Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, Smeal College of Business
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, the Smeal Development and Alumni Relations team, the Associate Director of Alumni Relations, major gift officers, Smeal faculty and staff, University partners, and alumni communities. The Assistant Director collaborates on alumni engagement strategies and serves as the primary administrator and strategic lead for Smeal's digital alumni engagement platform. The role develops platform participation and engagement campaigns, affinity groups, networking opportunities, and content; reviews analytics to improve engagement; and creates opportunities for networking, volunteerism, professional development, and peer learning. The position also develops and coordinates lifelong-learning programming, including webinars, panel discussions, and workshops, in collaboration with alumni volunteers, faculty, college leadership, and external partners. It monitors industry and workforce trends, evaluates program effectiveness, partners with Smeal academic and other units to connect alumni with expertise and industry opportunities, and works with marketing and communications to highlight alumni success and strengthen the college's brand. Other duties may be assigned to support alumni engagement.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree and 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.
- Exemplary 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, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and events while maintaining 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 take on new opportunities and challenges professionally and enthusiastically.
- Ability to self-motivate and work independently as well as on a team.
- Commitment to professional development, learning, and being mentored.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate 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 strategies to grow platform participation and encourage connections among alumni, students, and the Smeal community.
- Create and manage engagement campaigns, affinity groups, networking opportunities, and content.
- 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 with alumni volunteers, faculty, college leadership, and external partners.
- Monitor industry and workforce trends to inform programming 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 and strengthen alumni affinity and the college's brand.
- Perform other duties as assigned to support alumni engagement efforts.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Retirement plans
- Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time
- 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible spouses and children
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
