Department Relations Specialist

College of Letters & Science UW-Madison

The Office of Strategic Communications & Advancement (SCA) for the College of Letters & Science at UW-Madison communicates College-wide priorities, policies, and achievements to many groups, including L&S departments, schools, and programs, alumni, donors, students, University Relations, Business Engagement, and partners within the University of Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA). The Office develops and implements an integrated communications and advancement strategy in support of College-wide and unit-specific objectives.

https://www.wisc.edu


Position Details

Department Relations Specialist
Job
Full-time
12/20/2018
Southwest Wisconsin
Madison, WI

The Department Relations Specialist will serve as a member of the College's Office of Strategic Communications & Advancement (SCA) team and will report to the Office's Assistant Dean. This colleague will interact collaboratively with the leadership teams of the College and its departments/schools/programs and is responsible for cultivating and maintaining strong and effective relationships with faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and other key constituencies within the University to further the strategic communications and advancement goals of the College.

Principal Duties:

45% Internal Relations, Strategic Planning, and Unit Support

  • Serve as liaison between the College and its departments/schools/programs for strategic communications and advancement.
  • Organize and participate in fact-finding missions and problem-solving/results-oriented meetings.
  • Work with the leaders of the College's departments/schools/programs to develop communication strategies, priorities, and messages.
  • Develop and employ relevant analysis and metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of the communications and advancement initiatives.
  • Analyze and refine processes in order to achieve continuous improvement.
  • Collaborate with the Dean's Office in the creation of a full-year calendar for programs and events throughout the College and the development of internal communications such as a College newsletter for internal audiences.
  • Work with the Strategic Communications & Advancement team and University partners in the creation/enhancement of workshops, resources, and toolkits for the benefit of the College's units.

45% Annual Giving - Cultivation, Solicitation, and Stewardship

  • Work closely with the Assistant Dean of Strategic Communications & Advancement to plan and implement annual giving initiatives for the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors on behalf of the College and its departments/schools/programs.
  • Serve as a liaison in the planning and implementation of the College's student campaign initiatives.
  • Participate in relevant campus-wide committee work.
  • Work in partnership with the leadership of the College and its departments/schools/programs as well as colleagues within the University of Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA).

10% Other Related Work

  • Perform other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Assistant Dean of Strategic Communications & Advancement.
  • A bachelor's degree is required.
  • A minimum of three years of professional experience in higher education, nonprofits, government, or the private sector is required. A minimum of five years is preferred.

       Preferred Requirements:

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to develop strategy, messaging, and positioning for communications and advancement.
  • Ability to handle multiple priorities, meet tight deadlines, take initiative, work independently, and self-start.
  • Ability to navigate a complex academic community, including the ability to build bridges and strong collaborative relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders to achieve objectives.
  • Excellent ability to work as a positive, inspired, collaborative team member with colleagues in the University, College, and in the College's units.
  • Exceptional attention to detail.
  • Knowledge of the purpose and mission of the College of Letters & Science.
  • Commitment to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Ability to work a flexible schedule to complete time-sensitive projects and to attend occasional evening and/or weekend events, as needed.
  • Proficiency with MS Office.


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