Sr Associate Director, Alumni Engagement - Career and Mentorship (Hybrid)

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

Please note: The target budgeted salary for this position is $88,000 to $94,000 annually. 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

The Senior Associate Director of Alumni Engagement is responsible for creating meaningful ways for alumni and students to connect with one another through career and industry-focused opportunities, supporting them throughout their professional journey. This position is tasked with developing and managing programs and events tailored to enhance the professional development of Northwestern alumni and students. Responsibilities will include developing, launching, and supporting industry-based alumni clubs; expanding the mentor circles program; managing the affinity professional development programs; and leading additional in-person alumni career programming.

This position reports to the Director of Alumni Engagement, Career & Mentorship. Some domestic travel will be required to attend meetings and staff events, with some events occurring outside traditional business hours, including evenings and weekends. Eligible for hybrid work arrangement with at least three days in the office.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning:

• Develops & implements strategic plans focused on career engagement and participation of alumni and students.
• 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.
• Key partnerships and work involved below include Colleagues within the NAA and ARD, Northwestern Career Advancement, Engineering Career Development, Kellogg, Pritzker, Feinberg, and more.

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 career program volunteers, involvement, and responsibilities and introduces strategies to deepen broader alumni volunteerism, providing more opportunities for alumni to become involved.
• Oversees development & implementation of some 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 occasional travel throughout the region or country.

Events:

• Oversees development & management of events & programs designed to support alumni and students throughout their careers.
• Plans and executes events, ensuring that overall goals & objectives are attained.
• Works directly with volunteers to ensure that programmatic and individual needs are met.
• Leads marketing efforts for in-person career programming and other events within their portfolio to increase alumni engagement.

Administration:

• Manages activities related to programs &/or events.
• 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 alumni, volunteers, & 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: (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.)

• 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

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Familiarity with career or talent development programming or coaching.

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.