Communications Associate Jobs in Michigan

INTRODUCTION

Reporting to the director of alumni engagement, the associate director of alumni and constituent engagement is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing events led by both Alumni and Advancement, which includes managing event logistics, budget, communications planning, and engagement outreach. This position provides ongoing logistic and operational support to Advancement and Alumni volunteer boards, the broader Advancement team, and campus partners. Additionally, this position provides resources and strategies to ensure successful and meaningful alumni, volunteer, and constituent engagement.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

- Bachelor’s degree.
- Three years of experience, preferably in student programming, alumni relations, public relations, event management, hospitality services, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience working with volunteers.
- Possession of a valid driver’s license.
- Ability to become an approved driver under the university’s vehicle policy.
- Demonstrated ability to be detail oriented.
- Ability to travel and work evenings/weekends as needed.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
- Ability to use data for metrics and decision-making.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Five years of experience in alumni relations, public relations, event or hospitality management, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience with higher education events and volunteer management.
- Demonstrated experience working with high-profile donors and donor events.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

- Supports the director of alumni engagement and acts on their behalf in their absence.
- Provides support to the director with matters related to the university’s alumni board, advancement board, other volunteer structures, and the Advancement team.
- Assists the director in coordinating alumni and advancement events, including but not limited to high-end donor and campaign events, alumni events and campus partner events.
- Serves as a liaison between academic units and the alumni office.
- Provides programming coordination in partnership with Development staff.
- Provides support to the director on reporting metrics for both internal and external sources.
- Supports the review and upkeep of digital and print content for alumni engagement and the Alumni Association.
- Coordinates the Campus Conversations program.
- Provides support as needed to the director of constituent engagement and membership in programs such as gold membership, the brick program, and others.
- Represents the university and the Alumni Association.
- Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

None.

MESSAGE TO APPLICANTS

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU’s mission, vision, and leadership standards.

You must submit an online application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.

Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.

This position will remain open until filled. The university reserves the right to close the recruitment process once a sufficient applicant pool has been identified. For best consideration, please submit application materials on or before Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

EMPLOYEE GROUP

Professional & Administrative - Salary

PAY RANGE

$52,000 - $62,000 per year

DIVISION

University Advancement

DEPARTMENT

Alumni Relations & Constituent Engagement

POSITION STATUS

Regular

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

Full-Time

FTE

1.00

POSITION TYPE

12 month

WEEKLY WORK SCHEDULE

Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / weekends and evenings as needed

LOCATION

Mount Pleasant, MI

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

ABOUT CMU

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.

We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.

CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.

Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.

CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It’s part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state’s largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.

Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city’s central location in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

CMU LEADERSHIP STANDARDS

Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.

We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.

Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.