Advancement Communication and Events Specialist (Twin Cities or Winona, MN)

Tami Belden

Overview and Responsibilities

Saint Mary’s University is seeking to hire an Advancement Communication and Events Specialist on the Winona Campus. The Advancement Communication and Events Specialist is an integral member of the Advancement Team, providing essential support to efforts that enhance alumni and benefactor engagement and meet fundraising goals. This position will report directly to the Senior Director, Alumni & Benefactor Engagement.

• Events and Programs Coordination
  • Acts as the project manager for Alumni and Benefactor Engagement events and programming; creates and manages timelines in coordination with other staff to ensure all elements of events and programming is delivered on time. Including the annual Reunion Weekend.
  • Serve as event liaison and main point of contact leading up to and during events and programming.
  • Coordinate with internal partners and external alumni and volunteers on third party event and activity requests, such as the “event in a box” program.
• Alumni Relations Support
• Greet alumni and benefactor visitors and serve as front agent to the Alumni Office phone line and email. Respond to initial inquiries and requests, or connect customers to the proper resource.
• Serve as the point of contact for alumni class note updates and coordinate appropriate follow-up for celebratory life events, professional accomplishments, death notices or notices of sympathy. Prepare and record correspondence and maintain inventory of stationary supplies.
• Pull and prepare alumni metrics reports for team and board meetings.
• Provide support functions for the alumni board including setting logistics of events and recording meeting minutes .
• Coordinate displays in the Merle Wilberding Alumni Room, which includes the visual and physical displays, artwork and the stewardship of visitors to the university space, as well as Veterans Memorial bricks.
• Coordinate design and purchase of recognition awards and maintain inventory of Alumni related stewardship items.
• Maintain confidentiality of information and records.
• Alumni & Benefactor Communications
  • Under the direction of the Senior Director of Alumni & Benefactor engagement, coordinate content gathering, design and sending of Alumni E-Newsletters and other mass communications.
  • Assist with and support the logistics of mass mailings and other alumni engagement and fundraising communications and activities.
  • Post messages on Social Media platforms in coordination with team members and monitor responses. Some content creation such as videos and graphics.
  • Manage Annual Events and communications calendars.
  • Creation of web pages and online content, as well as ensuring current content is accurate and up to date.
• Fundraising support and activities
  • Create, write and work with marketing to design and send the Calendar Year End and Fiscal Year End campaign appeals.

Essential Skills and Functions:

• Highly “customer service” and detail-oriented with the ability to handle many details of varying nature at the same time.
• Advanced ability to prioritize tasks, schedules, and objectives.
• Proficient computer skills and demonstrated competence in Microsoft Office software including Outlook, Word, and Excel as well as Google Suite.
• Ability to quickly learn new technologies, programs, and applications.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• A track record of taking personal responsibility for ensuring high-quality work and associated outcomes.
• A self-reflective and positive disposition with a focus on continuous growth and improvement for self and others.
• A career history of commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards including confidentiality.
• Proven ability to interact with varied constituencies in a collegial and professional manner.
• Attendance and punctuality are essential functions of the position. Regular attendance is an essential job function to ensure teamwork and face-to-face interaction with faculty, staff, students, and alumni and friends of the University.
• Demonstrates multicultural competence – the awareness, knowledge, and skills needed to work with others who are culturally different from self in meaningful, relevant, and productive ways. The incumbent is expected to support the Mission of the University through their work with faculty, staff, students, and alumni and friends of the university.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Demonstrated experience with customer service support via one-on-one communication and as part of a work team.
• Previous experience in higher education or in an Advancement Office preferred.
• May consider other acceptable equivalent combinations of training and experience.

Application Requirements

Apply online at https://hive.smumn.edu/about/offices/human-resources/employment-opportunities and please include a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota believes inclusion and human dignity contributes to a robust academic and work environment and is critical to achieving the University's mission in an increasingly diverse society. Individuals with expertise and diverse skills from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. The successful candidate must support, respect, and advance the mission of Saint Mary's University as a Lasallian Catholic institution.

Saint Mary’s offers a comprehensive benefit package including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending, retirement pension plan, and both undergraduate and graduate tuition remission plans.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.