Communications Coordinator

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Description

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What We Can Do Together

The Association of Former Students engages and inspires the Aggie Network for Texas A&M University in perpetuating the Aggie Spirit. Through our Annual Fund, as well as other revenue streams, we provide scholarships, endowments, emergency student loans, and awards for faculty. Our newest colleague will join our Legislative Affairs team in advancing our mission to promote the interests and welfare of Texas A&M University through dedicated support that ensures the highest quality for our communications, advocacy and government relations efforts.

Our Culture And Benefits

We work in an inclusive, professional, creative, and collaborative environment that delivers a strong positive social impact to current and former students, alumni, faculty and friends of Texas A&M University. Whether researching policy or establishing relationships with elected representatives, you’ll have opportunities to expand your career skills. Professional development and continuous growth are fundamentals in our organization. What we do and how we do it is enhanced by using the most current tools relevant to each role.

All full-time employees are eligible for generous, 100% Association-funded benefits including healthcare, life insurance equal to annual income, savings plan with six-year vesting, long-term disability insurance, long-term care insurance and exceptional holiday and paid time off schedules. Also, you may enhance your benefits through additional self-paid coverage such as short-term disability, family healthcare, increased life insurance and more, to fit your unique personal and family needs. The Association of Former Students is a designated non-profit employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness student loan program.

A CAREER WITH IMPACT AND MEANING

Your efforts will bring the Aggie Network to life, helping students, alumni, and faculty stay connected in meaningful ways. You will directly support scholarships, emergency student aid, and faculty excellence and help shape the future of Aggies for years to come.

Essential Functions Of The Role

• Engage with legislative staff at all levels.
• Maintain robust database for accurate research and decision making.
• Coordinate student participation in biennial state legislative event.
• Research all matters related to higher education current events and legislation.
• Employ strong written communication skills and attention to detail.
  
  

ROUTINE DUTIES

Perform specific tasks in support of Advocacy and Communications objectives:

• Administrate and update volunteer and advocate records in database.
• Formulate responses for highly visible issues that may have detractors as well as supporters, and have meaningful conversations with people in each category.
• Maintain Aggie staff lists who are working in legislative offices by conducting online research, reviewing public sources and cross-checking with database.
• Stay current on legislative issues, particularly those relating to higher education.
• Apply understanding of higher education matters, status of pending or future legislation, funding pressures, and current events.
• Maintain database in always-current status, consistently applying a high attention to all details and ensuring accuracy for future reporting.
• Assist with data collection and support organization-wide email marketing program.
• Analyze effectiveness of organization-wide email marketing efforts.
• Steward relationships with broad population of legislative personnel.
• Create content for advocacy newsletter by drafting once ideation is completed by others.
• Follow Association style standards.
• Discern reliable, quality sources and identify potentially conflicting information through deeper and discrete research.
• Oversee student recruiting and conduct preparation training for Orange and Maroon Legislative Day.
• Assist with preparing for legislative events, such as Aggies on the Hill and legislative staff receptions.
• Manage the general inbox for AggieNetwork.com.
• Work closely with other communications staff to support The Association’s overall strategic marketing and communications goals.
• Coordinate work for Student Assistant(s), if any.
  
  

EMPLOYEES OF THE ASSOCIATION OF FORMER STUDENTS

• Participate in various Association-wide activities such as engagement and fundraising goals, internal event teams, task committees, attending gameday receptions, Distinguished Alumni Gala and other external events as required.
• Serve as an ambassador by meeting our Team Expectations, fostering relationships with students and other constituents of Texas A&M.
• Exemplify Our Core Values: Respect, Excellence, Loyalty, Leadership, Integrity, Service.
  
  

Requirements

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Required: One year of experience in a general legislative support role. Skilled with asking great questions at all levels of an organization, from entry level to VIP. Engaging with legislators and staff in a respectful way that is neither overbearing or timid. Excellent data management skills. Data analysis using Excel. Advanced Excel skills (i.e. pivot tables and formulas). Online and publicly- sourced research on legislative events, dignitaries, and staff members. Knowledge of legislative processes. Understanding of political dynamics and ability to work within a dynamic environment.

Preferred: Two years of work in a legislative office. Strong written communication skills, including ability to write in a news format and a feature format.

Physical Capacity Requirements

Ability to sit or stand for long periods on occasion and carry objects up to 10 pounds. Ability to work at a desk with heavy use of keyboard and monitor. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities; if needed, please reach out to our Human Resources department to discuss your needs.

EDUCATION

Required: Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communication, Political Science or a similar area of concentration.

Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in journalism, Communication, Political Science or a similar area of concentration from Texas A&M University.

SUPERVISION

Received: Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs.

Given: Student Assistant(s).