Affinity Chapter Assistant
View favorites
Department: Advancement and Alumni Relations
Classification: GMU Worker
Job Category: Part-Time / Hourly Wage
Job Type: Part-Time
Location: Fairfax, VA
Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible
Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship
Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience
Criminal Background Check: Yes
About the Department:
The Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations division is a comprehensive development and alumni relations enterprise with a staff complement of approximately 125 FTE. Functional units within Advancement include development/fundraising, alumni relations, stewardship and donor relations, advancement communications, special events, gift processing, research, prospect management, gift planning, corporate and foundation relations, information systems and management, and infrastructure services.
Advancement's mission is to build strong, lifelong relationships with George Mason University's alumni and constituents, while matching their philanthropic interests with the university aspirations and priorities. The division is committed to serving the needs of the university, our alumni, and the greater community by providing access to quality education and lifelong learning. Respect, service, integrity, collaboration, diversity, transparency, and creativity are the values that guide our work and culture.
The mission of the Office of Alumni Relations is to serve as a conduit between the Alumni Association/alumni community and the university to facilitate strong bonds of mutual loyalty. The Office of Alumni Relations is committed to working collaboratively with partners and stakeholders to provide quality customer service, engagement opportunities, and advocacy through outreach and communication.
About the Position:
The part-time Affinity Chapter Assistant has key responsibilities of providing logistical support for George Mason University's Alumni Affinity Chapters. The position assists with chapter communications, event planning and support, administrative support and data management, and serving as a liaison for the Alumni Association's cultural affinity chapters.
Responsibilities:
Serve as liaison for the Alumni Association's cultural affinity chapters including (but not limited to) the Green Machine Alumni Chapter, the Lambda Alumni Chapter, Veterans Chapter/Veteran's Network, Latino Alumni Chapter, and all future affinity chapters
- Provide program support for chapters to ensure a robust affinity chapter program;
- Serve as a resource to assigned academic chapters/units in matters concerning chapter leadership that support the unit's engagement opportunities and initiatives;
- Provide guidance to affinity chapter volunteer leadership in matters of finance, event planning, university services, communications, and chapter initiatives, such as newsletters, surveys, and events;
- Regularly attend meetings and events of chapters and monitor activities, progress and initiatives;
- Coordinate general communication with chapter/association leaders, including promoting affinity events and encouraging chapter participation in Alumni Association and university events and activities;
- Facilitate chapter participation in Fall programming/reunion, graduation events/programs, Homecoming, and Celebration of Distinction for assigned units in an effort to highlight and promote each unit and their priorities;
- Assist departments, units, and chapter leadership in assessing and developing alumni initiatives including seminars, workshops, and communication;
- Work with affinity chapters to provide program, communication and event support;
- Collaborate with the alumni association and its affinity chapters to develop/encourage programming that reflects the alumni association's diverse constituency;
- Work with affinity chapters and schools/colleges/units to recognize dates/events/celebrations that reflect the diversity of the alumni association's constituency;
- Develop and maintain strong collaborative working relationships with staff and chapter volunteers in assigned units that enhance communication and support and leverage affiliation/affinity for engagement;
- Maintain strong communication channels with staff and volunteers;
- Maintain chapter leadership roster and track succession plan;
- Work with advancement staff on chapter fundraising initiatives as appropriate;
- Communicate regularly with chapter leaders; and
- Provide guidance, encouragement, and advice on tactics to cultivate new members.
Event Planning and Support
- Assist in planning, scheduling, and promoting chapter events such as panel discussions, networking mixers, workshops, cultural celebrations, and service projects;
- Coordinate logistics for events, including securing venues, scheduling speakers, arranging catering, managing supplies, and setting up virtual meeting links;
- Support during events by managing attendee check-in, facilitating tech needs (e.g., screen sharing, chat moderation), and documenting highlights through photos or notes; and
- Help create post-event surveys and compile feedback to assess event effectiveness and gather improvement ideas.
Chapter Communications
- Coordinate with the Alumni Relations team to draft, edit, and send regular chapter email newsletters and announcements to keep members informed of upcoming events, opportunities, and chapter updates;
- Coordinate with Social Media Assistant to manage chapter-related content for social media platforms or internal communication tools (e.g., Slack, MS Teams, or internal portals); and
- Assist in the creation of flyers, graphics, or presentations using tools like Canva or PowerPoint.
Administrative Support and Data Management
- Maintain an up-to-date roster of chapter members, tracking contact details, engagement levels, and interests;
- Support onboarding of new members by preparing welcome materials and assisting with orientation communications;
- Track participation metrics including event attendance, survey responses, and engagement data to help assess impact;
- Compile short activity reports summarizing chapter accomplishments, engagement trends, and upcoming plans;
- Maintain shared chapter documents such as calendars, planning templates, contact lists, and
- Track budgets, receipts, and spending when applicable, and assist with reimbursements or funding requests.
Other duties as assigned within the scope of the role
Required Qualifications:
- Excellent writing and communication skills;
- Skill in meticulous detail-orientation;
- Outstanding customer service skills demonstrated by the ability to interact effectively with administrators, faculty, and staff as well as partners outside of the University;
- Excellent organizational and prioritizing skills;
- Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, track deadlines, and coordinate calendars effectively;
- Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends;
- Some administrative experience (generally 0-2 years); and
- Some experience with event planning and coordination (generally 0-2 years).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of alumni relations principles and best practices;
- Skill in board management;
- Skill in effectively coordinating with volunteers;
- Experience in higher education;
- Demonstrated experience working effectively with staff and external constituents;
- Experience supporting a board; and
- Experience with Affinaquest (Salesforce) or similar software.
Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants must apply for Affinity Chapter Assistant at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, one of which must be a current supervisor, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.
Posting Open Date: May 8, 2026
For Full Consideration, Apply by: May 22, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
|
George Mason University
May 08, 2026