Director, Badger Founders Network

Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association•Madison, WI

11h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Badger Founders Network, leads the development and growth of a global community of UW–Madison alumni founders, entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and startup leaders. The role creates and executes a comprehensive strategy to identify and engage alumni, foster meaningful connections, and strengthen the university’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. The Director works across the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) and in close partnership with the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub, campus colleagues, volunteers, and external stakeholders to build scalable programs, experiences, communications, and communities in Madison and key markets nationwide. Through relationship management, constituent data, technology, events, and volunteer leadership, the Director expands the network, deepens alumni connections to UW–Madison, and creates opportunities for members to contribute their expertise, leadership, and support to university entrepreneurship efforts. This is a hybrid position requiring weekly work at the Madison, Wisconsin office. The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is a private, nonprofit corporation that encourages individuals and organizations to make gifts to the university and connect with UW. WFAA provides engagement opportunities that link UW–Madison alumni to one another and their alma mater. The organization values diversity and inclusion and seeks to create an environment in which staff members and constituents feel respected and have opportunities to thrive.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
At least 7 years of professional experience in business development, entrepreneurship, industry or community relations, higher education, alumni relations, constituent engagement, entrepreneurship programming, community development, advancement, marketing, or a related area.
Demonstrated success building and sustaining professional, affinity-based, or entrepreneurial communities or networks.
Experience cultivating positive relationships with constituents and volunteers from varied backgrounds, interests, and experience levels.
Experience using Salesforce or similar CRM platforms for relationship management, constituent engagement, segmentation, and reporting.
Ability to analyze constituent data and translate insights into actionable engagement strategies.
Ability to meet travel requirements of approximately 25% and work occasional evenings and weekends.
Excellent analytical, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience within entrepreneurship ecosystems, startup communities, innovation organizations, venture capital environments, accelerators, or incubators.
Experience leading alumni affinity groups, professional networks, membership organizations, or community-building initiatives across multiple geographic regions.
Experience with marketing automation platforms, engagement campaigns, and audience segmentation strategies.
Experience managing volunteer leadership programs.
Demonstrated ability to leverage data-informed insights for strategic planning.
Experience managing multiple projects in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.

Responsibilities

Lead the strategy, launch, and growth of the Badger Founders Network as a nationally recognized community of UW–Madison alumni founders, entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation leaders.
Design and implement a scalable, sustainable operating model for growth across geographic markets and member-engagement stages.
Develop and oversee a community-based volunteer leadership structure.
Create data-informed strategies connecting founders with one another, the university, and entrepreneurial initiatives across the UW ecosystem.
Collaborate with WFAA colleagues, campus partners, and external stakeholders to plan and execute engagement initiatives in Madison and founder communities nationwide.
Establish and monitor performance indicators, including founder identification, network growth, participation, and program impact, and use results to drive improvement.
Develop expertise in entrepreneurship ecosystems, founder engagement, and alumni network development; serve as a resource for internal and external stakeholders.
Build new programs and pursue opportunities that advance network objectives using an entrepreneurial, innovative, and collaborative approach.
Represent WFAA and the Badger Founders Network at campus, alumni, entrepreneurship, and industry events, including travel as needed.
Identify, recruit, and engage alumni founders, entrepreneurs, investors, startup executives, and other entrepreneurship community members using university, industry, and alumni networks.
Promote and expand digital platforms, online communities, CRM tools, and engagement technologies to strengthen connections, share resources, and increase participation.
Cultivate relationships with alumni founders and entrepreneurship leaders and identify opportunities for deeper involvement with UW and the ecosystem.
Design and deliver high-value experiences, programs, and networking opportunities that benefit members and strengthen their connection to UW–Madison.
Respond to constituent and stakeholder needs with creative, constituent-centered solutions aligned with WFAA, the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub, and university priorities.
Use constituent insights and engagement data to inform strategy, prioritize opportunities, and strengthen member retention and growth.
Oversee founder and entrepreneurship affinity data in the CRM, including constituent identification, tagging, reporting, and data quality.
Serve as WFAA’s primary liaison with the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub to align strategies, priorities, and engagement initiatives.
Build partnerships across campus units and programs to identify founders, leverage expertise, and create engagement opportunities.
Coordinate and communicate with WFAA and campus colleagues about network activities, engagement strategies, founder identification, and entrepreneurship initiatives.
Serve as a strategic thought partner in developing, implementing, and evaluating initiatives that advance entrepreneurship and founder engagement at UW–Madison.
Collaborate with campus partners to engage, steward, and recognize founders and entrepreneurship stakeholders in support of institutional priorities and long-term relationships.
Use organizational systems, processes, and technology tools, including AI, effectively in daily work.
Use CRM database tools, including Salesforce, reporting platforms, and engagement technologies, to support network management and decision-making.
Manage program budgets, contracts, and resources in alignment with organizational priorities and stewardship practices.
Participate in team, divisional, and organizational meetings, planning activities, professional development, and training.
Respond promptly and professionally to information inquiries and provide service to alumni, volunteers, campus partners, and other stakeholders.