Magazine and Membership Coordinator, McDonald Observatory

Magazine and Membership Coordinator – McDonald Observatory Job Summary The Magazine and Membership Coordinator will manage StarDate magazine subscriptions and support Friends membership activities that advance the education and public outreach mission of McDonald Observatory and The University of Texas at Austin. Responsibilities include processing subscriptions, marketing, distribution, records management, and member communications. The position provides excellent customer support via phone, email, and in‑person engagement, and collaborates across observatory teams to grow audiences for astronomy education and outreach. Responsibilities Coordinate StarDate magazine subscription processing and distribution. Process magazine orders received via stardate.org, mail, and phone. Maintain subscriber records and generate reports to support circulation and business operations. Print and distribute renewal letters, and coordinate annual sales letters and gift subscription mailings. Coordinate StarDate magazine marketing and production. Solicit bids and secure printing contracts. Develop and expand distribution channels, including identifying new outlets for magazine sales. Maintain inventory and coordinate special deliveries to campus and observatory partners. Prepare circulation, renewal, and new subscriber reports as needed. Support membership and fundraising activities. Review and enter gift data; verify entries for accuracy; and retrieve information as requested. Maintain and update donor records. Prepare thank‑you letters and draft routine donor correspondence. Support donor and member recognition, stewardship, and acquisition campaigns. Answer calls to the StarDate and Friends phone lines and respond to general inquiries via email. Provide accurate, timely information on subscriptions, memberships, and policies. Resolve customer concerns by consulting order, subscription, and membership records. Route inquiries as needed and ensure clear, professional communication. Participate in cross‑functional teams to support program goals. Assist with outreach and represent StarDate and McDonald Observatory at community events as needed. Help produce educational print materials and contribute to magazine content, advertising, and related communications. Perform other duties as assigned to support business operations. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree. Three years of experience coordinating or administering a program. Strong computer skills using a personal computer, spreadsheet, database, and word processing. Excellent written and oral communications and proofreading skills. Demonstrated ability to perform customer service skills. Ability to work as a team member, independently, and with overlapping projects. Position competencies include accuracy and attention to detail, decision-making and critical thinking, effective communication, initiative, interpersonal relationships, problem-solving, and service excellence. Preferred Qualifications Experience with FileMaker Pro. Experience working in a magazine and print publication, membership relations field, or annual giving. Amateur astronomy interest and knowledge of the night sky. Proficiency in Spanish. Salary $45,000 plus depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%) Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays Teacher Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan) Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax‑sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b) Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses Working Conditions Works in a standard office environment. May work around mechanical hazards. Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation. Climbing of stairs and/or ladders. Lifting and moving 30+ lbs. Equal Opportunity Employer The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. Pay Transparency The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. Employment Eligibility Verification If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I‑9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university. E‑Verify The University of Texas at Austin uses E‑Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E‑Verify is 854197. For more information about E‑Verify, please see the following: E‑Verify Poster (English and Spanish) PDF, Right to Work Poster (English) PDF, Right to Work Poster (Spanish) PDF. #J-18808-Ljbffr The University of Texas at Austin