Jobs at Member Institutions & APLU

Title: Associate, Office of Urban Initiatives
Department: Office of Urban Initiatives
Supervisor: Executive Director, Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU) / Vice President, Office of Urban Initiatives (APLU)
Status: Non-Exempt
Staffing Level: Associate
Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed as received with priority given to applications received by May 29, 2022.


Summary
The Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU) and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) are seeking an Associate. The incumbent will perform a broad array of administrative tasks to ensure effective office and project operations including planning, scheduling, and logistics for conferences and meetings (virtual and in person); supporting office communications; record keeping; and overseeing the payment of invoices. The successful candidate will have excellent oral and written communications skills, be able to manage time and multiple projects efficiently, and possess organizational and planning skills with a keen attention to detail. This full-time position is based in Washington, DC. Employees of APLU are eligible to telework at least two days per week. They must reside in DC, MD, or VA, be up-to-date with their COVID vaccinations and pass standard background checks. 


Background on USU and APLU
The Coalition of Urban-Serving Universities (USU) is a president-led organization committed to enhancing urban university engagement and tackling key urban challenges in our nation’s cities. With a membership of 41 public, urban research universities across 26 states, USU’s agenda focuses on: 21st century workforce, advancing racial justice and equity, health equity, and equitable student success. Annually, member campuses enroll over 1 million students, confer 276,000 degrees, employ 195,000 faculty and staff, and conduct $4.6 billion in university research. USU has partnered with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) to establish the APLU Office of Urban Initiatives and remains in permanent partnership with APLU to jointly lead an urban agenda for the nation’s public universities.

APLU is a research, policy, and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening and advancing the work of public universities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.  With a membership of 245 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and affiliated organizations, APLU's agenda is built on the three pillars of increasing degree completion and academic success, advancing scientific research, and expanding engagement.  Annually, member campuses enroll 5.0 million undergraduates and 1.3 million graduate students, award 1.3 million degrees, employ 1.3 million faculty and staff, and conduct $49.5 billion in university-based research.


Responsibilities
The primary duties and responsibilities of the incumbent include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide general administrative support for the Coalition of Urban-Serving Universities (USU), including scheduling meetings, notetaking, agenda management, processing expense reports/payment requests, reconciling credit card accounts, assisting with contract administration, etc.
• Support the USU Board through meeting scheduling, agenda creation, and writing meeting minutes. 
• Coordinate the logistics, planning, and administrative aspects of the office’s conferences, meetings, and events (both virtual and in-person) including obtaining, reviewing, and evaluating hotel contracts, drafting/compiling meeting materials, etc. 
• Draft, edit and send announcements and communications using an email marketing software (Marketo) as needed.
• Assist in the strategy and development of content and maintenance of webpages, including drafting and/or posting social media and blog entries as needed.
• Coordinate data management for USU, including ensuring data is up to date in APLU’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, and other databases and spreadsheets, processing CRM uploads; requesting reports from the CRM and reviewing them for accuracy as well as managing listservs as requests come in through the website.  
• Draft and edit documents, emails, and other communications. Take and distribute meeting notes as needed.
• Manage general inboxes, ensuring that incoming emails are responded to appropriately and on a timely basis.
• Maintain positive relations with a diverse group of member university representatives through in-person, virtual, and email interactions.
• Participate as an integral member of the USU Team and APLU employee, and contribute to an inclusive, welcoming, and collegial workplace. 
• Perform other duties as requested.

Preferred Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional administrative support experience. Work experience at a college/university, a higher education organization, a non-profit organization, or a non-profit involved with higher education issues is a plus.
• Excellent communications skills, verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated organizational skills. Ability to balance multiple, complex tasks and priorities, to resolve problems, to meet important deadlines, and to recognize potential issues and bring them to the attention of the appropriate team members.
• Experience planning and coordinating events, including workshops, webinars, and conferences.
• A keen attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to navigate relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• The ability to maintain poise, professionalism, focus, consistency, and accuracy under pressure.
• Experienced and skilled in the use of Microsoft office products, social media, Zoom, and web-based research and information tools. Experience using a customer relations management (CRM) system and databases a plus. Comfort using and learning new technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to work both as part of a team and independently, taking direction from and communicating with multiple team members to keep track of activities and priorities on multiple projects.  
• Commitment to the work of USU and APLU.
• Ability to travel domestically as needed.

To Apply
Please send a letter of interest and resume to APLU’s Human Resources Department at resume@aplu.org with the subject line of USU Associate. Applications will be reviewed as received, with priority given to completed applications received by May 29, 2022, and continue until the position is filled. APLU provides a generous benefits package.  

APLU is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment and promoting a sense of belonging, which includes recruiting, employing, training, compensating and promoting staff regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.