Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, Smeal College of Business

The Pennsylvania State University•University Park, FL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Penn State is seeking an Assistant Director of Alumni Relations to support the Smeal College of Business as part of the Division of Development and Alumni Relations. The role works closely with the Director of Alumni Relations and the Smeal development and alumni relations team, including the Associate Director of Alumni Relations, major gift officers, faculty, staff, University partners, and alumni communities. The position supports alumni engagement strategies and serves as the primary administrator and strategic lead for Smeal’s digital alumni engagement platform. It develops campaigns, affinity groups, networking opportunities, and content to encourage meaningful participation and connections among alumni, students, and other members of the Smeal community. The Assistant Director also creates and coordinates lifelong-learning programs, including webinars, panel discussions, and workshops. The role works with alumni volunteers, faculty, college leadership, external partners, and Smeal offices and academic units to identify relevant topics and connect alumni with thought leadership, professional practice, and industry engagement. It monitors trends, platform and program analytics, feedback, and participation data to inform strategy and assess effectiveness. The position partners with marketing and communications to highlight alumni success and strengthen affinity for the college. The position is based at Penn State’s University Park campus in State College, Pennsylvania. Flexible work arrangements may be considered when consistent with unit needs and the essential duties of the position; remote or hybrid work is not guaranteed. Travel within State College and evening or weekend work may be required. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States; Penn State does not sponsor staff employment visas. Employment requires successful completion of background checks.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least 1 year of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated ability to build and sustain meaningful relationships with alumni, volunteers, donors, and campus partners.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to create and maintain an inclusive and respectful environment for students and colleagues.
Ability to travel within State College and work evenings and weekends as needed to fulfill job responsibilities.
Exceptional organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and events with attention to detail.
Collaborative, solutions-oriented approach and ability to work across departments, adapt to changing priorities, and contribute to a positive team culture.
Initiative, sound judgment, and a proactive approach to identifying opportunities that strengthen alumni engagement and advance the college’s mission.
Adaptability, resilience, flexibility, and willingness to embrace new opportunities and challenges with professionalism and enthusiasm.
Ability to self-motivate and work independently as well as collaboratively.
Commitment to professional development, learning, and being mentored.
Authorization to work in the United States; Penn State does not sponsor staff employment visas.
Successful completion of required background checks.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the team on alumni engagement strategies, including events, volunteer opportunities, communications, and outreach initiatives.
Communicate Penn State’s needs, ambitions, and values through informal and formal communications.
Serve as the primary administrator and strategic lead for Smeal’s digital alumni engagement platform.
Develop and execute strategies to grow platform participation and foster connections among alumni, students, and the Smeal community.
Create and manage engagement campaigns, affinity groups, networking opportunities, and content to encourage ongoing participation.
Monitor platform analytics and user engagement metrics to inform strategy and continuous improvement.
Create opportunities for alumni networking, volunteerism, professional development, and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.
Develop and coordinate webinars, panel discussions, workshops, and other lifelong-learning initiatives in partnership with alumni volunteers, faculty, college leadership, and external partners.
Identify timely program topics, engaging speakers, and meaningful opportunities for alumni engagement.
Monitor emerging industry and workforce trends to inform program development and maintain relevance to alumni audiences.
Evaluate program effectiveness and recommend enhancements based on participation data, feedback, and engagement outcomes.
Partner with Smeal offices, centers, institutes, and academic departments to connect alumni with thought leadership, professional practice, and industry engagement opportunities.
Partner with marketing and communications to showcase alumni success stories, strengthen alumni affinity, and elevate the college’s brand.
Perform other duties as assigned to support alumni engagement efforts.