University Relations Officer (2 Openings) - 20428

ATTENTION:

The UW-Whitewater Foundation, Inc., in the division of University Relations at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater seeks two University Relations Officers (Gift Officer I, AV013).

JOB DETAILS:

Reporting to the Director of Alumni Relations, and coordinating with the Vice Chancellor for University Relations, the University Relations Officer is a vital member of the University Relations Team at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The University Relations Officer has a multifaceted role and is responsible for a range of alumni engagement activities and annual solicitations targeting alumni and friends of UW-Whitewater. The primary objective is to increase alumni engagement and donor participation.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree
• A passion for philanthropy and higher education

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated interest in fundraising with a background in a higher education setting
• Database and CRM experience
• Customer service background

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two to five years of professional and/or development experience in a higher education or non-profit organization.
• Fundraising campaign experience 
• Raiser's Edge and Classy experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Integrity and demonstration of relationship-building skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Tech-friendly with interest in analytics
• A strategic mind
• Ability to take direction, work independently, and be a part of a collaborative team
• Serves as an active participant in complying with applicable safety rules and regulations, including necessary training and drills
• Ability to interact respectfully with people from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Key responsibilities include:

(50%) Under the general supervision of the Director for Alumni Relations, the University Relations Officer positions are liaisons to various alumni and affinity groups, including the Rock County campus. Priority work in the role builds a pipeline of potential volunteers and donors through alumni exploration, cultivation and stewardship.

• Partner with program teams throughout campus to understand the alumni engagement opportunities.
• Coordinate, execute and document in-person, virtual and hybrid alumni events and activities with strategic engagement goals and objectives related to specific alumni affinity groups. 
• Track alumni involvement and assist with recruiting alumni to serve as guest speakers, panelists, mentors, capstone sponsors, advisory board members or other opportunities as needed
• Coordinate the Alumni Mentor Program

(30%) University Relations Officers are responsible for actively engaging alumni through strategic communication and outreach activities to develop and maintain lasting relationships with the University.

• In conjunction with the Digital Philanthropy Coordinator, manage an annual editorial calendar to include alumni-focused emails, marketing material and social media campaigns

(20%) The University Relations Officer is responsible for oversight and management of online fundraising, giving day and crowdfunding platforms, ensuring seamless operation and effectiveness. The University Relations Officer collaborates with teammates to identify matching challenge dollars, provide support, and develop strategic plans for any upcoming appeals.

• Lead and execute successful giving day and annual giving strategies with oversight of fundraising software and select mailed initiatives by actively collaborating with colleagues across the institution. 
• Develop and establish a comprehensive crowdfunding strategy, identify target audiences, assist the team, and ensure effective stewardship to enhance engagement and encourage long-term support.
• Collaborate with the research team and database administrator to track and monitor critical data points, including overall donor participation, alumni engagement, retention rates, and attrition trends. Ensure accurate and up-to-date information is available for reporting purposes.

CAMPUS INFORMATION:

UW-Whitewater is a thriving public university located in southeastern Wisconsin. It leads the way in providing world-class, affordable higher education programs to more students than neighboring regional comprehensives in the University of Wisconsin System. A collaborative team of 1,300 faculty and staff are devoted to the success of the university's 11,000 students at its main and Rock County campuses. The team provides high-impact practices and academic programs - online and in person - from associate to doctoral levels. Recognized nationally for affordability, inclusion, and career development, UWW has approximately one-third first-generation students and boasts strength in many areas, especially business and education. The campus and community embrace the Warhawk Family spirit, supporting the university's arts and nationally recognized NCAA Division-III level championship athletics. As a proud institution of access, more than 10 percent of undergraduate students use the acclaimed Center for Students with Disabilities - a priority mission since the 1970s.

UW-Whitewater's campuses are located centrally near Milwaukee, Madison, and Chicago, offering easy access to the cultural and commercial opportunities of major metropolitan areas. Near both Lake Geneva and the Wisconsin Dells, the area attracts numerous visitors from across the country. Whitewater is a vibrant college community near the Kettle Moraine State Forest offering area residents seasonal outdoor enjoyment. The nearby Rock County campus is located in Janesville, a town of 60,000 located on the Rock River and known as Wisconsin's Park Place.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and actively seeks and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and veterans.

ORGANIZATION INFORMATION:

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is part of the 13-campus University of Wisconsin System (https://www.wisconsin.edu ).

Wisconsin Statute 19.36(7)(b) provides that applicants may indicate in writing that their identity should be kept confidential. In response to a public records request, the University will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful final candidate will be released. See Wisconsin Statute 19.36(7)(a).

Per Regent Policy Document 20-19, University of Wisconsin System Criminal Background Check Policy and UW System Administrative Policy 1275 Recruitment Policies, UW-Whitewater requires criminal background checks as a contingency to employment. A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of employment. All final candidates must be asked, prior to hire, whether they have been found to have engaged in, are currently under investigation for, or left employment during an active investigation in which they were accused of sexual violence or sexual harassment. When obtaining employment reference checks, these same sexual violence or sexual harassment questions must also be asked.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater requires that all employees be active participants in following applicable safety rules and regulations including necessary training and drills.

For UW-Whitewater Campus safety information and crime statistics/annual Security Report, see http://www.uww.edu/asfr . If you would like a paper copy of the report please contact the UW-Whitewater Police at 262-472-4660.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Well-qualified candidates can expect a starting annual salary within a range of $45,000 - $50,000.

UW System employees receive an excellent benefit package. To learn more about the UW System's comprehensive benefit package, review the UW System Employee Benefits Brochure .

CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT:

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term. If you have questions regarding this, please contact Human Resources. UW-Whitewater is not an e-verify employer, therefore STEM extensions are not options for work authorization.

TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION:

For full consideration, please submit materials no later than January 1, 2024. The review of applications may continue until the positions are filled. The most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.

If you have questions regarding this recruitment or if you are unable to complete the application online due to a disability or system problem, please contact us at (262) 472-1072 or [email protected] .

For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Brenda Stevens
Executive Assistant II
262-472-1673
[email protected]

TO APPLY:

Only complete application packages will be considered. This includes online submission of the following documents:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Name and contact information for three professional references

This Job ID is 20428.

A potential applicant who is NOT currently employed by the University of Wisconsin System, click here:

UW-Whitewater External Applicants

A current employee of the University of Wisconsin System, click here:

UW-Whitewater Internal Applicants

Before you get started with the online application process, we recommend you preview the frequently asked questions (FAQs) by selecting the link below.

Apply Online FAQ's