Foundation Relations Specialist

Purdue University; West Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Purdue University, via the Purdue For Life Foundation, seeks a Foundation Relations Specialist to support the Senior Vice President and the Foundation Relations team. This role focuses on project management, reporting, budget oversight, and executive support to advance educational initiatives and scholarships.

You will coordinate travel, manage calendars, prepare presentations, and analyze office systems to improve administration.

Qualifications

• Ability to effectively communicate policies and procedures.
• Excellent office management skills including word processing and filing.
• Demonstrated good judgment, communication, teamwork, and public relations.
• Ability to inspire confidence and cooperation.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to interface with executives, alumni, faculty, staff, public and media.
• Ability to foster a participative supervisory style.
• Learning orientation toward changing technology.
• Ability to work with diverse clientele with tact and confidentiality.
• Creative and self-motivated.
• Ability to work weekends and evenings.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive project management and support for the Senior Vice President, Foundation Relations and the Foundation Relations team.
• Proactively manage project status, identify next steps, and suggest process improvements.
• Own SPS Foundation Awards tracking within Salesforce.
• Manage the Foundation Relations budget.
• Develop and refine summaries, reports, spreadsheets, and presentations.
• Provide high-level executive support: manage calendar, prioritize requests, draft agendas, and prepare meeting materials.
• Initiate travel and procurement requests, monitor budgets, and produce reports.
• Respond to inquiries and determine appropriate responses.
• Analyze office systems to improve administration and customer service.
• Research and design reports, charts, and data for organizational objectives.
• Address routine and non-routine information requests.
• Prioritize communications and resolve issues.
• Draft and edit correspondence.
• Manage document flow and oversee event arrangements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Policy communication

Office management

Customer service

Public relations

Diplomacy

Multitasking

Confidentiality

Executive interfacing

Work flexibility

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Administrative experience

Job description

Foundation Relations Specialist

Department: Foundation Relations

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Purdue for Life Foundation

Description

Working for the Purdue For Life Foundation offers a unique opportunity to be part of an organization dedicated to empowering Purdue University alumni and fostering a lifelong connection to the institution. By joining our team, you'll have the chance to contribute to a mission that supports educational initiatives, scholarships, and programs that positively impact the lives of Purdue students and graduates. The Foundation's commitment to education and community engagement provides a fulfilling work environment where you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and the broader community. Additionally, you'll have access to a network of passionate colleagues and the resources needed to drive positive change, making the Purdue For Life Foundation an inspiring and rewarding place to build your career. Your next giant leap starts here.

Responsibilities

• Project management and support: Provide comprehensive project management and support for the Senior Vice President, Foundation Relations and the Foundation Relations team.
• Manage project status: Proactively manage the status of projects, propose next steps, research issues, suggest process improvements, and identify opportunities to enhance projects.
• SPS Foundation Awards tracking: Take ownership of SPS Foundation Awards tracking within Salesforce.
• Budget management: Manage the Foundation Relations budget.
• Develop reports and presentations: Develop and refine summaries, reports, spreadsheets, and presentations.
• Executive support: Provide high-level executive support to the Senior Vice President of Foundation Relations and the Foundation Relations team. Manage the calendar, assess and prioritize requests, compile information, draft agendas, background notes, and materials for meetings, maintain databases, and organize and manage the electronic filing system.
• Travel and procurement: Initiate travel and procurement requests, monitor budgets, process gifts, reconcile financial information, and produce reports.
• Respond to inquiries: Use independent judgment to respond to questions and determine when/how to respond or refer.
• Contribute to organizational objectives: Analyze office systems, procedures, and practices to provide efficient management of administration and customer service.
• Research and data compilation: Research, compile data, and design reports, spreadsheets, logs, graphs, and charts to meet organizational objectives.
• Respond to information requests: Address routine and non-routine requests for information.
• Prioritize communications: Assess the nature of communications and prioritize accordingly.
• Issue resolution: Resolve issues, make recommendations, and route communications appropriately.
• Compose and edit correspondence: Draft and edit correspondence.
• System management: Manage and analyze systems, procedures, and practices to ensure efficient administration and customer service.
• Document flow management: Manage the flow of documents into and out of the office.
• Event arrangements: Oversee all arrangements for visits and events.
• Other duties: Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Ability to effectively communication policies and procedures.
• Excellent office management skills including word processing, content and context editing, composing correspondence, proofreading, and developing and maintain office filing system.
• Demonstrated good judgment, excellent communication, teamwork, strong customer service focus, diplomacy, persuasive ability, public relations.
• Ability to inspire confidence and cooperation.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize work to meet deadlines, and produce high quality work with attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively interface with University and corporate executives, distinguished alumni, faculty, staff, general public and media representatives.
• Ability to foster a participative supervisory style.
• Possess a learning orientation to changing technology impacting business processes.
• Ability to work with diverse clientele, represent the University with tact and diplomacy, maintain confidentiality and manage multiple tasks.
• Creative and self-motivated.
• Ability to work weekends and evenings.

Required Education, Experience and Benefits Summary

• Bachelor's Degree required
• Minimum of four years of clerical/administrative office experience required.

Job Level: Professional 2

Benefits Summary for eligible employees:

• 10 paid holidays per year.
• Accrue up to 22 vacation days a year.
• Traditional pre-tax 403(b) and Roth retirement plans available.
• 10% employer contribution to your retirement plan and immediate vesting.
• Health Savings Account- earn up to $700 annually towards medical expenses.
• Employer funded Preventative Dental and Vision insurance.
• Tuition discounts on eligible programs at Purdue University and Purdue Global for qualified employees, spouses, and dependents.