Overview
Northern Illinois University is a student-centered nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits our region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields. Through our main campus in DeKalb, Illinois and education centers in Chicago, Naperville, Oregon and Rockford. NIU offers more than 100 areas of study while serving a diverse and international student body.
The College of Law, one of seven colleges within NIU, has a rich history of distinction in legal education rooted in access, diversity, and excellence in teaching. Student success is our top priority. Our charter is simple: We provide our students with a high-quality and affordable legal education. We want our students to realize the value of a legal education - how their training can help them professionally and how their preparation to practice law will allow them to positively impact the communities in which they live. |
Position Summary
The Assistant Director reports directly to the Chief of Staff/Assistant Dean of Strategic Communications, Alumni Engagement, and Diversity Initiatives, who plays a pivotal role in enhancing the NIU College of Law's reputation and visibility, targeting influencers in the regional, national, international, federal and state environments, and in addition, builds the College of Law's statewide and national position as an innovator of successful efforts to ensure more equitable access to legal education and the profession of law.
The Assistant Director of Strategic Communications is an in-person, on campus position. |
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Diversity Equity and Inclusion Initiatives
- Develop and lead diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives on behalf of the Assistant Dean and in support of the College of Law's strategic plan to create a learning and working environment where all have an opportunity to succeed.
- Assisting with coordinating strategic and long-term DEI training programs for faculty, staff, students, and alumni
- Assisting with coordinating conversations on race and other social justice issues through programming featuring expert speakers
- Sharing ideas, information, and opportunities to support diversity, equity and belonging with the Assistant Dean and other senior leadership
- Working to enhance diverse recruitment efforts with outreach materials, website, social media, and other efforts.
Alumni Engagement and Fundraising
- Assist with alumni activities for the College of Law and fundraising.
- Creating, developing and managing regional groups to foster and enhance alumni engagement. This includes the planning and travel to out of state events and meetings with the Dean and Assistant Dean to areas that include a large number of law alumni.
- Assisting in nurturing alumni, community supporters, and University engagement in pipeline initiatives.
- Planning meetings with the Alumni Council and Board of Visitors.
- Helping to maintain and mail out ordered College of Law merchandise.
- Planning and execution of major College of Law annual events. Major events includes: Francis X. Riley Lecture on Professionalism, class reunions, homecoming, alumni awards reception, minority reception, golf outing, 5K Run/Walk, post-bar reception, regional receptions, and other alumni activities that may occur. These also include other conferences, symposia, institutes, and workshops involving faculty, students, professional groups or the public at large.
- Serving as CLE coordinator for eligible events.
- Assisting with coordinating fundraising campaigns by creating appeal content to be sent via direct mail, online, used for cases of support, and/or for the development of donor marketing materials.
- Serving as an ambassador for selected university campaigns including Thousands Strong Day of Giving.
Internal and External Marketing and Communication Strategies
- Assist the Assistant Dean with the preparation of internal and external marketing and communication strategies for the College of Law.
- Writing, reviewing, and editing of communications including press releases, publications, print/electronic media, and promotional materials prepared on behalf of the College of Law.
- Assist the Assistant Dean in planning, coordinating, and presenting all relevant events and programs. A number of events are after hours and off-campus, a flexible schedule is necessary.
- Planning, developing, publishing and disseminating alumni materials, including the monthly alumni e-newsletter eNotes.
- Assist with enhancing the College of Law's presence on its various social media platforms as well as its web presence.
- Content creation and maintenance, updating stories on the homepage as needed, and highlighting faculty, students, and alumni.
- Acting as liaison between the Assistant Dean and outside offices and agencies, such as law offices, state and federal courts, other law schools, and administrative offices within the College of Law and the University.
- Serving as a liaison between the College of Law and the University Marketing and Communications Office and the University Alumni Association.
Other Duties
- Assist the Assistant Dean in preparing budgets for programs and events and will work with the Assistant Dean to submit expenditures and ensure that resources are available within the budget.
- Assign tasks to graduate assistants, student workers, and extra-help employees as such help is available and needed.
|
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)
Classification-Specific KSAs
1. Knowledge of customer service - the principles and processes for providing customer and personal services (customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for service, and evaluation of customer satisfaction) 2. A working knowledge of office technology (word, excel, and necessary databases) 3. Strong written and oral communication skills with an understanding of organizational policy and procedure theory 4. Judgment and decision making skills - they can consider the costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one 5. Ability to understand and relate to the interests of present and former students 6. Ability to write and edit informational news releases that are representative of university activities that would be of interest to former students 7. Ability to prepare and present speeches to alumni groups 8. Ability to handle difficult and stressful situations 9. Ability to supervise others 10. Ability to handle a large volume and a variety of details accurately and set priorities 11. Ability to adapt in an ever-changing environment 12. Ability to coordinate activities of a staff 13. Ability to pay attention to detail
Position-Specific KSAs 1. Ability to travel and assist with evening events in IL and beyond. |