Executive Director, Notre Dame Alumni Association

University of Notre Dame•Notre Dame, IN

About The Position

The Executive Director of the Notre Dame Alumni Association and Associate Vice President for University Relations provides strategic leadership for Notre Dame’s lifelong engagement with alumni, parents, families, and friends around the world. Reporting to the Vice President for University Relations, the Executive Director is the University’s senior leader for alumni engagement and a highly visible ambassador and spokesperson for Notre Dame. The role leads the Alumni Association team and a broad network of volunteer leaders, building connections that strengthen the Notre Dame community and advance the University’s Catholic mission. The Executive Director sets the vision and long-term strategy for alumni engagement, adapts programs to the needs of alumni across generations and geographies, and uses data, technology, research, and feedback to guide priorities and resources. The role develops and inspires the Alumni Association team, partners closely with the Alumni Association Board of Directors and volunteer leaders, and strengthens lifelong alumni relationships through faith, service, learning, career development, student engagement, fellowship, travel, athletics, and other University connections. As a senior University representative, the Executive Director communicates Notre Dame’s mission, priorities, opportunities, and challenges, and represents the University at alumni gatherings and other events. The position also requires navigating complex institutional and public issues with judgment and diplomacy, anticipating issues affecting alumni relationships or the University’s reputation, and working with University leadership and communications colleagues. Significant travel and frequent evening and weekend commitments are required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Significant progressively responsible leadership experience, preferably in alumni relations, advancement, higher education, nonprofit leadership, external relations, constituent engagement, or another highly relational organization.
Demonstrated experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
Significant experience working with boards, volunteer leaders, or other influential external constituencies.
Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with people representing a wide range of experiences, perspectives, generations, and backgrounds.
Strong strategic thinking and organizational leadership capabilities, including experience using data and insights to guide priorities and resource allocation.
Exceptional judgment, discretion, integrity, and emotional intelligence.
Ability and enthusiasm for extensive travel and frequent evening and weekend responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree.
Senior leadership experience within a complex, mission-driven institution.
Experience in higher education, advancement, alumni engagement, volunteer management, or a similarly relationship-intensive environment.
Demonstrated understanding of and appreciation for the mission, traditions, culture, and global community of the University of Notre Dame.
Experience engaging geographically dispersed constituencies and leading large-scale volunteer networks.
Familiarity with the opportunities and challenges facing contemporary higher education and alumni engagement.

Responsibilities

Establish a compelling vision and long-term strategy for alumni engagement aligned with University and University Relations priorities and mission.
Anticipate changing alumni needs and evolve programs and engagement strategies across generations, geographies, backgrounds, and life stages.
Use data, technology, research, and alumni feedback to evaluate impact, set priorities, allocate resources, and identify engagement opportunities.
Serve on the University Relations leadership team and advise the Vice President for University Relations and other University leaders.
Recruit, develop, inspire, and retain the Alumni Association team, fostering collaboration, accountability, innovation, service, and care.
Set clear expectations, empower organizational leaders, and align structures, talent, resources, and programs with strategic priorities.
Develop future leaders and provide professional growth and succession opportunities.
Partner with the Alumni Association Board of Directors and its officers and volunteer leaders to strengthen alumni engagement.
Inspire, equip, and steward club, class, affinity, professional, and other volunteer leaders, ensuring they understand University priorities and can represent Notre Dame effectively.
Strengthen lifelong alumni relationships through opportunities for faith, service, learning, career and professional development, student engagement, fellowship, travel, athletics, and University connection.
Lead major alumni experiences and traditions, including Reunion, football weekends, club and class engagement, alumni travel, and other signature programs.
Deepen alumni engagement across generations and around the world, enabling alumni to receive value from and contribute to the Notre Dame community.
Partner with colleges and schools, Athletics, Student Affairs, Mission Engagement and Church Affairs, and other University units to connect alumni with Notre Dame’s broader life and mission.
Represent Notre Dame to alumni, parents, friends, volunteers, and communities around the world; communicate the University’s mission and priorities with authenticity and clarity.
Represent Notre Dame at alumni gatherings, University and athletic events, celebrations, memorials, and other occasions requiring senior University presence.
Build trusted relationships across a broad and diverse Notre Dame community, exercising interpersonal judgment and discretion.
Navigate complex cultural, social, institutional, and public issues with wisdom, diplomacy, courage, and sound judgment.
Anticipate issues affecting alumni relationships or the University’s reputation and partner with University leadership and communications colleagues as appropriate.
Model civil dialogue, intellectual openness, respect, and a commitment to sustaining relationships amid disagreement.