Assistant Director of Alumni Communications & Engagement

Aurora University; Aurora (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Aurora University seeks an Assistant Director of Alumni Communications & Engagement to collaborate with University Marketing Communications on strategies that raise the university’s visibility and increase engagement and annual giving.

The role requires drafting and managing communications, coordinating campaigns, and supporting donor relations with a focus on alumni engagement across digital and print channels.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least three years of successful experience within higher education or non-profits.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with University partners on philanthropic and engagement communications via email, direct mail, phone, online giving, social media and targeted digital outreach to execute effective solicitation and engagement campaigns.
• Serves as the campus expert for Give Campus, the platform used for annual giving, events, and outreach.
• Serves as the liaison between OPE and University Marketing Communications, ensuring alignment and collaboration on messaging, branding, and promotional strategies for fundraising, alumni engagement, and donor stewardship initiatives.
• Develops tools, processes, procedures, policies and materials to support the alumni engagement and annual giving program, peer-to-peer fundraising efforts, and campus partners to ensure a seamless and positive donor experience.
• Develops OPE communications.
• Researches, writes, and edits a variety of communications, publications, and reports.
• Develops and manages digital and print communications projects.
• Manages the content calendar for OPE communications.
• Acts as content development resource for OPE.
• Assists with implementing a comprehensive annual giving program to acquire, retain, and upgrade annual donors.
• Assists with coordinating alumni engagement and annual giving initiatives including the AU Day of Generosity, local and regional events, and affinity-based campaigns.
• Assists with event logistics, including onsite support for registration.

Skills

Copywriting

Project management

Data-driven decisions

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Verbal & written communication

Diversity & inclusion

Organizational skills

Constant Contact

Basecamp

Give Campus

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Constant Contact

Basecamp

Give Campus

Job description

Position Purpose:

The Assistant Director of Alumni Communications & Engagement isresponsible for collaborating on communications and other essentialprojects on behalf of the Office of Philanthropy & Engagement(OPE) with University Marketing Communications. This role executesstrategies to raise the visibility of the University and toincrease engagement and annual giving with key audiences.

Core Competencies:

1. Represents Aurora University in the most positive manner withprospective, former and current students, clients, suppliers andthe community we serve. Interacts effectively with a diverse groupof faculty, staff, students and other customers of our service,learns and uses operating practices of the department and AuroraUniversity.
2. Upholds the Mission Statement: Aurora University is aninclusive community dedicated to the transformative power oflearning. As a teaching-centered institution, we encourageundergraduate and graduate students to discover what it takes tobuild meaningful and examined lives. Our singular goal is toempower our students to achieve lasting personal and professionalsuccess.
3. Handles all information with tact and discretion and recognizesthe confidential nature of university business.
4. Supports learning through performance of essential jobfunctions and performing other duties and functions as necessary oras assigned, including voluntary participation in universitycommittees, activities and events.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Collaborates with University partners on philanthropic andengagement communications via email, direct mail, phone, onlinegiving, social media and targeted digital outreach to executeeffective solicitation and engagement campaigns.
2. Serves as the campus expert for Give Campus, the platform usedfor annual giving, events, and outreach.
3. Serves as the liaison between OPE and University MarketingCommunications, ensuring alignment and collaboration on messaging,branding, and promotional strategies for fundraising, alumniengagement, and donor stewardship initiatives.
4. Develops tools, processes, procedures, policies and materialsto support the alumni engagement and annual giving program,peer-to-peer fundraising efforts, and campus partners to ensure aseamless and positive donor experience.
5. Develops OPE communications.
6. Researches, writes, and edits a variety of communications,publications, and reports.
7. Develops and manages digital and print communicationsprojects.
8. Manages the content calendar for OPE communications.
9. Acts as content development resource for OPE.
10. Assists with implementing a comprehensive annual giving programto acquire, retain, and upgrade annual donors.
11. Assists with coordinating alumni engagement and annual givinginitiatives including the AU Day of Generosity, local and regionalevents, and affinity-based campaigns.
12. Assists with event logistics, including onsite support forregistration.

Essential Job Requirements:

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least three years of successful experience within highereducation or non-profits.

Skills:

• Experience with writing copy, with basics of marketing, andwith communication platforms like Constant Contact.
• Ability to manage multiple projects/functions to producequality results in a fast-paced environment.
• Project management experience.
• Experience working with data to inform decisions.
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary to build relationshipswith internal and external constituents.
• Ability to work collaboratively and as a team player.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering a diverse working andlearning environment.
• Strong organizational and detail-orientation skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within higher education.
• Basic knowledge of fundraising principles, best practices,methods, and standards.
• An understanding of relational databases and report-writingsystems.
• Experience with project management tools like Basecamp.
• Experience with Give Campus.
• Knowledge of annual giving and alumni engagement bestpractices.