Learning And Development Assistant Jobs in Texas

Hourly Range: 

$23.08 per hour 

About SMU:

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About Department:

Development and External Affairs (DEA) supports SMU by securing funding for University priorities; by promoting meaningful involvement in the life and work of the University; by heightening international, national, state and local awareness of SMU; and by supporting the enrollment of a diverse and able student body.

DEA comprises the offices of Office of the Senior Vice President, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, Development Services, Program Services and Donor Relations, Marketing and Communications, Principal and Major Gifts, and School and Project Development.

SMU continues to leverage the benefits from the largest fundraising campaign in its history to achieve dramatic increases in academic quality and impact.

About the Position:

The Athletics Development Assistant for Development and External Affairs reports to the Assistant Athletics Director of Development.

This position is instrumental in managing the administrative components of the SMU Athletics Development office and External Affairs team while serving as the primary liaison to the Lettermen's Association. 

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Managing the contact outlets (phone and e-mail) for the SMU Athletics Development office, managing the Athletics database (Paciolan) including gift entry and database hygiene, reconciling the Athletics database and the University's database (Blackbaud/BBEC), executing all gift acknowledgments, and providing event and project support. This position will also help the department head of Athletics Development with administrative responsibilities including travel requests, expense reports, and donor meeting contact reports.

Essential Functions:

• Manage the phones and e-mail accounts. Provide quality control to ensure that all donors inquiries are answered and resolved in a timely manner. Greet visitors upon arrival.  Scheduling weekly team meetings and quarterly committee meetings, and providing agendas and fundraising reports for these meetings. Ordering office supplies. 

  
   

• Assist development officers with booking travel, submitting expense reports via SAP Concur and crafting invoices. Work collaboratively with other administrative assistants across campus, including the Athletic Director's administrative assistant for scheduling requests and other needs.
   

• Manage the Athletics database (Paciolan) which includes, but is not limited to: running fundraising reports, compiling lists of donors/lapsed donors, processing donations and season ticket purchases, data integrity checks and supporting the team in other database-related measures. Manage gift entry and reconciliation between Paciolan and Blackbaud databases. Manage priority point ranking.
   

• Responsible for generating and distributing gift acknowledgments and thank you cards.
   

• Support SMU Athletics Development's team event operations including home football and men's basketball games and other donor events throughout the year.
   

• Lettermen's Association Liaison: work with the lettermen's association to book spaces for quarterly meetings, record and disseminate meeting minutes, assist with inquiries related to complimentary lettermen's association member tickets, provide administrative support to subcommittees including the Hall of Fame Induction Committee and Silver Anniversary Mustang Award Committee on nomination process, including nominee profiles and meetings to cast votes for inductees.
   

• Position requires regular evening or weekend work for athletic events.

Education and Experience:

A high school diploma or equivalent is required. A Bachelor's degree, preferred. 

A minimum of two (2) years of experience is required. Previous administration experience preferred. Experience in Athletics development or a non-profit desired.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills. The ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies is essential. A strong customer service orientation is essential.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning, and time management skills. A strong focus on attention to detail is essential.  

Candidate must demonstrate proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite. Experience with Paciolan/PAC Funds preferred. Experience with Blackbaud BBEC or Salesforce desired.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time

Deadline to Apply:

August 14, 2026

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by July 31, 2026.

EEO Statement:

SMU is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.