Director of Alumni Relations

American University•Washington, DC

3d•$90,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Alumni Relations, the Director of Alumni Relations is tasked with the strategic leadership of a critical segment of American University’s alumni engagement program. This role leads a team of three full-time employees in developing and overseeing plans for industry-based and interest-based affinity groups, recruiting and leading alumni volunteers to advance critical objectives for the benefit of AU. The Director will use a data-driven approach to build, evaluate, and refine new and existing programs, leveraging leading and trailing metrics to assess the return on investment of their team’s efforts. In order to best serve AU’s ambitious goals including the 2026 “Meet the Moment” Strategic Plan, the Director will build and cultivate cross-departmental collaborations with UA colleagues including those in alumni engagement, fundraising, and data and analytics roles, as well as cross-campus partners including the Division of Student Affairs, the Career Center, and the Office of Inclusive Excellence. The Director will ensure that alumni programs under their purview advance institutional goals and offer meaningful engagement opportunities for alumni, increasing and deepening alumni engagement for AU’s 160,000+ member alumni network.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
8 - 10 years of relevant experience.
At least eight (8) to ten (10) years of proven success in alumni, donor, or community relations within educational institutions or nonprofit organizations.
Skills for and demonstrated experience in interpersonal communication.
Capability to independently develop long-term goals and oversee various complex programs and services.
Innovative thinking skills to advance new programs address evolving needs.
Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing a variety of teams.
Ability to inspire and motivate volunteers and staff towards common goals.
Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships with a variety of groups.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
Experience in planning, organizing, and managing large-scale events.
Commitment to personal and professional growth, including inclusive excellence trends and research.
Exposure to working with fundraising teams.
Proficiency with relevant software and technology including event management tools, CRM systems, and social media platforms.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or equivalent.
10+ years of relevant experience.
The ability to travel both regionally and internationally as needed.

Responsibilities

Increase the number of alumni who actively engage by AU through their volunteerism, experiential, philanthropic, and communication activities.
Employ a data-driven approach to build, evaluate, and refine new and existing programs, leveraging leading and trailing metrics to assess the return on investment of their team’s alumni engagement efforts.
Through regular, structured engagement and a commitment to meeting the department’s shared objectives, partner with Alumni Relations colleagues to ensure that the department is working productively and efficiently to meet the university’s goal of increasing alumni engagement among AU’s 160,000+ member alumni network.
Recruit, train, and lead alumni volunteers to advance critical objectives for the benefit of AU.
Leverage low-investment, high-yield volunteer opportunities to deepen engagement for well-connected, service-minded alumni who can expand UA’s capacity to engage more of its 160,000+ member alumni network.
Develop and oversee plans, including ad hoc and standing alumni community groups, for industry-based and interest-based affinity groups as a force multiplier to advance the division’s alumni engagement goals.
Provide strategic support to the Assistant Vice President for the cultivation of AU Alumni Board members, including former members and prospective new members.
Lead a team of three employees, ensuring professional performance management by setting SMART goals, reviewing performance throughout the year, and providing consistent, objective feedback.
Proactively and responsibly manage a component of the Alumni Relations budget to meet the department and division’s objectives.
Through regular, structured engagement and a commitment to meeting the division’s shared objectives, partner with UA colleagues in fundraising and data and analytics roles to advance broader UA goals to increase fundraising at annual, major, and principal-gift levels.
Work in close partnership with UA colleagues in Donor Engagement and Advancement Communications to facilitate events and convenings and to develop marketing that advances alumni engagement goals.
Partner with AU colleagues in the Division of Student Affairs, the Career Center, and the Office of Inclusive Excellence to advance AU’s strategic planning goals including the identification of alumni mentors and internship and career opportunities for current students and young alumni.
Supervises the Associate Director, Alumni Relations and Assistant Director, Alumni Relations.