Career Center

Center for Democracy and Civic Life

The Center for Democracy and Civic Life helps people develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to create healthy communities and tackle challenges together. Our work builds from the premise that civic life encompasses everyday settings and relationships through which people can generate the power to shape their world.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is seeking an Assistant Director/Media Advisor for the Center for Democracy and Civic Life. This is a unique opportunity to serve as a mentor and advisor for students affiliated with The Retriever, the student-run newspaper, while playing a leadership role on a staff team that develops distinctive initiatives and insights that have been widely influential in higher education’s civic learning and democratic engagement movement.

UMBC offers competitive compensation and excellent benefits. The salary range for this position starts at $69,000. The position includes 22 days of annual leave. Tuition remission is also available.

What is it like to work at UMBC? Check out Glassdoor or Indeed. And read about our recent award, UMBC is a 2022 Great College to Work for…. In every category.

A hybrid telework schedule may be available. 

The Assistant Director/Media Advisor is a newly established position in the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, affording an opportunity for visionary, impactful work as part of a creative staff team. Reporting to the Director, the Media Advisor will be responsible for advising The Retriever, UMBC’s student-run newspaper, and helping to lead and support the Center’s initiatives. The Media Advisor will guide The Retriever student employees in connection with journalistic issues, including those relating to ethics and media law, and will provide support to these student employees in planning events, creating and maintaining an annual budget, supervising payroll and supervising the hiring and training process. The Media Advisor will be responsible for interpreting institutional policies, procedures, mission and philosophy in their daily work with students. In addition, the Media Advisor will design, lead and support programs that advance students’ civic learning and democratic engagement; contribute to Center for Democracy and Civic Life publications; represent the Center in connection with campus, regional, state and national partnerships; and perform other duties as assigned.

Specific duties include:

• Journalistic advising, training and support for The Retriever: Serve as a mentor and resource for students affiliated with The Retriever with regard to strategic planning and innovation, reporting, writing, editing, advertising, marketing, digital media, design and photography. Model and maintain professional standards, including by supporting the editorial team in holding regular meetings and providing appropriate guidance to students affiliated with The Retriever. Provide feedback, benchmarks and advice when requested by the editor, but do not make content decisions.
• Civic program development and leadership: Contribute to the Center’s strategic planning and initiative development. Design, lead, facilitate and support programs that contribute to UMBC students’ civic learning and democratic engagement. Contribute to the Center’s publications. Participate in regional and national civic learning and democratic engagement gatherings.
• Administrative support for The Retriever: Oversee The Retriever’s budget, finances, space and equipment in collaboration with the Student Affairs Business Services Center.
• Communication and collaboration: Promote understanding of The Retriever’s role, policies and procedures among members of the UMBC community, including by evaluating and resolving problems, addressing inquiries and explaining the nuances of the combination of independence and accountability appropriate to a college student newspaper. Work with other members of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life team to integrate insights about journalistic practices into the Center’s body of work relating to civic learning and democratic engagement, and to integrate the Center’s insights about civic learning and democratic engagement into the process of empowering and supporting students affiliated with The Retriever. Participate in meetings with The Retriever’s Advisory Board.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism or a related, comparable field
• Current or former working journalist with three years of experience working in professional journalism or a related field
• Experience and skill in collaborating with students
• Working knowledge of journalistic ethics and media law

• Previous work experience in a higher education setting
• Experience with supervision of professional staff
• Experience in successful organizational leadership, including an operational understanding of office management, budget development, personnel management and strategic planning

A background check will be required.

To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, three published journalistic writing samples and contact information for three professional references.

UMBC offers a rich benefits package.

Regular and grant funded regular positions (Full benefits summary click here):

Generous Leave which includes accruing:

• 22 Days of Annual Leave  
• 15 Days of Sick Leave  
• 15 Holidays
• 3 Personal Days

Tuition Remission:

• 8 credit hours per semester
• Tuition remission at UMBC for eligible dependents after two years of FT employment

Additional Benefits:

• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement plans (including the choice of joining the pension plan)
• Professional development opportunities
• Wellness opportunities
• & Much more

Contingent II positions may include some benefits. 

Benefits offered align with type (Regular, Contingent II, etc.) of position. 

If you require a reasonable accommodation for a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact the Human Resources Department at 410-455-2337 or MD TTY Relay Service 1-800-735-2258 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.