Alumni & Advancement Coordinator

Primary Function

The Alumni and Advancement Coordinator will provide organizational and logistical planning, implementation, and evaluation of all alumni, prospect, and donor engagement program activities for the College of Education ( COE ). The Alumni and Advancement Coordinator will work to implement a strategic and annual plan for prospective and current donor cultivation and stewardship, alumni engagement and recognition, and activities planned and developed by senior leadership in the College. In addition, the Alumni and Advancement Coordinator will work with the Senior Director of Strategy and Communications and the Communications Manager in the COE regarding all communications related to events and all communications related to alumni and donor engagement.

This position will also assist in ensuring the COE’s participation in Alumni Association, Foundation, other collegiate, and university-wide alumni and donor programs and initiatives that will serve to inform, cultivate and steward our alumni, current and prospective donors.

This position is under the supervision of the COE Director of Advancement with a dotted line reporting relationship to the COE Sr. Director of Strategy and Communications.
Duties and Responsibilities (generally)

Responsible for organizational and logistical planning, implementation, and evaluation of all alumni, current and prospective, donor engagement activities and programs for the College of Education ( COE ) in fulfillment of the annual strategic plan. Works with college and Foundation leadership regarding all communications related to programs and alumni and donor engagement. Assists in ensuring the COE’s participation in Alumni Association, Foundation, and other collegiate and university-wide alumni and donor programs and initiatives. Serves as a primary point of contact with alumni and donor program attendees and represents the Foundation, University and the Alumni Association in a professional, enthusiastic manner with a customer service and team focus.

All responsibilities are focused on enhancing the College’s current and prospective donor pool.
Minimum Required Qualifications for this position

1. Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Marketing, Public Relations, Communications, Business Administration, Student Affairs, or a closely related field.
2. One year education, training and/or work experience in Event Planning, Conference Management, Public Relations, Communication, Marketing, or any other related field.
3. Demonstrated experience working with in higher education donor relations, stewardship and alumni board support.
Specialty Factors (Additional Required Qualifications)

Education and Experience Preferred

Experience in marketing, special event management and/or alumni programming
List the knowledge, skills, and abilities critical to the performance of this position.

1. Deep, personal commitment to diversity in all forms, the recognition of all individuals to mutual respect, and the acceptance of others without biases. Demonstrable commitment to leading by example, modeling diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the university.
2. Demonstrated sound judgment in situations requiring independent decision-making and in handling confidential and sensitive material.
3. Demonstrated exceptional writing skills.
4. Ability to track financial expenditures and maintain budgets.
5. Ability to address requests for proposal development, vendor evaluations, contract negotiations, and management and implementation of new technology.
6. Ability to track financial expenditures and maintain budgets is required.
7. Strong customer-service focus; excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a proven ability to work patiently, persuasively, and effectively with a wide variety of people, including students, faculty, staff, donors, and alumni.
8. Demonstrable skills in effective interpersonal relations and communication.
9. Ability to work on project teams both in lead and support roles.
10. Business proficiency in Microsoft Office Word, Access and Excel, including the tabulation of budget figures, creation of scenario planning tools and merging files; experience in enterprise systems for event and scheduling management.
11. Exceptional organizational and project management skills.
12. Excellent attention to detail.
13. Exceptional communication skills as there will be strong interactions with both internal and external constituents.
14. The ability to synthesize multiple sources of information.
15. Willingness to work extra hours, nights and weekends to ensure the job is done exceptionally well.
16. Ability to work autonomously, as well as manage several constituents.
Working Hours
While established University office hours are 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, donor and event work is professionally conducted at times and places consistent with donor availability and event scheduling. Oftentimes this work includes nights and weekends, and trips out
Minimum Pay Rate (Hourly or Monthly)
$4,000.00/month
Hiring Rate Information

Actual hiring rate is commensurate with experience, education, and internal equity; position includes a robust benefits package to eligible applicants.

Posting Date
10/18/2021
Closing Date
11/21/2021
Priority Review Date

Special Instructions to Applicants

• Fully complete the Education and Work History sections of the application. Be specific on your entire work history, including employment dates and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position, however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience.
• If you have education and/or training in excess of what is required, we encourage you to upload your unofficial transcripts.
• After the posting has closed, your submission will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the classification, including any specialty factors associated with this particular position.
• Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from jobs@niu.edu and CivilServiceTesting@niu.edu . Please add these emails to your address book to ensure timely delivery of any future communication.
• We STRONGLY recommend that contact information used in your online profile be personal use, not professional/work information: personal email address, home address, and phone numbers. The information you provide is used to make contact on search updates, department referrals and interviews, etc. We must be able to relay sensitive and important information in a way that protects your privacy concerning job search activity, now and in the future.
• The Civil Service examination for this classification is a Credentials Assessment, and is based on your application materials as submitted for this posting. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register. After the application deadline, the names within the top three scores will be referred to the hiring department for interview.
• Once this position has been filled, all names will be removed from the employment register in accordance with State Universities Civil Service System rule 250.60(h)(10) .
• If eligible for Veteran’s Preference Points, DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256 paperwork reflecting an Honorable Discharge MUST be uploaded to this application in order to receive the maximum eligible points on the Civil Service examination.
• Click on Events Administrator Associate for more information including salary ranges, typical duties, minimum acceptable qualifications, and testing requirements.
• Please click Human Resource Services – Benefits for detailed information about Northern Illinois University’s benefits package.
• Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Application Procedures

As part of your application materials, please include:

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter speaking to your experience related to the position
• Finalists will be required to provide three letters of reference.

Link to Department Homepage
https://foundation.myniu.com/
Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Use of a personal vehicle is required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand for long periods of time; walk; use fingers and hands to feel, grasp, operate or handle objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. Must be able to lift and carry 20 lbs. regularly.
EEO Statement

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator
Health Services 230
TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu
815-753-5560
Is Background Check Required
Yes
Visa Policy

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

ADA Accommodation

NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person’s disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form . For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity and Education ( AAEOE ) at ada@niu.edu .

Clery Act Information

NIU provides information regarding campus security, personal and fire safety, including topics such as: crime prevention, emergency response procedures and crime reporting policies, in addition to crime and fire statistics for the most recent three calendar years. The Annual Security Report containing security and safety information is available at www.safety.niu.edu/clery or by contacting the University Police Department and Public Safety Department at 815-753-9628 to receive a hard copy. The Annual Fire Safety Report is available at www.niu.edu/clery/fire_report.pdf or by contacting the Environmental Health and Safety Department at 815-753-0404 to receive a hard copy.

Quick Link
https://employment.niu.edu/postings/59813
Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. If applicable, have you attached a copy of your DD214, DD215, NGB22, or DD256 for consideration of Veterans Preference Points? The copy submitted should reflect the status of discharge in order to be considered.
   • Yes
   • No
   • Not Applicable
2. * What is your highest level of completed education?
   • High School/GED
   • Bachelor's Degree
   • Master's Degree
   • PhD
3. * What field/major is your degree in?
   
   (Open Ended Question)
   
   
4. * Have you attached all transcripts to support the degrees you are submitting for consideration?
   • Yes
   • No
5. * How many years of professional work experience in Event Planning, Conference Management, Public Relations, Communication, Marketing, or a related field do you possess?
   • 0-1 years
   • 1-2 years
   • 2-3 years
   • 3+ years
6. * Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or resume.
   
   (Open Ended Question)
   
   
7. * Please rate your level of experience working with in higher education donor relations, stewardship and alumni board support
   • Entry
   • Intermediate
   • Expert
8. * Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or resume.
   
   (Open Ended Question)
   
   

Applicant Documents
Required Documents

1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents

1. Military Discharge Documents ONLY (DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256)
2. Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
3. Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
4. Transcripts #2 (unofficial with official required at hire)
5. Transcripts #3 (unofficial with official required at hire)
6. Other