Civic Engagement and Service Specialist - Community Outreach

Position Summary

Applications are invited from all candidates who meet the stated requirements. In accordance with UAE guidelines, Emirati nationals are especially encouraged to submit an application.

New York University Abu Dhabi is looking to hire a Civic Engagement and Service Specialist to support the Head of Civic Engagement Service. This role is central to designing and running community engagement and service initiatives that are culturally rooted and that connect NYUAD students with the diverse communities of Abu Dhabi.

The position focuses on building and maintaining local partnerships and creating outreach, educational, and cultural experiences that help students develop a deeper understanding of UAE culture, heritage, traditions, and the wider social environment. The specialist represents the department in community and government settings, coordinates major annual events and cultural programs, and oversees the day-to-day delivery of activities across the Cultural Stewardship and Community Service areas. The role also ensures that all work follows UAE legal requirements and NYUAD policies.

The successful candidate will manage programs such as Give Where You Live, Project Outreach, and the Kashtah Journey, as well as the department’s volunteer platform. They will work closely with faculty, staff, and students to promote events and programs, and will provide training support where needed.

Core Responsibilities

Civic Engagement and Service Programs

• Develop thorough project plans for major annual signature events, including timelines, milestones, and deliverables, and keep all work on schedule.
• Support the Assistant Director with planning and delivery of the Give Where You Live program, including student participation, operational arrangements, and coordination with partners.
• Recruit, train, and oversee student volunteers involved in Give Where You Live and Project Outreach.
• Take the lead on Project Outreach by managing logistics and student involvement from start to finish.
• Spot and build volunteering opportunities linked to major Abu Dhabi events and initiatives that fit institutional priorities and community needs.
• Ensure smooth execution of all program logistics, including volunteer sign-up and registration, transport, event setup and teardown, and risk mitigation.
• Act as the department administrator for the GivePulse platform, including posting and maintaining all departmental activities.
• Keep all GivePulse listings accurate, current, and aligned with department branding and messaging, while supporting student registration, check-in, and data collection.
• Help define learning outcomes for community service initiatives and use both quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods to improve programs, while creating guides, manuals, and training resources when required.
• Carry out post-event reviews to measure impact, identify lessons learned, and collect feedback from stakeholders.
• Work with outside partners to align events with their objectives and to secure participation and support.
• Plan promotion strategies for each event, including audience outreach, social media activity, and coordination with the Assistant Director on communications.

Student Cultural Stewardship

• Plan at least four annual cultural and service outing themes for students across the fall and spring terms, covering Desert, Sea, and Mountain experiences, in partnership with the Class Year Experience team.
• Prepare and monitor the outing budget, making sure funds are allocated appropriately.
• Train student lead volunteers so activities remain culturally respectful, relevant, and educational.
• Create detailed itineraries for each outing, including schedules, transport, and site visits.
• Work with local organizations and community partners to design service opportunities and cultural activities that match the outing themes.
• Recruit and prepare chaperones and volunteers before each trip.
• Manage student and leader communications before and after outings, including trip briefings and feedback collection.
• Build an evaluation framework to measure the effect of outings on students and partners, and report findings to the Head of Civic Engagement & Service.
• Refine future outings based on evaluation outcomes and feedback.
• Oversee operational delivery of the National Identity Program with Sandooq Al Watan and other cultural agencies.
• Coordinate the quarterly Al Ghafah Network meetings.
• Maintain strong working relationships with cultural institutions such as the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority.
• Represent the department and its leadership at government-led cultural events, field trips, and community activities when required.
• Ensure every cultural program is delivered in a manner consistent with UAE traditions, values, and regulatory expectations.

Student Capacity Building

• Assist the Assistant Director with the Sufara’a student capacity-building program whenever needed.
• Support recruitment, selection, and training of Sufara’a members, and help maintain relationships with alumni.
• Organize educational sessions that prepare student leaders for the UAE context, relevant regulations, and expectations around service and giving back.
• Measure student learning throughout the program and share results with the Head of Civic Engagement & Service to support continuous improvement.
• Partner with university departments and stakeholders to extend the program’s reach and support broader institutional objectives.
• Identify engaging material for the Civic Engagement & Service newsletter and social media channels.
• Prepare and keep up to date documentation and communication assets such as event briefs, marketing collateral, and website copy.

Outreach Program Development and Delivery

• Identify and join volunteering opportunities at key Abu Dhabi events or initiatives that students can participate in alongside the university community.
• Recruit, train, and supervise students taking part in outreach volunteering activities.
• Plan and execute event logistics smoothly, including volunteer registration, setup and teardown, catering, transport, and risk management.
• Support the development of learning outcomes for outreach programs and improve activities using quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods, protocols, manuals, and training tools as needed.
• Review outreach initiatives and recommend improvements that strengthen student development and community impact.
• Continuously research new ideas, emerging trends, and potential signature events for the Civic Engagement & Service department.
• Manage department-wide donation drives and community campaigns throughout the academic year.

Additional Duties

• Contribute to divisional projects as needed.
• Support students and the university mission through student-facing work as required, including serving as a critical staff member during emergencies.

Qualifications

Education: A bachelor’s degree is required.

Experience: At least 2 years of experience in higher education, community development, or a closely related area is required.

Additional requirements include a strong history of collaborating with community organizations, creating new partnerships, and managing multiple stakeholders, especially within the UAE. The role also calls for excellent organizational ability, presentation skills, written communication, and interpersonal skills, along with a strong awareness of UAE culture and heritage. Candidates must be able to manage several priorities and deadlines effectively and communicate clearly in both spoken and written form. Knowledge of working effectively with different stakeholders is also expected.

Preferred: Fluency in Arabic is an advantage.

About NYU Abu Dhabi

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program across the Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering. Together with NYU New York and NYU Shanghai, it forms part of NYU’s global network university spanning six continents. The institution serves as a major intellectual hub at the intersection of the Arab world, advancing scholarship, research, knowledge creation, and creative work through a globally connected and multicultural lens.

Additional Information

This role is based in Abu Dhabi and requires on-site presence. The position involves working with community partners, government entities, cultural agencies, students, faculty, and staff, and may include representing the department at events and activities when senior leaders are unavailable.