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Assistant Director, Alumni & Corporate Relations

Phase2 Technology, Austin, Texas, us, 78716

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Assistant Director, Alumni & Corporate Relations Hiring Department:

Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering

Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

As a top‑10 engineering school with the No. 1 program in Texas, the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) has been a global leader in technology innovation and engineering education for over a century. With 11 undergraduate and 13 graduate programs, over 20 research centers and a faculty community that boasts one of the highest numbers of National Academy of Engineering members among U.S. universities, Texas Engineering has launched some of the nation’s most accomplished leaders and pioneered world‑changing solutions in virtually every industry, from space exploration to energy to health care. Situated in the heart of Austin—named “America’s Coolest City” by Expedia and “The Best Place to Live in the U.S.” by U.S. News and World Report—the Cockrell School embodies the city’s innovative spirit. Major companies with Austin campuses, such as Dell, National Instruments, Apple, IBM, Samsung, Google and many others, continue to recruit Cockrell School students at a remarkable rate, launching thousands of successful careers and developing Texas Engineers into industry leaders.

Purpose The Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering (PGE) seeks an Assistant Director, Alumni & Corporate Relations, who will work closely with the Department Chair, faculty, staff, students and the Cockrell School development team. This role serves as a key connector between the department and its external stakeholders, representing the department at high‑profile engagements and ensuring meaningful, professional communication with alumni and industry leaders.

Responsibilities

Build, maintain, and grow relationships with energy companies, alumni, and other external partners to support departmental priorities and student‑focused initiatives.

Serve as the primary liaison for the department’s External Advisory Committee (EAC), managing communications and supporting the planning and execution of semi‑annual, two‑day EAC meetings with industry leaders.

Lead the department’s Distinguished Alumni Program, including engagement with honorees and coordination of a high‑profile recognition dinner celebrating six distinguished alumni annually.

Partner with the Cockrell School development team to support corporate and individual fundraising efforts for departmental programs, including student initiatives such as workforce development, undergraduate research, and first‑year programs. Attend monthly DEV meetings with the Cockrell DEV team.

Manage stewardship activities for donors, including gift acknowledgments, reports, thank‑you letters, and follow‑up communications, in coordination with the Department Chair and other leadership.

Support annual giving efforts and targeted campaigns that strengthen alumni connection and philanthropic participation.

Collaborate with the Department Chair and faculty to identify, develop, and advance new initiatives aligned with departmental goals and industry needs.

Work closely with faculty, staff, and students to communicate opportunities, gather input, and ensure alignment between external engagement and academic priorities.

Represent the department professionally at key internal and external events, conferences, and networking opportunities.

Collaborate with PGE events’ planning team for engagement at alumni and corporate events.

Draft and manage professional correspondence with alumni, donors, industry partners, and advisory committee members.

Ensure consistent, high‑quality communication that reflects the department’s mission, impact, and strategic vision.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree.

Five years of experience in advancement, development, external relations, partnership‑building, program management or sales.

Demonstrated experience supporting fundraising or philanthropic initiatives.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Strong interpersonal skills and comfort engaging with senior industry professionals and alumni.

Expert level proficiency using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Excel.

Proficiency in Joomla (or a related content management system).

Ability to set priorities and multi‑task.

Ability to work collaboratively or independently with minimal supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in a related field.

More than five years of professional experience in advancement, development, external relations, partnership‑building, program management or sales.

Experience working in higher education or with academic units.

Familiarity with UT Austin administrative systems (e.g., DEFINE, VIP).

Experience working with advisory boards, alumni groups, or corporate partners.

Prior experience working with faculty leadership or academic departments.

Strong organizational skills, including budget tracking and forecasting.

Familiarity with the organizational structures, processes and procedures of The University of Texas at Austin or another institution of higher education.

Salary Range

$75,000+ depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

May work around standard office conditions.

Role is based on on‑campus, in‑office work.

Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.

Use of manual dexterity.

Work outside of regular business hours, including evening or weekend work, may be required.

Occasional travel may be required, sometimes requiring use of a personal vehicle.

Required Materials

Resume/CV.

Letter of interest.

Three work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor.

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers:

You will be prompted to submit your resume in the first step of the online job application process. Then, any additional required materials will be uploaded in the My Experience section; you can multi‑select the additional files or click the Upload button for each file. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that all required materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for current university employees and contingent workers:

As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find Jobs. Before you apply, log in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left‑hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile. This information will be pulled into your application. The application is one page and you will need to click the Upload button multiple times in order to attach your Resume, References and any additional required materials noted above.

Employment Eligibility Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University‑Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I‑9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E‑Verify The University of Texas at Austin uses E‑Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E‑Verify is 854197. For more information about E‑Verify, please see the following:

E‑Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]

Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]

Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified as a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP‑3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees to be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.

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