Overview of CHESS Engagement and Communications Coordinator
The College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences (CHESS) is seeking a CHESS Engagement and Communications Coordinatior. CHESS prepares students for successful careers, ethical leadership, and engaged citizenship to address the challenges that confront Northwest Indiana and our society at large.
Duties and Responsibilities of CHESS Engagement and Communications Coordinator
- Lead coordination of the college’s engagement and event calendar, aligning programming with institutional priorities, student engagement goals, and community partnerships
- Coordinate the planning and execution of CHESS events, including BCTA, Day of Giving, Chancellor’s Cup, December Graduation Celebration, Convocations, and other college-wide initiatives
- Assist with CHESS youth programming, including Gabis Youth Field Trips and Field Studies, by managing tracking systems, invoicing, and compliance through the Youth Protection Portal
- Support CHESS summer camps by assisting with community promotion, registration support, and compliance within the Youth Protection Portal. Assist Concurrent Enrollment Program with articulation agreements, grant book orders, liaison LTL contracts, reappointment lists, and payment processing
- Support relationships between the college and K-12 partners
- Provide support to the Dean in advancement initiatives and donor relations efforts
- Assist with First-Year Experience initiatives, including programming, student engagement activities, and coordination of related events and communications
- Support student recruitment, retention, and community-building efforts through inclusive and engaging programming
- Collaborate with student ambassadors to enhance engagement and outreach efforts
- Serve as a liaison between the college and the broader community entities to support engagement and outreach efforts
- Support Advisory Board meetings and initiatives
- Develop and implement engagement initiatives that strengthen connections among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners
- Manage and maintain CHESS digital presence, including social media platforms, website content, and event calendars
- Develop and design engaging digital and print content to support college communications and outreach
- Remain current on creative, marketing, and communication platforms to support effective college promotion, engagement, and outreach efforts
- Assist with internal and external communications from the college, including the CHESS Newsletter
- Maintain communication with Marketing & Communications to highlight faculty and staff achievements
- Partner with the Marketing & Communications team to develop Facebook advertising campaigns and promote CHESS initiatives
- Attend content review meetings and make updates to the CHESS website pages as needed
- Collaborate with Marketing & Communications to ensure digital content meets accessibility standards and Department of Justice compliance requirements
- Design, order, track, and manage CHESS promotional materials and inventory
- Create and manage Qualtrics surveys, including data tracking, reporting and analysis
- Provide comprehensive administrative and operational support for the CHESS Dean’s Office, including the following tasks: order office supplies and computers; complete CHESS space usage audits, assist in managing the calendars of the Dean’s and Associate Deans; schedule college meetings and collect and distribute agendas; respond to CHESS communications received via email and phone
- Prepare, process, and monitor university documentation and workflows to ensure timely completion of required processes
- Process college purchasing card transactions, direct invoice vouchers, and college-level engagement contracts
- Engage in ongoing professional development opportunities that support continuous improvement in administrative effectiveness, event management, and college engagement initiatives
Benefits of CHESS Engagement and Communications Coordinator
- Full benefits – Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, Retirement, Life Insurance and more
- Accrue 15 days’ vacation your first year, then 22 days’ vacation your 2nd year plus rollover
- University contribution of 10% to retirement (3 year waiting period)
- University contributions to Health Savings Account –
- Plus a chance to earn more through participating in University Wellness Initiatives
- 10 paid holidays
- Employee Wellness Programs
- Paid Parental Leave after one year of service
- Tuition remission for you, your spouse and dependent children at any Purdue campus
For more information on our excellent benefit package, please visit: https://www.pnw.edu/human-resources/benefits/
Education of CHESS Engagement and Communications Coordinator
- BA in marketing, communication, English, public relations or journalism
Experience of CHESS Engagement and Communications Coordinator
- Minimum 2 years prior experience in engagement and communications
Core Competencies of CHESS Engagement and Communications Coordinator
- Knowledge of effective marketing, engagement, and outreach strategies
- Ability to assess and report on the effectiveness of communication and engagement initiatives
- Ability to work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, community partners, and a variety of external stakeholders
- Capable of thinking creatively and analytically
- Must have excellent writing, editing, and communication skills
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, events, and deadlines simultaneously
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook
- Proficient in social media and digital communication platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and website content management systems
- Experience with Canva, Qualtrics, and DocuSign preferred
- Ability to remain current on emerging creative, digital marketing, and communication platforms used for college promotion and outreach; knowledge of accessibility standards and digital communication compliance requirements preferred.
Additional Information
Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
Professional references will be verified prior to any offer of employment. Employment is contingent upon completion of successful background check along with a motor vehicle records check if applicable.
Purdue University Northwest is an equal opportunity/equal access university.
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a student-centered university that transforms lives through innovative education, impactful research and community engagement. Located in Northwest Indiana in the greater Chicago area and near the Indiana Dunes National Park, PNW serves approximately 9,000 students, including 6,000 core students, in a wide range of academic programs at the baccalaureate, master’s and applied doctoral levels.
Purdue Northwest employs more than 1,000 faculty and staff members for operations at its main campus in Hammond, Ind., and its branch campus in Westville, Ind., plus additional sites in Northwest Indiana including the Gabis Arboretum near Valparaiso, Ind. PNW’s values reflect the university’s commitment to respect, innovation, a student-centric university, and excellence.
PNW is consistently ranked among the best public regional universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges report and is recognized as a First Scholars institution as well an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. With its vision to cultivate leaders, inspire excellence, and impact our world, PNW advances the socioeconomic mobility of its students and positively impacts regional development.