Alumni Specialist, Cato Institute

Cato Institute•Washington, DC

4d•$70,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Cato Institute is seeking an Educational Programs Alumni Specialist to join an educational programs team dedicated to investing in future generations through student engagement and alumni relations. The Educational Programs Alumni Specialist will support alumni engagement efforts across Cato’s educational initiatives and help strengthen lasting relationships with an expanding network of students, alumni, and program participants. The Educational Programs Alumni Specialist will lead and support alumni communications, portfolio and data management, and engagement initiatives across Cato’s educational programs. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to mission-driven educational programming while helping expand and sustain a dynamic and engaged alumni community. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic about supporting initiatives that deepen long-term alumni engagement while also cultivating the next generation of professionals aligned with Cato’s principles and values. This role is ideal for a highly motivated, relationship-driven professional who is excited to help shape and expand Cato’s growing alumni network. The successful candidate will bring professionalism, initiative, and strong organizational skills to developing innovative engagement strategies, strengthening long-term relationships with both established alumni and emerging talent, and supporting a robust network of professionals connected to Cato’s mission and values. This is a hybrid position based in Washington, DC. The individual will be expected to work from Cato’s DC office at least two days per week.

Requirements

2 to 5 years of professional experience.
Demonstrated interest in libertarian or classical liberal ideas consistent with the Cato Institute’s mission.
Experience coordinating events, managing programs, communications, or stakeholder engagement activities.
Strong organizational and coordination skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, events, and stakeholder communications simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent project management skills, including the ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams while managing competing priorities and meeting time-sensitive deadlines.
Collaborative mindset and strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain meaningful relationships with students, alumni, partners, and colleagues.
Proficiency working with CRM platforms, databases, and analytics tools such as Salesforce to support portfolio management, data integrity efforts, outreach initiatives, and program evaluation.
Initiative and creativity in developing innovative pathways for alumni engagement, relationship-building, and long-term talent development aligned with Cato’s mission and organizational goals.

Nice To Haves

Experience in educational programs, alumni relations, or a related field preferred but not required.
Experience participating in educational program(s) at the Cato Institute preferred but not required.
Experience working with CRM and analytics tools such as Salesforce preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and support alumni engagement initiatives for educational programs, including new outreach campaigns and programming opportunities.
Collaborate with internal teams to support educational programming and alumni relations efforts.
Plan and coordinate alumni events such as networking opportunities and virtual programming from preparation through follow-up. This may include travel to and from programming.
Maintain, update, and organize alumni records and databases to ensure accurate tracking of engagement and participation.
Track alumni engagement metrics, report analytics, and manage data to support program evaluation and strategic goals.
Develop and distribute alumni communications, invitations, and outreach materials.
Build and strengthen relationships with alumni through ongoing outreach, personalized engagement, and support, encouraging participation in alumni opportunities while fostering a sustainable pipeline of future talent and long-term connections to Cato.
Manage administrative, logistical, and operational support for educational programs and special projects as needed.