Assistant Director of College Relations

Universities of Wisconsin • Milwaukee, WI

23h • $65,000 - $77,000

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

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.

Benefits

• UWM offers a comprehensive benefits package and contributes toward the cost of several benefit plans. Employees with a qualifying position also receive an extensive leave package including vacation, sick leave (with no expiration), personal holiday, and paid legal holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees