Job Summary:

The Associate Director of Outreach for the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate reports to the Director and serves as a key member of the Center’s administrative leadership team. This role advances the Center’s outreach, communications, educational programs, conferences, and industry engagement efforts. Responsibilities include developing and implementing strategic communications and outreach initiatives, managing the Center’s conferences and events, and fostering strong relationships with students, alumni, donors, and industry partners. The position plays a key role in enhancing the Center’s visibility, reputation and impact. This position can be full or part-time, between 80-100%.

30% – Program Development and Management

Lead the development and management of the Center’s outreach programs, conferences, and signature events from inception to completion. Work with the Academic Director to shape the strategic vision for conferences and outreach initiatives. Manage conference sponsorships and cultivate new sponsors to help offset program costs.

Ensure quality and impact of outreach programs while identifying emerging industry trends to inform innovative programming, including symposiums, conferences and board meetings. Lead initiatives aligned with the Wisconsin Real Estate Program’s distinction as the #1 Undergraduate Real Estate Program and #3 Real Estate Graduate Program (U.S. News & World Report, 2026) and its reputation for innovation, student success and industry impact.

Key outreach events include:

• Wisconsin Real Estate & Economic Outlook Conference
• Up to five Graaskamp on the Road events nationally
• Graaskamp Center Spring Board Dinner and Conference (Chicago)
• Student-focused events including the Fall and Spring Career Fairs, Innovator Award program, and PhD Alumni Conference

25% – Marketing and Public Relations

Lead the Center’s marketing and public relations strategy in collaboration with administrative staff. Oversee media relations, branding and development of online and print promotional materials. Implement strategies to increase visibility across the real estate industry, academia and MS and MBA recruiting channels. Promote events and conferences to maximize participation and engagement.

Maintain a strong and engaging digital presence across social media platforms, with emphasis on LinkedIn. Oversee content highlighting student achievements, faculty research, alumni engagement and major conferences and events to maintain a visible and respected industry presence.

Partner with the Wisconsin School of Business Marketing, Communications and Strategy team to manage media buys, evaluate campaign analytics and optimize return on investment.

15% – Student Programs and Oversight

Oversee the Real Estate Student Tutoring Program, including tutor hiring, training coordination, scheduling, and participation tracking. Supervise student employees, including hiring, training, performance management, and payroll approvals.

Support MS and MBA recruiting and facilitate connections between students, advisory board members, and alumni. Assist with initiatives that strengthen graduate student career pathways and industry engagement.

10% – Administrative Leadership

Provide administrative leadership to support effective Center operations across outreach, academic, and operational functions. Develop procedures to manage costs, strengthen revenue streams, and support data analysis and HR processes. Supervise the Business Manager position.

10% – Board, Alumni, Donor, and Student Engagement

Maintain strong relationships with real estate firms, industry organizations, media contacts, and university partners. Support engagement with the Center’s Advisory Board and partner organizations such as the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association (WREAA). Strengthen alumni and donor relationships to advance the Center’s mission.

Oversee key communications including:

• Weekly Real Estate student email featuring jobs, events, and announcements
• Graaskamp Center Board Update (four times annually)
• Real Estate Connection newsletter (three to four times annually)
• Special announcements and donor communications

5% – Budget and Financial Management

Partner with the Business Manager to support budget management, including revenue and expense tracking and monthly financial review. Oversee vendor contracts, approve invoices, and ensure compliance with University financial policies.

5% – Fundraising Support

Oversee development of fundraising materials and support fundraising strategy. Partner with the Business Manager to track annual board member contributions (approximately 110 members) and support donor engagement efforts.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Answers questions and provides information regarding student affairs resources to individual students and groups
• Contributes to the design of student-focused programs and associated resources and materials to promote new and ongoing educational initiatives
• Evaluates and promotes short and long term existing strategies and makes recommendations for program enhancement
• Develops, plans, and directs staff implementation and operational work plans of one or multiple student affairs programs, activities, experiences, and/or services
• May monitor the program budget and approve expenditures
• Identifies, develops, and facilitates unit staff training opportunities
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees