The University of Sydney Centre in China is recruiting an Alumni Relations Coordinator position which will be based in the Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province.
Position: Alumni Relations Coordinator
Location: Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province
About the Centre
The University of Sydney Centre in China based in Suzhou plays a key role in support of the University's China Strategy and the delivery of its four strategic objectives:
- Objective 1: To be the leading university in Australia for quality and scale of academic engagement (education and research) with China, and one which acts as a powerful symbol of the values of dispassionate and creative intellectual enquiry
- Objective 2: To be a university-of-choice in China for international study and research collaborations
- Objective 3: To be Australia's primary source of knowledge about China and a major conduit for interactions with policymakers, businesses, specialist groups and the media
- Objective 4: To be a trusted partner in China for government, non-government, business and industry including creative industries and community sector linkages, investment and philanthropy – and to be recognised as such.
The Centre in China is an offshore business office and fully controlled entity of the University. The Centre brokers and helps foster an active academic and engagement program with Chinese universities, government bodies, enterprises, alumni and related stakeholders and deliver key administrative services and business functions to support these activities. It is not a campus of the University of Sydney and does not have degree-awarding rights.
The Centre in China fulfils the following functions:
- Acts as an incubator for joint Australia-China research programs
- Offers short- and long-term attachments for academic staff from the home campus andtheir academic collaborators from local partner institutions
- Facilitates research and industry collaboration and liaison
- Promotes the University of Sydney to a broad range of audiences – government, local industry, counterpart universities, and students thinking of enrolling at the University
- Facilitates in-country placements, internships and other learning experiences for Australian students in China
- Hosts research seminars and symposia, in-country language programs, academic conferences and conventions
- Provides more closely-targeted market research for the specialised China activities ofindividual faculties, schools, and centres
- Conducts alumni relations activities, acting as the administrative hub for alumni living in mainland China and Hong Kong.
PRIMARY FUNCTION
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Alumni Relations Coordinator develops, delivers and manages comprehensive strategies for engaging University of Sydney alumni across China.
POSITION KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
1. Develops and implements strategies for engaging University of Sydney alumni in China.
- Develops an annual plan outlining the goals and objectives of alumni relations in China, in coordination with the Executive Director of the Centre and Manager, International and Emerging Constituencies at the University of Sydney.
- Develops and implements processes for finding lost alumni in China and graduate tracking, including graduate outcomes and alumni career progress and impact, contact and employment related data.
- ·Builds and maintains strong relationships with China-based alumni associations.
2. Develops and maintains a database of University of Sydney alumni in China.
- Maintains accurate alumni records and plays an active role in establishing database procedures.
- Ensures relevant, detailed and up-to-date information on alumni and donors is provided to the University.
- Identifies notable alumni in China and cultivates key stakeholders to increase contributions (time, talent, influence and resources) to the University of Sydney.
- Produces regular reports for the Manager, International and Emerging Constituencies and the Director of China Development at the University of Sydney.
3. Manages communications with University of Sydney alumni in China.
- Produces regular electronic newsletters for the database of alumni in China.
- Communicates employment, scholarship and other relevant opportunities to the alumni community.
4. Provides education consultation to University of Sydney alumni and prospective students.
- Designs and implements a mentoring program to build relationships between past, current and future students.
- Works closely with the Events and Mobility Coordinator to align activities and events that supports alumni, prospective students, institutions and the broader community.
- Maintains effective working relationships with a range of public and private organisations, to identify scholarship opportunities for future students.
- Remains current in alumni program and service trends; researches and recommends new programs and services to engage China-based alumni.
5. Organises and manages alumni events at the Centre in China.
- Manages the delivery of reunions, networking events, lectures, seminars and other alumni-focused functions in coordination with the Events and Mobility Coordinator.
- Provide events management support for University of Sydney graduation ceremonies held in China.
6. Undertakes ad-hoc projects and other activities.
- Undertakes other projects and activities as directed by the Executive Director to support the operations of the Centre.
SELECTION CRITERIA
- Undergraduate degree, preferably post graduate
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, taking initiative and exercising sound judgement in resolving matters that may arise as part of normal daily work.
- Problem solving skills and the ability to use initiative and exercise sound judgement and ability to prioritise workload during busy periods.
- Experience in higher education alumni relations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both Modern Standard (Mandarin) Chinese and English.
- Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office suite.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with key stakeholders.
- Experience using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, especially Ellucian Advance and/or iModules Encompass.
- Ability to manage third party providers, and vendors including supporting approrpraite procurement processes.
- Experience in the management of large projects with a large range of stakeholders.
If you encounter any technical problems, please contact wesley.li@sydneyuniversity.cn or 0512-62981923.
