Associate Director for Regional Engagement

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

For over 160 years, the University of Washington has been a hub for learning, innovation, problem solving and community building. Supporting this legacy and important public mission—with the goal of making the UW the world’s greatest public university, as measured by positive impact—guides everything we do in University Advancement . Bringing together development; alumni and stakeholder engagement; marketing and communications; and advancement operations, we advance the UW’s impact by developing meaningful connections that foster pride, advocacy and philanthropic support. Alumni and Stakeholder Engagement (ASE), working in collaborative partnerships with the UW Alumni Association , UW Retirement Association and the University Book Store , fulfills its mission to advance higher education in the state of Washington and to support the UW through impactful, broad-based engagement with alumni, students, retirees and friends of the University. This starts with creating a culture of belonging within our organization that values the diverse experiences and expertise of our team members, allowing everyone to thrive and to contribute their unique talents as we strive to achieve our shared goals. The Alumni & Stakeholder Engagement team has an exciting opening for an Associate Director for Regional Engagement. This is a full-time permanent position. The Associate Director for Regional Engagement manages an integrated and comprehensive engagement program for UW alumni and friends, primarily residing outside Puget Sound. As a member of University Advancement’s ASE organization and reporting to the Senior Director of Membership & Engagement Strategy, this position uses independent knowledge and judgement to design, implement and evaluate programs that engage UW alumni and stakeholder populations in identified and strategic regional markets within the US. These programs are created to deepen affinity, foster a sense of belonging, increase engagement of alumni, volunteers, students, donors, parents and friends of the University of Washington and nurture lifelong relationships with the University that lead to measurable outcomes and impact.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and four (4) years of experience in development, alumni relations, community engagement, volunteer management, event planning, public relations, project management or related field.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

Nice To Haves

Strong proficiency with PC systems and Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint to produce reports, spreadsheets, correspondence, forms and other program materials.
Demonstrated experience supervising and managing volunteers, including strategies for training, communication, retention and clear expectation‑setting.
Experience working effectively with high‑level administrators, corporate leaders and other professional stakeholders.
Background in membership‑based organizations and an understanding of alumni relations, development, or advancement principles.
Ability to lift 20 pounds regularly and up to 40 pounds occasionally for event setup and tear down.
Hybrid-work schedule with four days in the office and one day eligible for telework.
Ability to work evening and weekend hours, periodically on short or limited notice.
Ability to travel out-of-state up to 10 times per year for events scheduled on evenings and weekends.
A valid Washington State driver’s license is required to operate the UW Alumni Association van.
The candidate selected must have personal transportation and be willing to travel when necessary.
Cubicle/open workspace environment that may result in higher noise levels and visual distractions.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Volunteer Management Build and sustain strong volunteer relationships to deliver high‑impact, volunteer‑led engagement programs nationwide.
Lead and support a network of 40–50 volunteer leaders across 15–20 regions, ensuring effective onboarding, guidance, accountability and long‑term success.
Build and improve upon core resources for volunteers, such as the volunteer role description, code of conduct, website and appropriate platforms and develop procedures to maximize volunteer effectiveness and hold volunteers accountable to expectations.
Partner closely with ASE’s engagement and marketing directors to create strategies for integrated work, promotional programs, marketing campaigns and partnerships in appropriate ASE programs.
Collaborate with campus and community partners to co-develop and/or cross-promote faculty, student, or alumni engagement in the major regional markets.
Program Development, Implementation and Management Develop and implement the annual Regional Engagement plan, including both staff‑led and volunteer‑driven programs that expand engagement and attract diverse alumni and volunteer participation across major regions.
Lead day‑to‑day operations for Regional Engagement, managing inquiries, analyzing regional data and maintaining consistent communication with volunteers and alumni.
Plan and deliver multiple high‑quality events each year in partnership with vendors and campus units, ensuring strong UW‑focused content in key markets.
Evaluate regional events and develop systems to gather, assess and report attendee feedback to inform continuous improvement.
Independently manage individual program and operational budgets (up to$25,000) and co‑manage the larger Regional Engagement events budget (~$100K).
Administer the overall Regional Engagement budget in alignment with University and organizational policies, contributing to annual and long‑term program planning.
Conduct research and analysis of regional alumni data to guide future program decisions, identify prospective volunteers and determine emerging priority markets.
Other duties as assigned