Senior Associate Director, Alumni Engagement

Department: Alumni Relations & Development
Salary/Grade: EXS/10

Target hiring range for this position will be between $88,000-$90,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Job Summary:

The Senior Associate Director of Alumni Engagement serves as a primary volunteer engagement officer with comprehensive responsibility for the Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA) Communities team. Reporting to the Director of Alumni Engagement, this role drives strategies for club leaders and reunion committees to deliver impactful engagement outcomes.

Key responsibilities:

• Team Management: Supervise two staff members , fostering a supportive and high-performance culture through mentorship, coaching, and professional growth.
• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement innovative engagement strategies to connect alumni through communities, events, and initiatives that spark lifelong curiosity, connection and growth. Monitor outcomes and leverage insights to optimize impact.
• Volunteer Engagement: Lead recruitment, training, and ongoing support for alumni volunteers, serving as a relationship manager to strengthen connections and ensure a positive volunteer experience. May manage a portfolio of high-profile alumni volunteers, donors, and key partners.
• Program Oversight: Partner with the NAA Programs team to align volunteer efforts with NAA signature events and providing on-site support.

This position requires occasional work outside regular office hours and domestic travel. Hybrid work options are available (up to three days in-office, two remote).

Please note: This position has required evening and weekend meetings and events.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• Develops & implements strategic plans focused on engagement and participation of alumni, friends, faculty and staff.
• Oversees, relationship management groups creating, implementing, and managing these plans to incorporate cutting edge & best practices to dramatically increase engagement & participation.
• Initiates, plans and implements innovative & visionary organizational change & takes calculated risks to develop new strategies to continually expand engagement & participation across the globe.
• Works closely with senior management to set goals and to develop and implement overarching relationship management strategies, including prospect identification, engagement, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship programming.
• Oversees programmatic performance evaluation and resourcing, process improvement and research.

Collaboration

• Reviews & proposes strategic alliances, joint ventures & key collaborations with department and other University partners to identify opportunities to integrate University strategic plan goals.
• Oversees and coaches team members regarding department collaborations.
• Please bullet examples of key partnerships and work involved below:
• Alumni Engagement Officers
• Regional Development Officers
• Annual Giving

Prospects & Gifts

• Plays a primary role in developing and managing relationship strategies including the creation & implementation of world-wide programs & services for alumni, students, parents, friends and groups of volunteers and prospect/donor pools that ultimately result in increases in philanthropic contributions.
• Maintains up to date current knowledge on key alumni.
• Tracks and manages the emerging alumni leaders to develop reports and monitor program results.

Volunteers

• Leads efforts to create and facilitate a vibrant culture of philanthropy, service and volunteerism which includes working with high-level volunteers to determine goals, and then identify, recruit, and coach groups of volunteers, plan and coordinate meetings, determine strategies, and report on progress.
• Leads efforts to refine & expand the NAA & University's board's membership, involvement, and responsibilities and introduces strategies to deepen broader alumni volunteerism, providing more opportunities for alumni to become involved.
• Oversees development & implementation of a variety of leadership training opportunities both in-person & virtually designed to meet the needs of entry level to advanced alumni leaders in locations around the world.
• Requires travel throughout the region or country.

Events

• Oversees development & management of events & programs designed to expand constituent engagement & participation across the globe.
• Reviews and approves event plans & summaries ensuring that overall goals & objectives are attained.
• Works directly with high level volunteers & donors to ensure that individual needs are met.

Administration

• Manages activities related to high-level prospects, programs &/or events, membership solicitations & renewals.
• Develops & implements processes &/or procedures.
• Engages and reviews vendors and contracts.
• Designs and manages volunteer programs and activities.
• Conducts associated ongoing data analysis to determine trends, results & future plans.
• Reports to senior management and key collaborators.
• Provides necessary documentation and follow-up to donors & internal contacts.
• Responsible for duties assigned to supervised staff.
• Optimizes the use of technology including social media for marketing, communications & data reporting & analysis.
• Assists in the development of dashboards & metrics which provide quantitative analysis of program & event outcomes.

Budget

• Drafts budget(s) for larger more-complex programs &/or, reviews with manager.
• Manages approved budget ensuring to minimize expenses while maximizing return.
• Drafts special budget requests for manager's review.

Supervisory

• Supervises 1 or more staff.
• Provides training to staff within or outside of immediate department or division in regard to function.
• Leads, coaches and evaluates performance of direct reports

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR equivalent professional experience.

• At least 8 years of experience in alumni engagement, development, marketing, sales, or equivalent roles requiring relationship management, program oversight, and volunteer coordination.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Strategic Planning & Execution: Develops and implements engagement strategies; monitors outcomes and adapts.

• Relationship Building & Volunteer Engagement: Builds trust, manages relationships, and supports volunteers effectively.

• Collaboration Across Complex Organizations: Works effectively across units, aligning efforts with institutional priorities.

• Adaptability & Problem Solving: Responds flexibly to change, demonstrates resilience, and finds creative solutions.

• Communication & Influence: Clear, compelling written and verbal communication tailored to diverse audiences.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Working Across Perspectives: Effectively collaborates with individuals from varied backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints, adapting communication and engagement approaches.

• Leadership & Staff Development: Supervises, mentors, and develops staff to achieve shared goals.

• Experience working with volunteers.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Advanced skills in strategic planning, program evaluation, and organizational leadership, typically gained through graduate study or equivalent professional experience.

• Alumni relations experience preferred.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.