What are the responsibilities and job description for the Alumni Relations and Event Coordinator position at Drake University?
Position Number: 202490
Unit/Department: Dean's Office Law
FTE: Full-time
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Department Summary:
For more than 150 years, Drake University Law School has prepared students for lives of service and success in the law. The School was founded in Des Moines in 1865, which makes it one of the 25 oldest law schools in the country. Founded by Iowa Supreme Court Justices, the Law School's mission was to teach law in proximity to the courts so students could witness the law in action. Drake University Law Library fosters research and learning by providing exceptional services, collections, and facilities that empower the Drake community to access, critically evaluate, and apply information.
Job Summary:
Drake Law School is seeking a dynamic and organized Alumni Relations and Events Coordinator to join our External Relations team. This role is key to strengthening alumni engagement and executing high-profile events that celebrate and support the Law School community. Responsibilities include managing alumni recognition initiatives, coordinating publications like the Honor Roll of Donors, and overseeing major events such as Supreme Court Celebration Week, Cady Day of Service, and class reunions. The ideal candidate is a skilled project manager with excellent communication abilities and a passion for building meaningful connections.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in event planning, public relations, or a related field.
- Proven experience in planning and managing large-scale events.
- Excellent communication and project management skills.
Job Duties:
Alumni Relations:
- 10% Implement strategies to strengthen alumni engagement through recognition initiatives and events.
- 5% Serve as the primary point of contact for alumni inquiries and manage the general alumni email inbox.
- 10% Coordinate the production of alumni newsletters and the Honor Roll of Donors publication.
- 10% Maintain and update alumni information in the Raiser’s Edge database, including engagement tracking.
- 5% Support the Recent Alumni Engagement Board and other alumni groups in planning activities.
Event Management:
- 15% Plan, organize, and execute high-profile events such as Supreme Court Celebration Week, Cady Day of Service, Dean’s Speaker Series, and Iowa Nature Summit.
- 15% Oversee logistics for alumni and community events, including Golden Gavel Luncheon, 50-year class reunions, and others. Logistics include coordinating invitations, registration, catering, etc.
- 15% Coordinate annual CLE events, including applying for CLE credits, marketing, registration, and speaker arrangements. This includes General Practice Review, Real Estate Transactions, and Harlaxton travel CLEs.
- 10 % Oversee logistics for Constitutional Law Center programs, including the annual symposium and distinguished lecturer events, ensuring CLE credit for these programs, marketing, registration, and speaker arrangements.
- 5% Act as the liaison for external organizations hosting events at the Law School, managing contracts and setup details.
The salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications of the selected candidate. This is a full-time, 12-month, exempt (salaried) position.
At Drake, we take pride in offering a comprehensive benefits package for our employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents. In addition to a wide range of core benefits, perks, and discounts, our full-time employees enjoy generous paid time off, including one month of vacation, two personal days per fiscal year, several federal holidays, as well as Thanksgiving break and winter break.
Tuition Benefits.
Special Instructions to Applicants:
For consideration, you must apply online. Please include a resume and cover letter. If you have questions about this job posting or the application process, please email us at jobs@drake.edu.
Review of Applications Begins:
A review of applications will begin immediately. This position will remain open until filled.
For faculty positions, selection will depend on the receipt of recommendation confirming the candidate's scholarly achievements and teaching abilities and/or on the candidate's satisfactory passing of a teaching demonstration if selected for an on-campus interview. For staff positions, selection will depend upon careful review of each applicant’s references, education, and, if applicable, experience.
About Drake:
Drake University is recognized as a top private university in the Midwest. Drake is a midsize university in Des Moines, Iowa, with an increasingly diverse student body. We are deeply committed to equity and inclusion and creating a sense of belonging for all members of the campus community—faculty, staff, and students alike. More than 900 faculty and staff are part of the Bulldog pack, a close-knit group of colleagues enthusiastic about preparing students to be global citizens and leaders, challenging assumptions. Drake University is not only an outstanding institution of higher learning, it is also a wonderful place to work. We are enthusiastically committed to welcoming new ideas and people into the fold, and to retaining and rewarding stellar employees.
All positions at Drake provide opportunities to contribute to Drake University’s core mission of creating an exceptional learning environment that prepares students of all backgrounds for meaningful lives and professional accomplishments.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at Drake:
requested in our online application system.
Drake University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. If you would benefit from an accommodation at any point in the recruitment process (including using our online application process), please contact Drake Human Resources (ph: 515.271.3133; e: jobs@drake.edu) and let us know how we can assist you.
At Drake University, we highly value a diverse, inclusive workforce. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We stand firmly against discrimination including on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, religion, age, disability, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.
