Assistant Director - Alumni Engagement & Volunteer Programs

Union College • Schenectady, NY

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement & Volunteer Programs is responsible for creating, executing, and maintaining programs and strategies that enhance alumni connection to the College through regional outreach, affinity groups, volunteer participation, and year-round opportunities for meaningful involvement. This role helps build lifelong relationships between alumni and the College, fosters community, and supports a culture of connection, service, and institutional pride. The Assistant Director collaborates with campus partners and College Relations colleagues to create opportunities that deepen alumni affinity and promote ongoing involvement with the College. This position provides leadership for regional and affinity engagement efforts, alumni volunteer recruitment and stewardship, and selected year-round alumni programs. The role also serves as a backup to the Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement for Alumni Council operations and volunteer continuity, helping to maintain strong communication, engagement, and follow-through across key volunteer structures. A collaborative and relationship-oriented professional, the Assistant Director must effectively manage multiple priorities, foster meaningful relationships with constituents, and turn engagement into lasting alumni connections. This role collaborates with Annual Giving and other College Relations colleagues to support broader institutional objectives, while Annual Giving maintains primary responsibility for solicitation strategies, reunion giving, volunteer fundraising efforts, and the annual fund performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 2–3 years of professional experience in alumni relations, advancement, higher education, volunteer management, event/program management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage engagement programs and events from concept through execution and assessment.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with alumni, volunteers, colleagues, campus partners, and other constituents.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, take initiative, solve problems independently, and work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating welcoming and inclusive engagement opportunities for alumni from a wide range of backgrounds, generations, affinities, and geographic regions.
• Ability and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends and travel as required for programs and events.

Nice To Haves

• Experience recruiting, managing, motivating, and stewarding volunteers preferred.
• Experience with databases, CRM systems, event-management platforms, email marketing tools, and Microsoft Office/Google Workspace preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive alumni engagement plan for regional and affinity-based programs that enhances alumni connections to the College and aligns with institutional priorities.
• Plan, execute, and assess regional alumni events and affinity-based engagement activities to boost participation, build relationships, and create meaningful experiences for constituents.
• Recruit, onboard, train, support, and steward alumni volunteers in collaboration with the Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement and other College Relations team members.
• Develop and sustain effective volunteer engagement strategies, including setting clear expectations, establishing communication plans, implementing recognition efforts, and providing ongoing stewardship.
• Develop and oversee year-round alumni programs and initiatives that promote a sense of belonging, encourage participation, and support lifelong engagement beyond major signature weekends.
• Assist in the reunion committee engagement efforts alongside the Associate Director and the larger Alumni and Parent Engagement team, focusing on volunteer communication, participation, and the overall experience of constituents.
• Assist the Director with Alumni Council operations, volunteer continuity, and related communications as needed.
• Work with Advancement Communications and other campus partners to promote alumni engagement opportunities using clear, consistent, and audience-appropriate messaging.
• Collaborate with the Office of Annual Giving, Major Gifts, and other College Relations colleagues to identify highly engaged alumni and volunteers for deeper institutional involvement and philanthropic pipeline growth, while primarily focusing on engagement instead of fundraising strategy.
• Track engagement, volunteer efforts, and program results; develop metrics and generate reports to evaluate effectiveness and find areas for growth and improvement.
• Prompt appropriate colleagues to ensure timely follow-up on events and programs, including tracking attendance, coding constituents, stewardship communication, and internal reporting.
• Participate in and support other events and initiatives organized by the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement, including occasional travel and work during evenings and weekends.

Benefits

• Generous Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time
• Winter Recess Break in Addition to Paid Holidays (in accordance with policy)
• Healthcare: Medical (PPO & HDHP), Dental, and Vision Insurance (Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts)
• Free On-Campus Fitness Facility Access and Discounts for On-Campus Wellness Programs
• Pre and Post Tax participation in a 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Salary Continuation Program in the event of Disability
• Tuition Exchange

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level