Director of Alumni Engagement and External Affairs

Art Institute of Chicago•Chicago, IL

30d

About The Position

The Director of Alumni Engagement and External Affairs leads the strategy, programs, and partnerships that strengthen SAIC’s relationship with more than 30,000 alumni worldwide. This role develops and executes a comprehensive engagement plan that deepens alumni connection to the School, enhances volunteer and philanthropic participation, and elevates the visibility of SAIC alumni within the broader arts and cultural community. The Director will also collaborate with external partners, including corporate and sponsors. The Director manages signature alumni programs, oversees alumni communications, partners closely with internal and external stakeholders, and plays a key role in identifying and cultivating alumni donor prospects. This position supervises the Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and reports directly to the VP of Advancement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
6+ years of progressive experience in alumni relations, advancement, donor engagement, or related experience.
Experience in higher education or the arts strongly preferred.
Demonstrated success building engagement strategies and managing programs at scale.
Strong leadership skills with experience with project management.
Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building abilities.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, think strategically, and execute with strong attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

A sense of humor is a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a multi-year alumni engagement strategy aligned with SAIC’s strategic priorities.
Expand alumni touchpoints, including regional clubs, affinity groups, and engagement initiatives.
Create and lead special initiatives and curated alumni gatherings.
Manage and mentor the Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement.
Recruit, train, and support alumni volunteers, regional leaders, and event hosts.
Foster a culture of collaboration, belonging, creativity, and service within the Office of Advancement.
Partner with the Director of Annual Giving to design targeted fundraising campaigns for alumni across class years, affinities, and geographies.
Maintain a small portfolio of alumni prospects, cultivating and soliciting annual leadership gifts.
Work with major gift officers to identify alumni who may be future major donor prospects or connectors in their networks.
Oversee planning and execution of alumni events—regional programs, on-campus events, and virtual engagement.
Lead Alumni Weekend, reunion events, and industry-specific gatherings.
Manage in coordination with colleagues - alumni digital content, email communications, newsletters, and social media partnerships.
Ensure alumni benefits are desirable, visible and well-utilized.
Collaborate with Admissions, Career Services, and Academic Affairs to integrate alumni into student recruitment, career mentorship, and classroom experiences.
Partner with Marketing and Communications to highlight alumni success and elevate the SAIC brand.
Work with museum staff to expand opportunities that include or feature alumni.
Serve as SAIC’s domestic liaison to international alumni groups and support cross-promotion of global initiatives.
Track and report on engagement KPIs, volunteer participation, event analytics, and campaign results.
Work with Advancement Services to leverage CRM tools for segmentation, analysis, and outreach.
Establish annual engagement and fundraising benchmarks for alumni participation.