Reporting to the Assistant Director of University Partnership Office, the Partnerships Specialist contributes to the operational effectiveness of the department in pursuit of non-tuition revenue sources to supplement traditional student tuition, Alumni giving, and Advancement revenue.

The Specialist is responsible for relationship management and communication with both internal and external stakeholders in pursuit of university partnership & sponsorship revenue goals. This role involves acting as a key liaison between the Pepperdine partner community and the university, ensuring effective representation and alignment with campus needs. The Specialist will also be responsible for enhancing the engagement and impact of each partnership and supporting various departmental sponsorship programs.
The ideal candidate will be a recent Pepperdine graduate and have a background in marketing.

Duties

• External Relations (Pepperdine Partners / Sponsors): Maintain and further nurture relationships with Pepperdine partners/sponsors via regular contact (e.g., emails, phone calls, meetings) as directed by Supervisor; organize partner/sponsor meetings, information sessions, and other interactions (attendance required in-person and virtually); support sponsorship activations and contract fulfillment; willing to attend some evening and/or weekend events and occasional travel. 
• Internal Relations (Pepperdine stakeholders): Maintain and further nurture relationships with key Pepperdine stakeholders (e.g., Athletics, Advancement, Alumni Affairs, School Deans, Financial Aid, IMC) to advance department objectives; ensure clear and effective communication amongst multiple Pepperdine stakeholders to advance department initiatives. 
• Department Operations: Create presentations and assist with benchmarking, analyses, and reports to Pepperdine partners/sponsors; support key stakeholder meetings, partnering with various departments to prepare data and prospect reports for strategy meetings; keep detailed records of all contacts and help plan follow-up strategies with constituents. 
• Partnership Activations: Ensure accurate and timely submission of all department compliance (e.g., partner MOUs, General Counsel documents).
• Database management: Maintain department databases (e.g., SponsorCX) to help ensure consistent contact and communication with partners.
• Perform other duties as assigned. 
• Uphold University mission through work performed. 

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required:

• A bachelor’s degree with at least one year of institutional experience as either a Pepperdine student or staff member.
• Ability to think and act independently.
• Professional demeanor.
• Excellent people skills.
• A high level of trustworthiness and reliability.
• Excellent communication skills in person, on the phone, and via email.
• Identifies strongly with the mission of Pepperdine University.
• Is coachable, accepting & applying feedback.
• Well-versed in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Suite with knowledge of cloud-based storage.
• Personal cell phone usage (mobile phone allowance is provided.)
• Able and willing to travel off-site for events as needed.
  
  

Preferred:

• Experience in higher education, marketing, or customer service.
• 1-2 years relevant sponsorship/partnerships work experience; knowledge of sponsorship practices and language.
• Familiarity with Higher Ed vendor relations, partnerships, and sponsorships.
• CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, SponsorCX).
  
  

This is a Restricted, Nonexempt, 40 hour per week position that may be eligible for hybrid or remote work in accordance with the university policy manual. 

Expected Pay Range: $25.96 - $26.92 per hour 

The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Pepperdine is committed to providing a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Engaging in unlawful discrimination or harassment will result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University.

Pepperdine is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. While students, faculty, and staff represent many religious backgrounds, Pepperdine is permitted under applicable law and reserves the right to seek, hire, and promote persons who support the goals and mission of the institution, including the right to prefer co-religionists who support Pepperdine's Christian mission.

Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Individuals will be required to disclose any criminal convictions on a designated form after receiving a conditional offer of employment; failure to disclose accurate information may result in withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.