Assistant Director of College Relations

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Position Title:

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School/College/Department Description:

The College Relations office within Letters & Science oversees a variety of administrative functions for the College, including marketing, media and alumni relations, scholarship management, undergraduate recruitment and more.

Job Description:

The Assistant Director for College Relations is a key leader in managing scholarship administration and spearheading outreach and alumni engagement initiatives within the College of Letters and Science (L&S). This position manages scholarship processes, coordinates donor and institution-funded awards, and collaborates with academic units, alumni relations, and advancement partners to strengthen alumni engagement and stewardship. Under the supervision of the Assistant Dean for College Relations, the Assistant Director works across departments to ensure effective scholarship distribution, outreach, and meaningful connections between alumni and the university community.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Scholarship Administration and Development (50%) 

• At the direction of the Assistant Dean for College Relations, manage the administration and financial operations for all institutional, donor-funded, and external L&S scholarships. This includes application reviews, selection processes, awarding, and renewals for more than 240 scholarship opportunities.

• Ensure compliance with university policies, donor agreements, and applicable to federal, state, and institutional regulations.

• Manage scholarship databases and systems; maintain accurate records and reporting.

• Work closely with the Offices of Student Scholarships, Financial Aid Administration, University Advancement and Student Accounts on scholarship alignment and stewardship.

• Assist with scholarship budgeting, forecasting, and reconciliation.

• Support the development of new scholarship programs aligned with institutional priorities.

• In coordination with the Assistant Dean, analyze data to assess outreach effectiveness and scholarship utilization; prepare reports and recommendations.

• Contribute to continuous improvement of processes, communications, and student experience.

• Stay informed on best practices and trends in scholarship administration, access, and outreach.

Outreach and Engagement (30%)

• Collaborate with L&S academic units to develop and implement alumni outreach strategies to increase awareness of opportunities to connect with current students.

• Support university advancement efforts by coordinating alumni engagement events for the College and sharing our impact through the dissemination of scholarship data, alumni impact stories, and engagement metrics.

• Work with the Assistant Dean for College Relations to coordinate and deliver presentations, workshops, and information sessions for students, families, and campus partners.

• Create and review L&S alumni outreach materials, including web content, email communications, and print resources.

• Manage financial data accurately, ensuring compliance with internal controls and organizational policies.

• Support the College Relations team and represent L&S at recruitment, outreach, and community events as needed.

Other Duties (20%) 

• Integral support for L&S finance and business administration as needed.

Compensation:

$65,000 - $77,000 (Final salary offer will be determined based on qualifications and experience)

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Experience in higher education, scholarship administration, financial aid, student services, outreach, or related fields.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working with financial processes and ability to manage financial data accurately, ensuring compliance with internal controls and organizational policies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters’ degree in higher education administration, public administration, or related field.
• Experience with scholarship management systems or student information systems.
• Experience using Workday Financial Management and Workday HCM, including transaction processing, reporting, data validation, and system navigation. 
• Knowledge of financial aid regulations and donor-funded scholarship stewardship.
• Supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Working knowledge of basic accounting principles (GAAP or equivalent), including journal entries, general ledger management, and financial reporting.
• Spanish fluency.
   

How to Apply:

Interested applicants are required to apply online and provide a cover letter and resume addressing your professional level work experience as it relates to all required and preferred qualifications.

Note: Applicants must complete all required fields and attach all required documents prior to submitting the online application. Applications missing any of the required documents listed prior to the application deadline will be marked as incomplete and will not be considered. 

In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from the candidates' application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they may be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications. Additional documents submitted aside from a cover letter and resume will not be reviewed.  

Finalist candidates(s) will be asked to provide three professional/supervisor references through an external reference checking tool. References will not be contacted prior to candidates being notified. 

Apply electronically by the application deadline date of April 30, 2026. Questions about this position should be directed to Joshua Xiong at jxxiong@uwm.edu 

Reasonable Accommodations
Pursuant to university policy, UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact uwm-jobs@uwm.edu or 414-229-4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials
UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC and Reference Check Policy
Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)
For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/, or call UWM’s Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at (414) 229-4632 for a paper copy.

Employment Authorization
In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.