policy and public dollars, serving the institution. EAGR operates a public-affairs-driven program grounded in a stakeholder-engagement model, partnering with communities and key stakeholders to identify, navigate, and solve complex challenges before the university. Through this approach, you will help strengthen relationships that recognize the value of public-private partnerships to policymakers at all levels. With three physical campuses in Eastern Washington—the flagship in Pullman, the Health Sciences campus in Spokane, and the Tri-Cities campus in Richland—you will serve as the primary point of contact for strategic stakeholder engagement with Eastern Washington communities and stakeholders.

Additional Information:

This is a full time (100% FTE), permanent position. This position is overtime exempt.
Monthly Salary: $10,350.20 - $11,695.20 | Commensurate with experience and qualifications
In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.
Benefits: WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for AP staff and Total Compensation.
Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and at least eight (8) years of progressive experience in higher education in the public affairs field, private business in the public affairs field, or public administration (a mixture of these types of experiences is highly desirable) which has included at least three (3) years of managerial experience. Any combination of relevant education and professional experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis. A Master's degree in a related field may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience. Education and experience can be tailored to fit the specific organizational entity/directorial assignment.

• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to independently produce strategic, high-level, and stakeholder-facing materials.

• Demonstrated ability to build consensus and work successfully with a variety of constituents and organizations.

• Must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver's license and meet requirements in accordance with SPPM 7.10 and departmental driving standards.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in related field.

Position Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for work visa sponsorship
About Department - WSU Government Relations | Washington State University
Area/College: External Affairs and Government Relations
Department Name: External Affairs and Government Relations
Location: This position is based on the WSU Tri-Cities campus within Richland WA.
Application Instructions: Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.
1) Resume
2) Cover Letter
External candidates, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application.
Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.
Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.
Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.
Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

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Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [email protected].

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.

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More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/