Assistant Director of Special Programs (Hybrid Opportunity)

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

Reporting to an Associate Director in the Isenberg Special Programs and Engagement Office and collaborating with the school's branding and marketing function; the development function; and departmental faculty; the Assistant Director of Special Programs plans, develops, promotes and manages strategic, industry-based, student and alumni engagement activities and programs. Additionally, the Assistant Director works in collaboration with the Marketing and Communications department to promotes departmental and marketing initiatives aimed at increasing alumni and student involvement with the departments within Isenberg and reinforces the school's reputation, while fostering lasting connections among its constituents.

Essential Functions

• Interfaces regularly with the Department representatives, Program Directors, Undergraduate and Graduate students within the school to develop an overall departmental strategy for marketing, branding, publicity, and communications that complies with Isenberg branding and marketing for an event or specialized program.
• Helps to identify external relationship programming opportunities both on campus and in the industry to maximize public relations (PR) opportunities.
• Collaborates regularly with department leadership and Isenberg Marketing and Communications team and Associate Director as it relates to events and/or special programs to coordinate content development, writing, layout & design, photography and videography, printing, and mailing.
• Plans, organizes, publicizes and produces strategic departmental events.
• Plans, organizes, and publicizes critical academic specialized programs.
• Manages the finances and budgets related to events and specialized programs of a department including the authorization of expenditures, financial forecasting and budgeting in concert with the Departments, programs, and the Associate Director of Events and Programs.
• Support with event logistics such as vendors, transportation, hotel arrangements for guests, collateral, badges, and room reservations.
• In conjunction with others within the Events Department, update the events calendar, provide tracking data on events to our development team, and maintain and monitor a budget for each event.
• In collaboration with departments assist with event logistics for guest speaker events that is more than a classroom guest.
• In conjunction with MarCom and the Associate Director identifies and executes publicity initiatives to maximize departments visibility and reputation. Oversees all department photography and videography needs for publicity and promotion of the department as it relates to events and/or special programs.
• Works with Isenberg Development office to identify, create, plan and manage alumni events to enhance alumni involvement with Isenberg and generate engagement.

Other Functions

• Participates on school-based committees as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor's degree.
• Two (2) years of office experience.
• Fundamental knowledge of print media production.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and respectfully with a variety of stakeholders with multiple interests and varying levels of authority to achieve organizational goals.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as conflict resolution skills.
• Strong organizational skills and administrative aptitude with ability to manage several projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to work with office productivity software applications and event management software.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Work experience in events, marketing, communications or business.
• Experience and comfort with public speaking.
• Experience in print media production.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.

Additional Details

• Occasional travel is required.

Work Schedule

• Monday - Friday, 37.50 hours; may work evenings and weekends as business needs dictate.
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Level 26

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. references will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.