Coordinator of External Affairs

Job Family: External Relations, Communications, and Marketing

Position Overview
The Washington D.C.-based role supports and promotes the Aspin Center’s mission by interfacing with alumni and other key constituents, identifying and recruiting speakers for events, helping to host students and guests at events, developing and maintaining key infrastructure to support the Center’s work, reviewing budgets and telling the stories of the Center’s students, programming, and partnerships. This role will include engaging Aspin and Kleczka program alumni, supporters, and external organizations (including potential internship placements). Serve as liaison to our Milwaukee-based Communications team, developing social media and website content and creating and distributing Center newsletters and reports. Oversee the completion of special projects as needed, including building and regularly updating the Center’s database of over 3,000 Aspin and Kleczka program alumni and reviewing financial information monthly. Identify and apply for grants in support of the Center. Promote opportunities for engagement with Marquette and the Aspin Center on Capitol Hill, Washington-based non-profits, and policy organizations throughout the D.C. and Milwaukee areas.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Project Responsibilities:

• Establish the Center’s Alumni database with new information including current job titles and positions.
• Update the databases involving alumni and internships.
• May include identifying grant opportunities and writing grant proposals
• May require supervising student workers.

2. Strengthen external engagement:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive long-term alumni engagement strategy, in conjunction with the Director.
• Expand outreach and external engagement opportunities including student research and internship organizations.
• Identify and recruit speakers for events; help to host events at the Aspin Center.
• Review budgets monthly to ensure appropriate management of resources and to help set goals for revenue generation, in conjunction with the Director.

3. Communications

• Serve as liaison with Milwaukee-based colleagues to develop and manage a consistent communications presence for Aspin Center programs.
• Maintain and regularly update the Aspin Center social media platforms and website with recent news, upcoming events, and recent photos/videos, as well as ensuring consistency of Aspin and Kleczka branding and messaging, including any graphic design elements.
• Support Center faculty and staff on projects involving communication to various audiences and stakeholders.
• Analyze engagement with Aspin and Kleczka social media content and adjust strategies to maximize impact.

4. Enrollment management

• Ensure robust interest and enrollments in Aspin programs.
• Meet one-on-one with prospective Aspin students and answer questions.
• Design informational programming to enhance recruitment of students.

5. Performs all other duties and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the supervisor.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in public relations, graphic design, marketing, communications, or similar fields.
• Experience using social media platforms and design software such as Canva and/or Adobe Photoshop.
• Experience and/or desire to work with an undergraduate student population.
• Will require occasional travel to Marquette’s main campus in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (3 to 6 times a year).