Director, Alumni Engagement

Department: Alumni Relations & Development
Salary/Grade: EXS/12

Target hiring range for this position will be between $110,260-$120,000 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 Director of Alumni Engagement will be the primary management leader responsible for advancing the Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA)'s global engagement strategy and volunteer ecosystem. They will oversee the NAA Communities team and hold comprehensive accountability for program performance and team results. Working with senior management to establish strategic goals, measure progress, and ensure alignment with departmental priorities. Assessing strengths and opportunities, collaborating with team leaders and campus partners to refine plans that drive strong engagement outcomes. Participate in department management activities. May manage a portfolio of high-profile alumni volunteers. Serves as liaison to both the University and Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA).

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

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• Primary responsibility for development and implementation of 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 and best practices to increase engagement and participation.
• Initiates, plans, and implements innovative and visionary organizational change and takes calculated risks to develop new strategies to continually expand engagement & participation across the globe.
• Works closely with senior department management and other senior managers to set goals and to develop and implement overarching relationship management strategies, including alumni leaders identification and engagement.
• Oversees programmatic performance evaluation and resourcing, process improvement and research.

Collaboration

• Reviews and proposes strategic alliances, joint ventures, and 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.
• Key partnerships and work collaboration with the following teams:
  • Central Giving
  • International Development
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Student Affairs
  • Undergraduate Admissions

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 supports philanthropic engagement by strengthening alumni participation and volunteer leadership pipelines.
• Maintains up-to-date current knowledge on key alumni and high-level donors.
• Tracks and manages the emerging prospect pool 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 and expand strategies to deepen and broaden alumni engagement, providing more opportunities for alumni to become involved.
• Requires travel throughout the region or country.

Events

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

Administration

• Manages team, provides leadership, determines and evaluates individual goals, develops & implements training and mentoring, assigns and monitors coverage of primary areas of focus, ensuring that goals and objectives are attained.
• Conducts associated ongoing data analysis to determine trends, results and future plans.
• Encourages and optimizes the use of technology, social networking, and other virtual engagement tools to increase and broaden NU's and school's global reach to prospects and donors.
• Selects and manages high-level vendor/consultant relationships, including determining goals and coordinating activities with department and University staff.

Budget

• Strategically manages a team budget, ensuring to minimize expenses while maximizing return.

Supervisory

• Supervises 2 or more staff.
• Provides training to staff within or outside of immediate dept 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 combination of education and experience.

• 8 years development, marketing, sales or the equivalent experience is required.

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

• Strategic Leadership: Develops and implements alumni engagement strategies aligned with institutional priorities. Sets clear goals, allocates resources effectively, and guides teams in executing initiatives that expand participation and strengthen alumni relationships.

• Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving: Uses data, performance metrics, and stakeholder insights to evaluate engagement outcomes, identify opportunities for improvement, and refine strategies. Diagnoses complex issues and develops effective and creative solutions.

• Relationship Management : Builds strong relationships with alumni volunteers, campus partners, and university leadership. Effectively recruits, engages, and supports volunteer leaders to advance alumni engagement and institutional priorities.

• Collaboration & Influence: Builds productive partnerships across units and aligns stakeholders around shared engagement goals. Navigates complex institutional structure to advance alumni engagement initiatives. Willingness to embrace new ideas from varied backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints.

• Adaptability: Responds effectively to evolving priorities, ambiguity, and complex environments, while maintaining progress towards engagement goals.

• Communication: Communicates clearly and persuasively, verbally and in writing, able to tailor for different audiences, including alumni volunteers, university leadership, and campus partners from various backgrounds.

• Team Leadership & Staff Development: Leads and develops staff by setting clear goals, providing coaching and feedback, and fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in alumni relations, community engagement, volunteer management, nonprofit leadership, or similar relationship-driven environments where building and sustaining stakeholder engagement is central to success.

• Experience leading complex projects, initiatives, or teams, which may include formal people management, project leadership, cross-functional coordination, or responsibility for guiding collaborative work toward shared outcomes.

• Master's degree or equivalent advanced training or professional experience demonstrating strategic thinking, program development, or leadership in complex organizational environments.

• Experience working with CRMs and other technology tools to drive and manage engagement.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Results Orientation: Drives measurable engagement outcomes and continuously evaluates program performance to improve results.

• Learning Agility: Ability to quickly learn the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to department, including Salesforce and Microsoft Office products.

• Organization & Prioritization: Effectively manages multiple initiatives, priorities, and timelines in a complex and fast-paced environment. Establishes clear structures for tracking progress, allocating resources, and ensuring follow-through across programs and teams. Demonstrates the ability to reprioritize work strategically as conditions change while maintaining momentum toward engagement goals.

• Budget Optimization: Demonstrates the ability to develop, manage, and optimize departmental budgets; allocates resources strategically to maximize program impact while ensuring fiscal responsibility and compliance.

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.