Description
The SHSU Alumni Association is seeking an Events and Sponsorship Engagement Specialist to join its team within the Office of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving. Reporting to the Associate Director of Events, this position focuses on identifying, securing, and stewarding sponsorship support for alumni programs, signature events, and engagement initiatives.
The specialist will cultivate relationships with corporate partners, alumni, and donors, develop customized sponsorship benefit packages, and align sponsor interests with alumni association events and activities. This role also provides planning, marketing, and logistical support for major alumni events, including signature programs and community outreach efforts.
If you have experience in event management, sponsorship solicitation, fundraising, or marketing, and enjoy building meaningful partnerships that enhance alumni engagement, we encourage you to apply for this dynamic and collaborative role.
Supervision Given and Received
Works under general direction from the Associate Director of Events. May supervise student employees. May assist in leading team projects involving two or more department staff.
Responsibilities:
Manages sponsorship identification, acquisition, and stewarding relationships for long-term partnerships. Creates a sponsor benefit package tailored for levels of support for each alumni activity/event. Assists the Associate Director of Events in developing event marketing strategies, creating benefit packages, and planning and executing sponsorship deliverables. Provides planning and logistical support for special events and community outreach projects. Attends to the details of special event implementation and follow-up collaborating. Responsible for the planning and implementation of the SHSU Annual Golf Tournament and the SH 79 Awards program. Develops and implements a corporate partner sponsorship strategy. Identifies event-funding opportunities and secure financial commitments for funding of major events. Identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards alumni and donors, specifically related to raising funds to support events. Develops and maintains strong relationships with the existing/previous sponsors/s to ensure their continued engagement and satisfaction. Creates structured processes and procedures that directly align with and drive progress toward sponsorship goals. Must be able to work in a database environment to maintain accurate records to ensure the integrity of financial reports. Maintains complete and accurate sponsor listings. Utilizes the existing email platform to create targeted sponsor appeals. Collaborates with the internal communications team to develop and refine sponsor letters. Evaluates traditional sponsorship methods and develops innovative strategies to increase positive results. Proven ability to consistently meet deadlines, organize calendar-driven tasks, and manage multiple competing priorities. Works with the Development office to identify potential sponsors.
Works with University Administration and College Deans to foster continued and ongoing sponsorship support for activities and events. Attends alumni and university events as needed to cultivate and maintain sponsor relationships. Identifies, creates, and implements an “SH Business Directory” for the Alumni Association website. Performs other related duties as assigned.
Other Specifications:
Contact with other university departments, personnel, and outside agencies and individuals is required. Careful focus and attention will be dedicated to managing relationships with key alumni and donors. Must have excellent interpersonal communication and phone skills, demonstrated organizational ability, and a focus on details and quality control. Must be able to anticipate project needs, discern work priorities, and meet deadlines with little supervision. Must be a take charge professional with the ability to plan and manage logistics and multiple projects in support of the Alumni Relations department in a fast-paced environment. Must work well with people and establish good rapport with alumni leaders and university donors. In addition, this individual must be able to forge effective relationships within the division and across the campus.
Position requires work during evening hours and on weekends according to department needs. Position requires occasional travel.
EEO Statement:
Sam Houston State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and Smoke/Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or gender identity or expression. Sam Houston State University is an “at will” employer. Employees with a contract will have additional terms and conditions. Security sensitive positions at SHSU require background checks in accordance with Education Code § 51.215.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in public relations, marketing, advertising, or a related field. Two years of fundraising, event management, sponsorship solicitation, marketing, or related experience. Knowledge of university alumni relations and database management is preferred. A combination of education, experience, and training that would produce the required knowledge and abilities could be considered.
