Senior Director, Alumni Engagement

Department: Alumni Relations & Development
Salary/Grade: EXS/13

Job Summary:

The Senior Director serves as the second-in-command of the Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA), providing strategic leadership and operational oversight to drive alumni engagement in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Executive Director of the NAA, this role is a key member of the NAA Leadership Team and member of the Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) Senior Team. The Senior Director ensures alignment between organizational goals and strategic initiatives.

This position works closely with team members to design and implement integrated strategies that strengthen alumni engagement. The Senior Director establishes metrics, sets benchmarks, and leverages data-driven insights to inform strategic decisions. Core responsibilities include journey mapping, predictive analytics, and engagement analysis to evaluate and refine outreach efforts to build engagement portfolios for relationship managers.

Additionally, the Senior Director supervises three direct reports and fosters a collaborative, inclusive work environment. This includes management of multiple teams to develop engagement strategies and translate them into actionable plans, continuously assessing program performance and adjusting tactics to achieve organizational objectives.

Exceptional communication skills and presence are essential for engaging stakeholders and representing the NAA at the highest levels. The Senior Director holds responsibility for building community among alumni and volunteers. In overseeing onboarding efforts, this position ensures that team culture remains welcoming, supportive, and aligned with NAA values. Finally, the Senior Director serves as a key liaison between the University and the NAA.

This hybrid position requires three days per week in the office and offers two remote workdays. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. Regularly expected to work outside of office hours for events and to meet needs of alumni.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• Primary responsibility for developing and implementing strategic plans focused on engagement and participation
• Oversees teams to create, implement, and manage plans incorporating cutting-edge practices to increase engagement and participation.
• Initiates and implements innovative organizational change, taking calculated risks to develop new strategies that expand engagement and participation across the globe.
• Collaborates with ARD senior leaders to set goals and develop overarching relationship management strategies, including alumni leader identification and engagement.
• Oversees programmatic performance evaluation, resource allocation, process improvement and research.
• Develops and refines metrics and analytics, incorporating journey mapping and predictive analytics to assess impact and effectiveness.

Collaboration

• Reviews and proposes strategic alliances, joint ventures, and key collaborations with departments and University partners to integrate strategic goals.
• Oversees and coaches team members on effective collaborations.
• Partners with ARD Marketing and Communications to craft compelling marketing strategies and manage issues related to alumni engagement.
• Convenes the alumni engagement community across Northwestern, facilitating collaboration with professional schools.
• Establishes and nurtures strategic relationships with university partners to align engagement insights with institutional priorities.

Prospects & Gifts

• Plays a primary role in developing and managing relationship strategies, including global programs and services for alumni to increase philanthropic contributions.
• Maintains current knowledge of key alumni and high-level donors.
• Tracks and manages emerging prospect pools, developing reports and monitoring program results.

Volunteers

• Leads efforts to create and foster a vibrant culture of philanthropy, service, and volunteerism.
• Refines and expands strategies to deepen and broaden alumni engagement, creating more opportunities for involvement.
• Requires travel to support volunteer engagement.

Events & Programs

• Oversees development and execution of alumni programs and events that foster meaningful engagement.
• Leads efforts to broaden alumni participation through innovative programming and engagement strategies.
• Requires travel to support events and programs.

Administration

• Manages multiple teams, provides leadership, sets and evaluates goals, develops and implements training and mentoring, and assigns coverage of primary focus areas ensuring goals are attained.
• Conducts ongoing data analysis to identify trends, measure results, and inform future planning.
• Encourages and optimizes the use of technology, social networking, and virtual engagement tools to expand Northwestern's global alumni reach.
• Selects and manages vendor and consultant relationships, including defining goals and coordinating activities with university staff.

Budget

• Strategically manages budget, minimizing expenses while maximizing return on investment and supporting organizational priorities.

Supervisory

• Supervises 2 or more staff, ensuring clarity of roles and responsibilities.
• Provides training for staff within and outside the department or division related to functional areas.
• Leads, coaches, and evaluates the performance of direct reports, fostering professional growth and accountability.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• 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.)

• Strong leadership and strategic planning skills with a proven ability to manage complex initiatives.

• Exceptional communication skills and executive presence for engaging diverse stakeholders.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while maintaining strategic focus and operational excellence

• Comfortable with change and associated ambiguity

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Masters degree

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Experience in data-driven decision-making, CRM systems, and analytics.

• Demonstrates an entrepreneurial spirit by taking initiative, identifying opportunities, and driving innovative solutions.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $140,000-$150,000 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.

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.