Assistant Director, Alumni Affinity Programs, Advancement

Boston University•Boston, MA

18h

About The Position

Boston University Advancement is expanding its collaborative, matrixed organization to support philanthropic growth, stronger relationships with alumni and donors, and institutional priorities. The Assistant Director, Alumni Affinity Programs reports to the Director of Alumni Affinity Programs and develops and implements programs that engage undergraduate students through the Student Alumni Association (SAA) and manages the Boston University Young Alumni Council (BUYAC), whose members are graduates from the last twenty years. The Assistant Director serves as a primary liaison between BU Advancement and both groups. The role develops programs and networking opportunities that connect current students and alumni across academic disciplines and interests, including mentorship and career-development initiatives. It uses data-informed assessment to evaluate program effectiveness and improve future offerings, and partners with other Advancement units, including Annual Giving and Regional Networks, as well as offices across campus. The position requires strong organization and communication, volunteer engagement, budget oversight, and a commitment to inclusive communities. Evening and weekend work and travel may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree.
Three to five years of relevant professional experience.
Experience managing, engaging, or supporting volunteers.
Experience planning and executing programs, events, or engagement initiatives.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate with a wide range of audiences.
Strong organizational and project-management skills, including managing calendars, meetings, events, lists, follow-up, and multiple priorities.
Analytical and problem-solving skills, including compiling information, assessing program effectiveness, and supporting data-informed decisions.
Strong planning and decision-making skills, attention to detail, and follow-through.
Ability to build effective working relationships across departments and organizational levels.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
Ability to motivate, train, and support volunteers and colleagues.
Ability to manage and monitor program budgets.
Commitment to building inclusive communities and creating programs that engage people across academic disciplines, interests, and backgrounds.
Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends and travel as required.
Commitment to teamwork, transparency, mutual respect, diversity, equity and inclusion, integrity, strategic thinking, curiosity, continuous improvement, and shared appreciation for meaningful work.

Nice To Haves

Professional experience in advancement, alumni relations, higher education, student engagement, or a related field.
Experience working with undergraduate students, recent graduates, or young alumni.
Experience managing volunteer councils, advisory groups, student organizations, or affinity-based programs.
Experience developing mentorship, networking, career-development, or philanthropic engagement opportunities.
Experience partnering across multiple departments or functional areas to deliver programs.

Responsibilities

Engage undergraduate student leaders across campus through the Student Alumni Association, strengthening student-alumni connections and the importance of engagement and philanthropy.
Work with student volunteers to plan programs for students and opportunities for students and alumni to engage with one another.
Ensure SAA participation at campus events including orientation, Alumni Weekend, Family Weekend, and Commencement.
Work with the Director of Alumni Affinity Programs to plan continued engagement with volunteers after they graduate.
Manage the Boston University Young Alumni Council and support its goal of increasing engagement opportunities for young alumni.
Ensure BUYAC participation at Alumni Weekend and Commencement, and develop regional engagement strategy with the Alumni Networks team.
Partner with the Boston University Alumni Council to create networking opportunities.
Develop plans for continued engagement after a BUYAC volunteer's term ends.
Recruit and retain student and alumni volunteers for SAA and BUYAC.
Work with the Director of Alumni Affinity Programs to define volunteer roles, descriptions, and best practices.
Collaborate with Alumni Relations colleagues on partnership opportunities.
Create agendas and content and schedule regular meetings with SAA and BUYAC members.
Work with Advancement colleagues to create a philanthropy pipeline when appropriate.
Plan, build, and execute annual programming for SAA and BUYAC with the Director of Alumni Affinity Programs.
Maintain and execute calendars of meetings and events; manage lists; compile data and reports; and conduct proactive follow-up and outreach.
Partner with Marketing and Communications to market programs.
Oversee SAA and BUYAC budgets and website content.
Work with campus offices, including the Center for Career Development, First Gen, and Student Affairs, to deliver relevant programs for BU students and young alumni.
Evaluate annual programming with the Director of Alumni Affinity Programs to assess value and outcomes and determine next steps.
Develop programs and networking opportunities that strengthen student-alumni connections, mentorship, and career development.
Use data-driven assessment tools to measure program effectiveness and improve future offerings.
Partner with other Advancement units, including Annual Giving and Regional Networks, to execute programs.