POSITION DETAILS

Development and Alumni Relations Office
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £32,546 to £35,116 with potential progression once in post to £39,355
Grade: 6
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to August 2026
Closing date: 19th May 2025
Interview date: w/c 2nd June 2025
This role is also open as an internal secondment opportunity which would need to be agreed by your current line manager.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications). Where no equivalent qualification is held, significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a similar role will be required.
• Significant experience of delivering complex events and events programmes.
• The ability to think and plan strategically, both in the short and long-term.
• The ability to work independently with initiative, to take decisions and think creatively and laterally.
• Experience of effectively managing a complex workload, with multiple projects running simultaneously.
• Able to perform effectively under pressure with excellent personal organisation and time management skills.
• Experience of working with senior stakeholders, internal, and external audiences.
• Ability to build rapport with alumni, donors, VIPs, academics, and colleagues in Professional Services at all levels.
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to persuade and influence with diplomacy and sensitivity.
• Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to write speeches, letters, articles, and reports for a range of audiences and stakeholders, modifying language and style accordingly.
• The ability to work calmly and effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Adaptable and flexible when dealing with change and uncertainty.
• The ability to work effectively both in a team and independently.
• The ability to represent the University with confidence, diplomacy, and authority.
• The desire to support colleagues in the achievement of their individual and the collective goals, and to celebrate others’ success as positively as your own.
• Highly proficient IT skills, including the wider MS Office suite of programmes including excel and PowerPoint.
• The flexibility to work unsociable hours (evenings and weekends) when required.
• Ability to work effectively in a large, complex organisation, and to develop a good understanding of how the University and higher education institutions work.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day-to-day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

CORE COMPETENCIES/TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

Working at this level you will be able to develop and successfully use the core competencies/transferable skills outlined in each of the areas shown below. As appropriate for the level, our Birmingham Professionals will take ownership for getting things done. You will be expected to be flexible as required in supporting your department and wider University.

ROLE SUMMARY

Do you want to be part of a dynamic and creative team? We are recruiting an Events Officer to work in the Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO) to deliver creative, sector leading events. The Events Officer has responsibility for delivering both in-person and online events for our global community of alumni, donors and volunteers. From our mass engagement ‘Bringing Birmingham to You’ event series, to bespoke events hosted by senior members of University staff, and stewardship events to thank our donors and volunteers at all levels, the Events Officer will ensure a high-quality, engaging, and tailored experience for alumni, donors, volunteers, and VIPs.
DARO is an ambitious office and we support our team to succeed. You will contribute to a busy programme of events, and over the year will focus on delivering activity as part of our 125 th anniversary celebrations as well as a series of high-profile events in the lead up to the close of our fundraising and volunteering campaign, Birmingham in Action. You will have the opportunity to shape a creative and impactful programme which engages our alumni and supporters with the University.
You will be provided with a robust induction and an ongoing training program that will include support from the University as well as expert external providers.

MAIN DUTIES

• Working as part of the Events team to deliver the overall DARO events programme.
• Supporting the Events Programme Manager with delivery of the full DARO events programme, which supports all DARO audiences as part of the Birmingham in Action campaign, including alumni, donors, volunteers, VIPs, staff and students.
• Delivering a range of events from conception through to evaluation; scoping venues, approaching speakers, writing invitations, updating the website, overseeing the event budget, managing registrations, arranging briefings and debriefs.
• Working collaboratively with the Events Programme Manager, Events and International Officer and Events Assistant to plan and deliver departmental events around the University’s 125 th anniversary celebrations and the close of the Birmingham in Action campaign.
• Together with the Events Programme Manager, Events and International Officer and Events Assistant, participating in the review, evaluation and creative planning activity of the events programme, seeking out new opportunities and proposing improvements.
• Supporting the Events Programme Manager with - and potentially leading on – high profile events with the Vice-Chancellor, Chancellor and influential alumni.
• Developing collaborative working relationships with key staff, both within DARO and across the University.
• Managing a personal portfolio of our ‘Bringing Birmingham To You’ event series, which are held both in person and online, bringing academic expertise to our global alumni audience.
• Identifying and working with key academics to shine a light on their research excellence, with a focus on taking their research out of the labs and lecture theatres and sharing it with alumni through our Bringing Birmingham to You event series.
• Ability to produce newsletters, presentations, speeches and information in an interesting and informative manner.
• Using the Customer Relationship Manager system efficiently to monitor registration, attendance, and event outcomes and to evaluate success to inform future programming.
• Any other duties as deemed commensurate to the role.
• Promoting equality and valuing diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
• Supporting the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.

ROLE CONTEXT

Roles at this level will require expertise and a detailed understanding of methods, systems and procedures in an administrative or professional area. You will either use specialist knowledge or have more of a planning/co-ordination/project role or a role which is supervisory in nature where you may manage a team doing similar kinds of work. You will have the opportunity to exercise a high degree of personal responsibility and initiative which you will use to resolve queries; you will use your judgement to deal with unforeseen problems and circumstances, all with limited guidance/supervision.