University Engagement Strategist

Organizational Background

In the heart of the nation’s capital, George Washington University (GW) is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. The University offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study, as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business, and international affairs. As one of the largest private employers in the District of Columbia, the University seeks employees who support the teaching, research, and public service mission of the University.

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director, Talent Development, the University Engagement Strategist serves as a strategic lead and individual contributor responsible for designing, managing, and evaluating university-wide engagement programs, culture initiatives, and staff recognition for the George Washington University.

This position bridges data-driven culture strategy with high-impact execution. The University Engagement Strategist acts as the central HR lead for university culture, synthesizing employee feedback for executive leadership while partnering closely with University Events, HR Business Partners (HRBPs), University Communications, and institutional stakeholders to drive staff connection, appreciation, and community across campus and remote/hybrid work environments.

Key Areas of Responsibility

1. Strategic Culture & Survey Management

• Serve as the functional and strategic lead for the annual university-wide employee engagement survey, managing the vendor relationship, survey administration, communication strategies, and data integrity.
• Analyze complex survey data and synthesize findings into executive-level briefings, delivering actionable updates, trend analysis, and recommendations to Deans, Vice Presidents, and Cabinet leadership.
• Partner with HR Business Partners (HRBPs) and unit leaders to facilitate post-survey action planning, designing central toolkits, train-the-trainer resources, and tailored engagement strategies for decentralized units.
• Explore and implement ongoing employee feedback mechanisms (e.g., pulse surveys, lifecycle feedback) to continuously evaluate the employee experience.

2. Staff Recognition and Community Events

• Drive the strategy and program design for marquee university-wide staff appreciation initiatives, including the annual GW Step Challenge, employee socials, and community-building events.
• Serve as the primary HR lead in partnership with the University Events team to co-design and execute large-scale signature events (500–2000+ attendees), including the annual Employee Festival and Staff Awards.
• Direct the university’s Career Milestone program, managing vendor agreements, communications, the gift/yearbook platform, and the annual recognition ceremony.
• Oversee the annual review and administration of the Staff Emeriti program.

3. Program Operations, Budgeting, & Strategic Communications

• Manage the employee event, engagement budget, tracking expenditures and negotiating with external vendors to maximize program ROI.
• Partner with university communications and internal communication team to develop comprehensive messaging, branding, and promotional plans to increase awareness and participation in engagement initiatives.
• Maintain central engagement and leadership calendars to maximize visibility, participation, and alignment across all university initiatives.
• Establish metrics and analytics to evaluate the reach, participation rate, and overall impact of engagement programs across the university.
• Provide supervision or oversight to event-day support staff, student workers, or temporary staff as required.

Perform all other duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

This listing was sourced from 4dayweek.io.