<p>The Director of Alumni Engagement is a key member of the College of Business Advancement team, responsible for building a dynamic and sustainable pipeline of engaged alumni, donors, and corporate partners. This role plays a central part in strengthening lifelong relationships that inspire volunteerism, advocacy, and philanthropic support.</p> <p>Working in close partnership with advancement leadership, major gift officers, and campus colleagues, the Director will design and execute a comprehensive engagement strategy that connects alumni and donors to the life of the college through meaningful experiences, strategic outreach, and high impact programming.</p> <p>This role extends beyond events and communications. It focuses on activating relationships by creating intentional pathways for alumni and donors to engage with students, faculty, and each other in ways that deepen connection and ultimately lead to increased philanthropic investment.</p> <p>The Impact You'll Make</p> <ul> <li>Build the Pipeline: Develop and manage a robust engagement strategy that moves alumni and donors from connection to active involvement and philanthropic support </li><li>Activate Alumni: Create meaningful opportunities for alumni to engage as mentors, speakers, advisors, and advocates </li><li>Strengthen Donor Relationships: Design stewardship and engagement experiences that demonstrate impact and inspire continued giving </li><li>Elevate the College's Visibility: Expand the College of Business's reach and reputation among alumni, corporate partners, and key stakeholders </li></ul> <p>Position Summary</p> <p>We are seeking a relational professional who can build meaningful connections with alumni and create opportunities for them to engage with the University and College of Business through volunteerism, events, and ongoing involvement. Your toolkit should include:</p> <ul> <li>Relationship Builder: Ability to cultivate authentic, lasting relationships that inspire engagement, volunteerism, and philanthropy </li><li>Strategic Thinker: Connects engagement efforts to broader advancement goals and translates strategy into action </li><li>Effective Communicator: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to diverse audiences </li><li>Collaborative Partner: Proven ability to work across teams in a matrixed environment, building alignment and shared ownership </li><li>Organized and Results-Oriented: Strong project management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver measurable outcomes </li><li>Initiative and Drive: Self-starter who takes ownership and proactively identifies opportunities to enhance engagement </li><li>Analytical Mindset: Uses data and metrics to evaluate success and inform strategy </li><li>Professionalism and Integrity: Demonstrates discretion, sound judgment, and a commitment to ethical standards </li><li>Adaptability: Thrives in a dynamic environment with evolving priorities </li></ul> <p>Essential Duties and Responsibilities</p> <p>Strategic Alumni & Donor Engagement</p> <ul> <li>Develop and execute a comprehensive alumni and donor engagement strategy aligned with the College of Business's advancement and campaign priorities </li><li>Design and implement programs that drive engagement, discovery, volunteerism, and cultivation </li><li>Conduct targeted outreach to alumni and donors to build relationships and identify pathways for deeper involvement </li><li>Create structured opportunities for alumni to engage with students through mentorship, classroom engagement, career programming, and advisory roles </li><li>Partner with advancement leadership and gift officers to transition engaged alumni into the fundraising pipeline </li></ul> <p>Volunteer Management, Events, & Programming</p> <ul> <li>Lead the planning and execution of high-impact alumni and donor events locally and in key markets (e.g., Chicago and national hubs) </li><li>Ensure events are strategically designed with clear outcomes tied to engagement and pipeline development </li><li>Identify, recruit, and manage alumni volunteers, including advisory boards and engagement ambassadors </li><li>Support and grow College of Business and departmental advisory boards and other volunteer groups </li><li>Collaborate with departments to support program-level engagement initiatives and alumni connections </li></ul> <p>Donor Engagement & Stewardship</p> <ul> <li>Design and implement a comprehensive donor engagement and stewardship strategy aligned with best practices </li><li>Partner with advancement leadership to deliver personalized stewardship experiences for key donors </li><li>Support donor-centered initiatives that strengthen long-term relationships, deepen engagement, and encourage volunteerism </li></ul> <p>Collaboration, Strategy, & Operations</p> <ul> <li>Collaborate closely with central advancement, alumni engagement, and communications teams to align messaging and strategy </li><li>Serve as a liaison to academic departments, centers, and programs to expand engagement opportunities </li><li>Track and analyze engagement metrics to assess effectiveness and inform strategy </li><li>Contribute to the College's overall advancement planning and campaign priorities </li><li>Perform additional duties as assigned </li></ul> <p>Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)</p> <p>N/A</p> <p>Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)</p> <p>N/A</p> <p>Specialty Factors (Civil Service)</p> <p>None</p> <p>Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)</p> <p>N/A</p> <p>Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)</p> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree required. </li><li>Minimum of three (3) years of experience in alumni engagement, donor relations, fundraising, event management, marketing, or a related field. </li></ul> <p>Additional Requirements (SPS)</p> <ul> <li>High level of proficiency in written and verbal communication. </li><li>Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. </li><li>Ability to think critically and strategically, managing multiple initiatives to successful completion. </li><li>Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with fundraising and donor tracking systems. </li><li>Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team. </li><li>Demonstrated commitment to higher education and institutional mission. </li><li>Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships grounded in trust and integrity. </li><li>Demonstrated success in building and sustaining relationships with alumni, donors, or external stakeholders. </li><li>Proven ability to manage multiple projects with strong attention to detail and follow-through. </li></ul> <p>Preferred Qualifications (SPS)</p> <ul> <li>Experience in higher education advancement, alumni relations, or development. </li><li>Experience working with volunteer leaders, advisory boards, or alumni networks. </li><li>Exposure to fundraising strategies, donor stewardship practices, or pipeline development. </li><li>Familiarity with donor databases, CRM systems, and engagement tracking tools Experience working in a matrixed organization with cross-functional collaboration. </li></ul> <p>Physical demands/requirements</p> <p>The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:</p> <ul> <li>Extensive and consistent travel is required for this position. </li><li>Willingness and ability to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed </li><li>Use of a personal vehicle is required. </li><li>While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. </li><li>The employee is frequently required to stand for long periods of time; walk; use fingers and hands to feel, grasp, operate or handle objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. </li><li>Must be able to lift and carry 20 lbs regularly. </li></ul>