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Job Category:
Academic Staff
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Development Specialist
Job Duties:
Wisconsin Public Media and Friends of PBS Wisconsin are looking for an Auction and Exhibitor Manager.
PBS Wisconsin's online Auction (June 1-10) is an annual fundraising event supported by dedicated volunteers with more than 2,000 items and thousands of bidders. The person in this role would oversee donation acquisition, the donation item database, volunteer support, promotional materials, customer service, event logistics, technical needs and evaluation.
Garden & Green Living Expo is an annual fundraising and community engagement event that draws more than 15,000 attendees and includes hundreds of exhibitors and volunteers. The person in this role would recruit exhibitors, oversee complex logistical details, provide customer support and monitor event data and transactions.
The position also provides support for other station events throughout the year.
A typical day in the job involves working with data and spreadsheets, making phone calls and sending emails to current and prospective donors and exhibitors, strategizing new recruitment initiatives, directing volunteers and coordinating with staff across the organization.
To excel in this role, you'll bring a combination of self-motivation, data and technical proficiency, organizational skills and interpersonal communications. An ability to manage databases and utilize project management tools is essential.
The Auction and Exhibitor Manager reports to the Expo Manager and is part of the Development Department.
This is a full time, 40 hour a week position. This position typically works Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm CT, and some evenings and/or weekends for events.
This position is a hybrid position and will require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location headquartered in Madison, WI. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. Final schedule can be discussed in the offer stage, but fully remote candidates will not be accepted.
The person in this position must be able to occasionally lift and carry heavy event supplies such as boxes of merchandise, print materials, event furniture (tables, chairs, easels), and move throughout the event venue over several long days.
Key Job Responsibilities:
- 10% Assists with the design, development, and delivery of marketing and communication materials and other event publications to promote development events and programs
- 10% Communicates with customers to determine event details and requirements, evaluates requests, recommends service plans and pricing, and provides status updates
- 20% Assists with the development of strategic planning initiatives and objectives, program budgets, and monitors activity to ensure adherence to established guidelines
- 10% Serves as a point of contact for internal and external stakeholders at meetings and activities to advocate for and promote the interests of the unit
- 20% Collects, prepares, and analyzes donor information and event data and provides subsequent recommendations for improvement and enhancement
- 10% Monitors and processes event related transactions and event data and records
- 20% Schedules logistics and secures resources for event and program activities, facilities, participants, and vendors adhering to established timelines and expectations
Department:
Wisconsin Public Media/PBS Wisconsin/Events
PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio are part of Wisconsin Public Media. The person in this position will be required to comply with the Wisconsin Public Media Code of Ethics: https://wpm.wisc.edu/policies/, in addition to the UW-Madison code of ethics.
Compensation:
The expected annual salary for this position is in the mid $50,000's to low $60,000's range. Actual pay will depend on experience and qualifications. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits, please see https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl.pdf.
Required Qualifications:
- Experience scheduling and organizing complex logistics with attention to detail.
- Experience with database applications, spreadsheet programs and project management tools.
- Experience providing customer service and support.
- Experience monitoring and processing data and transactions.
- Strong verbal communication with stakeholders, community members, and colleagues in many different areas.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in the development and delivery of marketing and communication materials.
- Experience overseeing or providing leadership support to staff and/or volunteers.
- Experience with donor and/or exhibitor prospecting and stewardship.
Education:
Associate's Degree Preferred
How to Apply:
Click the "Apply" button to start the application process.
The following must be received for your application to be complete:
1) Resume
2) A cover letter describing how your experience relates to the listed required and preferred job qualifications.
We are eager to learn more about how your experience may align with this position. Please submit a cover letter referring to your related work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background. Please keep in mind your cover letter and/or resume should address your experience and how it relates to the position qualifications. The application reviews will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to the first round interviews.
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.
Finalists will be asked to provide a list of at least three professional references with titles, emails, and phone numbers (including at least one supervisory reference). Note that references will not be contacted without your prior knowledge.
Employment will require an institutional reference check regarding any misconduct. To be considered, applicants must upload a signed “Authorization to Release Information” form as part of the application. The authorization form and a definition of “misconduct” can be found here: https://hr.wisc.edu/institutional-reference-check/.
The application deadline is 11:59pm CT on August 4, 2025.
Contact Information:
Alondra Vazquez, hr@wpm.wisc.edu
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
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