Associate, Coalition of Urban Serving Universities

Summary

The Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU,) at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), is seeking an Associate to provide comprehensive administrative support to ensure effective office and project operations. The Associate supports several critical functions of the Coalition, including planning, scheduling, and coordinating logistics for both in-person and virtual conferences and meetings; supporting internal and external office communications; record keeping; and coordinating financial processes and paperwork. The successful candidate will have excellent oral and written communication skills, be able to manage time and multiple projects efficiently, and possess organizational and planning skills with keen attention to detail. This full-time position is based in Washington, DC. The incumbent must be authorized to work in the United States, reside in DC, MD, or VA, and pass standard background checks. The incumbent is eligible for a hybrid work schedule. For more information about APLU please visit www.aplu.org.

Background

The Coalition of Urban-Serving Universities (USU) is a president-led organization committed to enhancing urban university engagement and tackling key challenges in our nation’s cities. With a membership of 40 public, urban research universities across 27 states, USU’s agenda focuses on the role of urban-serving research universities as “anchor institutions” in urban ecosystems to drive workforce and career development, equitable student success, impactful campus-community partnerships, and economic and community health. Annually, member campuses enroll over 1.2 million students, employ 235,000 faculty and staff, and conduct more than $8 billion in university research. USU operates in permanent partnership with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) to jointly lead an urban agenda for the nation’s public research universities.

APLU is a membership organization that fosters a community of university leaders collectively working to advance the mission of public research universities. The association’s membership consists of more than 250 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and affiliated organizations spanning across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, six U.S. territories, Canada, and Mexico. The association and its members collectively focus on: increasing access, success, completion, and workforce readiness; promoting pathbreaking scientific research; and bolstering economic and community engagement. Drawing on the powerful collective action of its members, APLU’s advocacy arm helps shape federal policy that maximizes the positive impact of public and land-grant universities. Annually, member campuses enroll 5.4 million undergraduates and 1.5 million graduate students, award 1.5 million degrees, employ 1.4 million faculty and staff, and conduct $67 billion in university-based research.

Responsibilities

Administrative Support

• Provide general administrative support for the Coalition of Urban-Serving Universities (USU), including meeting scheduling, notetaking, agenda management, office operations coordination, contract administration support, etc.
• Coordinate USU data management by maintaining accurate records in APLU’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and related databases, processing CRM uploads, requesting and reviewing CRM reports, and maintaining other USU spreadsheets.
• Update and maintain USU records and archives.
• Coordinate with the Executive Director to support USU Board Meetings through meeting scheduling, agenda creation, and writing meeting minutes.

Communication

• Draft, edit, and send announcements and communications using email marketing software.
• Manage the content collection, drafting, and dissemination of USU’s biweekly newsletter.
• Assist in the development of content and maintenance of USU’s online presence, including webpages, social media outlets, and blog entries.
• Draft and edit documents, emails, and other communications. Take and distribute meeting notes as needed.
• Manage general USU inboxes, including email accounts and contact requests through the USU website, ensuring that incoming messages are responded to appropriately and on a timely basis.
• Maintain positive relations with a diverse group of member university representatives through in-person, virtual, and email interactions.

Financial Logistics

• Coordinate USU dues process, including requesting and sending invoices and tracking payments.
• Process payments for contracts, honoraria, travel reimbursements, expense reports, project subawards, event expenses, etc.
• Reconcile credit card accounts.
• Provide logistical support to the Executive Director for the financial activities for the USU base budget and grant-funded projects, including reviewing and preparing documents, maintaining spreadsheets, and communication and coordination with APLU’s Office of Finance.

Event Management

• Coordinate the logistics, planning, and administrative aspects of USU’s in-person conferences and meetings (2 - 4 events per year), such as drafting/compiling meeting materials, coordinating the registration process, providing on-site support, and communicating with participants, etc.
• Provide administrative and logistical support for regularly scheduled and ad-hoc virtual meetings, including sending agendas, managing webinar registration processes, supporting guest speakers, and taking and circulating notes.

Other Duties

• Participate as an integral member of the USU Team and APLU and contribute to a welcoming and collegial workplace.
• Perform other duties as requested.

Preferred Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional administrative support experience. Work experience at a college/university, a higher education organization, a non-profit organization, or a non-profit involved with urban higher education issues is a plus.
• Experience planning and coordinating events, including workshops, webinars, and conferences.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated organizational skills. Ability to take direction from, and communicate with, multiple team members, keep track of activities and priorities on multiple projects, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to identify potential issues and bring them to the attention of the appropriate team members as they arise.
• Ability to maintain poise, professionalism, focus, consistency, and accuracy under pressure.
• Experience with Office365 highly preferred, including Microsoft Teams and SharePoint as well as experience managing virtual meetings, especially via Zoom.
• Experience using a customer relations management (CRM) system and databases is a plus. Comfort using and learning new technologies.
• Commitment to the work of USU and APLU.
• Ability to travel domestically two or more times a year.

To Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume (preferably in one PDF document) to APLU’s Human Resources Department at resume@aplu.org with the subject line of “USU Associate”. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled, with preference given to those received by Sunday, May 3, 2026. The annual salary for this position ranges from $58,000 - $60,000, depending on experience and qualifications. APLU is committed to a welcoming work environment and supports staff with a generous benefits package.