Job Summary
Employment Summary
The Division of Student Life is committed to making every experience at Purdue University a learning opportunity for students. Employment within our division provides you with the opportunity to work with other great students and leaders. As part of your employment, we incorporate the Leadership and Professional Development Competencies and the Steps to Leaps Learning Pillars into your learning and performance management experience to ensure you are building the skills employers want.
About Purdue Convocations
Purdue Convocations is one of the oldest professional collegiate performing arts presenters in the United States, bringing world-class performances and intellectual engagement to Greater Lafayette and North Central Indiana since 1902. Convocations catalyzes the curriculum, energizes the community, and distinguishes Purdue through powerful performances, illuminating discourse, and extraordinary learning encounters. As a self-supporting organization, ticket sales and gifts from generous individuals, corporations, and foundations power it all. Learn more at convocations.purdue.edu.
Job Description
The primary role of the Engagement Intern is to support the Manager of Engagement with donor event management, enhancement of donor stewardship programs, developing donor communications and newsletters, and assisting with donor outreach. The intern will serve as a dynamic representative of Purdue Convocations to Purdue campus and Greater Lafayette community partners and serve as an assistant to the engagement and development team. The goal of this position is to give students valuable real-world experience in a professional performing arts environment. The Engagement Intern should work an average of 15 hours per week during the Fall and Spring semesters. Class schedules must be provided, and some evenings and weekends may be required, at the discretion of the direct supervisor. The Engagement Intern must be reliable, organized, responsible, and flexible. They must also be ambitious, detail-oriented, creative, and driven.
Job Qualifications
Prerequisite(s)
The ideal candidate will be knowledgeable in marketing, management, communication, journalism, public relations, or related field. A US or Canadian driver's license and reliable transportation is required.
Qualifications
• High school diploma or equivalent and minimum of one semester of college coursework completed.
• Must be actively enrolled at Purdue University, Purdue Global or a local accredited college.
• Previous work experience in donor engagement and development, event planning, marketing, management, or communication preferred.
• Coursework in marketing, management, communication, journalism, public relations, consumer sciences, or other related fields.
• General knowledge of Purdue University, the performing arts preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Flexible and dependable with a strong attention to detail.
• Problem solving, logic and reasoning skills.
• Customer service oriented.
• Ability to multi-task and work within deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and with a team.
• Be timely and organized.
Position Responsibilities
• Assist in organizing special donor appreciation events, or behind-the-scenes tours for sponsors and major donors, including logistics coordination, guest lists, and on-site support.
• Assist in creating fundraising materials/newsletters and work with the marketing and engagement teams to create compelling materials for fundraising, including brochures, videos, social and web content that tell the story of Purdue Convocations and the importance of donor support.
• Assist with developing and implementing creative stewardship programs to recognize and thank donors at all levels, including creating impact reports that visually demonstrate the difference their contributions make.
• Attend Purdue Convocations events and special donor engagements, as needed, which may fall on evenings and weekends.
• Exhibit friendliness, diplomacy, and tact in responding to patrons and community partners.
• Be adaptable to dynamically changing situations and prioritize responsibilities while continuing to provide the highest level of customer service.
• Maintain confidentiality and exhibit professional conduct when handling sensitive information.
• Present ideas to leadership, as identified.
• Attend development and marketing staff meetings to gain and/or share pertinent information, as needed.
• Responsible for all scheduled shifts (based on class/exam schedules for the semester).
• Other departmental duties, as assigned.
Core Competencies
Transferable Skill Development:
Students employed in this role will develop and demonstrate a number of transferable skills essential for future employment success and be reviewed on these skills in their performance evaluation.
Communication (Verbal, Written, Non-Verbal, Listen & Observe, Summarize & Distill Information)
- Demonstrate professional verbal communication in all interactions
- Demonstrate enthusiasm; engage and connect with customers to promote excellent customer experience
- Verbally communicates to staff on situations that may arise due to problems
- Written communication to complete accurate food usage records and food temperatures according to established procedures
Ways of Thinking (Systems Thinking & Planning, Reflective & Analytical Reasoning, Idea Generation, Decision Making, Problem Solving, Ethics)
- Utilize policies and knowledge to proactively make decisions and solve problems for area assigned
- Develop new or novel ideas through critical thinking and creative processes that address issues and/or lead to change
- Understand standards and expectations for personal and professional ethical behavior
- Demonstrate knowledge of the position and operation
Collaboration (Organization Behavior & Teamwork, Appropriate & Productive Relationships, Helping Others & Working Together, Cultural Intelligence & Inclusion, Service & Social Responsibility)
- Working together with co-workers and demonstrate flexibility in a fast-paced, team atmosphere
- Establish productive relationships with customers and staff
- Acknowledge and support customers and staff with unique needs and differing backgrounds
- Work independently to complete responsibilities
- Proactively and willingly acquires new skills, tasks, procedures and projects
- Provide support to fellow team members
Self-Awareness (Self-Understanding, Continuous Learning, Initiative & Follow-Through, Personal Responsibility, Resiliency)
- Demonstrate time management skills and attention to detail
- Demonstrate initiative; Understand and respond to the various needs of customers and staff
- Maintain positive attitude and enthusiasm in times of ambiguity and peak time of demand
- Complete work independently in an efficient time manner
- Demonstrate dependability and responsibility within operation
- Demonstrate punctuality by always being on time to each shift