Assistant Director of Online Engagement - req13672-6689

at University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois, United States

Job Description

• Manages IlliniLink, the UIAA's networking and mentorship platform powered by PeopleGrove.
  • Serves as the UIAA's in-house expert on the platform. Gains strong familiarity with all aspects of IlliniLink, with a special focus on user-facing features.
  • Works closely with PeopleGrove's assigned Customer Success Manager to develop and implement strategies to enhance and grow IlliniLink. Assesses and utilizes in-platform and peer data to bolster strategic decision-making regarding the platform.
  • Coordinates with the Director of Data Strategy and Alumni Insights to ensure that data-related aspects of the platform function properly and that IlliniLink remains in compliance with all relevant data, security-related, and other laws and protocols.
  • With support from the Director of Data Strategy and various student employees, manages the IlliniLink user approval queue.
  • Collaborates with the Marketing Team and the Customer Success Manager to promote the platform across multiple channels to drive new user sign-ups and encourage return user visits and increased platform use. Develops, assesses, proofreads, and/or approves marketing content as needed. Ensures all marketing materials are timely and well-designed.
  • Collaborates with the Director of Data Strategy and Alumni Insights to ensure that relevant platform and user data is visualized appropriately.
  • Develops in-platform content to enhance the user experience, including promoting UIAA and university events and initiatives, sharing relevant professional development resources, encouraging responsible use of the platform's connection and messaging features, and publicizing new or improved platform features. Coordinates with internal and external partners as appropriate to develop new content and to promote existing content.
  • Works with partner units as appropriate to encourage and support their use of the platform through groups and other mechanisms.
• Manages the University of Illinois Alumni Book Club, powered by PBC Guru.
  • Serves as the UIAA's in-house expert on the platform. Gains strong familiarity with all aspects of the book club, with a special focus on user-facing features.
  • Works closely with PBC Guru's assigned Book Club Operations Manager to develop and implement strategies to enhance and grow the platform. Confirms quarterly reading option selections, aligning the options with UIAA values, initiatives, and strategies whenever possible. Assesses and utilizes in-platform data to bolster strategic decision-making.
  • Collaborates with the Marketing Team and the Book Club Operations Manager to promote the platform across multiple channels to drive new user sign-ups and encourage continued user participation. Develops, assesses, proofreads, and/or approves marketing content as needed. Ensures all marketing materials are timely and well-designed.
  • Collaborates with the Director of Data Strategy and Alumni Insights to ensure that relevant platform and user data is visualized appropriately.
  • Coordinates with the Director of Data Strategy and Alumni Insights to ensure that data-related aspects of the platform function properly and that the platform remains in compliance with all relevant data and security-related protocols.
  • Reads the quarterly book club selections and participates in online book club discussions as appropriate.
  • Monitors general online user discussion and participates as appropriate.
• As needed, coordinates with the Director of Alumni Clubs and Engagement to ensure synergy between the OmniMagnet alumni directory and clubs communication platform and other online initiatives.
• Researches new and alternative platforms and, when appropriate, makes recommendations for consideration or acquisition.
• Ensures quality control of existing platforms by benchmarking against competitors and peers and by conducting strategic research via alumni volunteers, UIAA-affiliated students, and external partners.

• Oversees all aspects of online engagement events, specifically the UIAA's Speaker Series.
  • Plans annual schedule of webinars, with appropriate distribution of airtime given to Alumni College, Career Connections, and University Update webinars, respectively.
  • Researches and vets potential speakers. Solicits speaker recommendations from partner units and/or event attendees as appropriate. Seeks a diverse array of presenters that represent a broad range of subject-matter expertise and university affiliations.
  • Stewards speakers through the webinar experience, including coordinating with the appropriate college to issue the speaker invitation, guiding selection of the final topic, arranging a "tech check" with the production company, securing marketing materials and, if agreed upon, a recording release, and providing additional support or guidance as needed. Coordinates follow-up videos when appropriate.
  • Collaborates with the Marketing Team and partner units to promote webinars across multiple channels to attract both new and repeat attendees. Develops, assesses, proofreads, and/or approves marketing content as needed. Ensures all marketing materials are timely and well-designed.
  • Acts as the onscreen moderator for each webinar, developing an appropriate introduction and facilitating the question-and-answer portion of the event. Identifies, secures, and coaches alternate moderators when appropriate.
  • Serves as a liaison between the UIAA, the speaker, and the production company, including coordinating with the Marketing Team and the production company to develop event registration pages and other event collateral.
  • Coordinates with the Director of Data Strategy and Alumni Insights to ensure that all relevant event registration and attendance data is updated, stored, and visualized appropriately.
  • Reviews and assesses post-event survey feedback. Implements recommended changes and improvements as needed.
  • Collaborates with the Marketing Team to ensure online webinar library is updated and maintained.
• Ensures that the UIAA's portfolio of online event offerings remains diverse, timely, easily accessible, and strategic.
  • Identifies new online event opportunities as needed.
  • Assesses existing programs, through surveys and other research mechanisms, to ensure they remain appropriate.
  • Pauses or sunsets underperforming topics or programs as needed.

• With team leadership, prepares and administers the budget that supports online engagement efforts.
  • Ensures adherence to the online engagement budget.
  • Participates in and guides contract negotiations with vendor partners.
• Provides regular updates during team and operations meetings to ensure awareness of ongoing online engagement efforts and synergy between those initiatives and other engagement plans. Promotes a spirit of collaboration and cross-promotion by identifying opportunities for online efforts to complement or bolster other work, as well as opportunities to highlight online efforts as a key instrument in the UIAA's overall engagement strategy.
  • Works closely with the Marketing Team to ensure the UIAA's online engagement story is told through and reflected in various metrics systems, reports, visualizations, and marketing efforts, including social media campaigns.
  • Provides similar updates during staff, board, and other meetings as requested.
  • Supports the Alumni and Student Engagement Committee, including providing information and data points for committee reports and, if appropriate, attending and presenting at committee meetings.
• Staffs, coordinates, and/or assists with large scale on-campus and regional events including but not limited to Homecoming, athletic events, regional events, etc. Develops online tie-ins to promote and enhance in-person events when appropriate.
• Co-supervises Lou Liay Intern and/or other student employees as needed.
• Participates in professional development, workplace culture, and other programming and trainings when offered.
• Serves on committees, working groups, or other special project teams as requested.
• Performs other duties as requested.

• Sustainable user growth or maintenance, as appropriate, across all platforms and programs.
• Increased and improved in-platform engagement within IlliniLink.
• Annual schedule of webinars.
• Event and/or platform feedback reports and resulting recommendations.

• Knowledge of online engagement strategies and minimum 2 years of experience implementing said strategies.
• Minimum 1 year of event planning experience, either online or in-person.
• Familiarity with basic online engagement platforms, including Zoom and social media.
• Knowledge of the UIAA's strategic goals and objectives.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including writing, proofreading, and public speaking.
• Preferred:
  • Alumni relations or advancement experience.
  • Familiarity with existing UIAA vendor partners such as PeopleGrove or PBC Guru.

• Building Collaborative Relationships: Ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside or outside of the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support.
• Fostering Innovation: Developing, sponsoring, or supporting the introduction of new and improved method, products, procedures, or technologies.
• Results Orientation: Focusing on the desire end results of one's own or one's unit's work; setting challenging goals, focusing efforts on the goals, and meeting or exceeding them.
• Thoroughness: Ensuring that one's own and other's work and information are complete and accurate; careful preparation for meetings and presentations; following up with others to ensure that agreements and commitments have been fulfilled.
• Vision and Strategic Thinking: The ability to support, promote, and ensure alignment with the organization's vision and values; the ability to understand how an organization must change in light of internal and external trends and influences.
  EDUCATION AND/OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
• Bachelor's degree required.