Senior Associate Director, Alumni Engagement (Hybrid)

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

Please note: The target budgeted salary for this position is between $88,000 and $94,000. Offers will be based on candidate experience and education, as well as equity within Northwestern University.

About Alumni Relations and Development

Alumni Relations and Development appreciates that the collective sum of our individual differences, experiences, knowledge, and self-expression is crucial for our success. We strongly invite candidates of all backgrounds to apply and to participate fully and authentically in our workplace.

We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet 100% of the preferred qualifications.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Alumni Relations and Development is committed to genuine inclusion. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Elizabeth Frisch at efrisch@northwestern.edu. Consistent with its obligations under the law, Northwestern will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential job responsibilities.

Job Summary:

Primary officer with comprehensive responsibility for program and team results. Works with senior management to establish goals and report on progress to those goals. Monitors results, determines strengths and weaknesses of component programs and works with team leaders and development staff to modify plans and strategies to ensure achievement of program and organization goals. Participates in department management activities. May manage a portfolio of high profile/high-level alumni volunteers. Serves as liaison to both University and Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA).

The Senior Associate Director of Alumni Engagement reports to the Director of Alumni Engagement and is responsible for the enhancement and cultivation of diverse alumni communities through the development of engagement strategies with focus on intersectionality and allyship across affinity and regional alumni clubs and external partnerships with student life and diversity units on campus to expand the NAA's reach and impact. This position will serve as the primary liaison for the Northwestern University Black Alumni Association (NUBAA), Latino Alumni of Northwestern University (LANU), Northwestern University Pride Alumni Club (NUPAC), and the Council of One Hundred (C100) as well as oversee the creation of new affinity communities and clubs. This position also manages a team member who liaises with the Northwestern University Asian American Alumni (NU-A5), Northwestern University Muslim Alumni (NUMA), and Reunion Committees.

This position requires work outside regular office hours and domestic travel. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. Is eligible for hybrid work up to 3 days in the office and 2 days remote.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• Creates, sustains, and evolves multi-year strategies to engage external stakeholders (e.g., volunteers, alumni, and community organizations), to advance the NAA's DEI mission.
• Oversees the relationship management of 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.
• Examples of key partnerships below:
  • Senior Associate Director, Alumni Engagement (clubs)
  • Senior Associate Director, Global Alumni Engagement
  • Director, Alumni Engagement (mentorship)
  • Campus Inclusion and Community
  • Office of Multicultural Student Affairs

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 expand the volunteer pipeline, deepen broader alumni volunteerism, and provide 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 dept or division in regard to function.
• Leads, coaches and evaluates performance of direct reports

Miscellaneous

• Completes 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 appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 8 years development, marketing, sales or the equivalent experience is required.

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

• Team leadership; analytical thinking, complex problem solving and planning; global/organizational perspective; ability to work in fast-paced environment; comfortable with change and associated ambiguity
• Team player and a strong attitude for collaboration.
• Ability to work effectively with leaders and colleagues in a multicultural and diverse environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in managing and training volunteers.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Knowledge of Alumni Relations preferred.
• Understanding and commitment of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion values including implicit bias, microaggression development, cultural competency, etc.

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 strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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