Program Manager, University Alumni Engagement

University of Denver•Denver, CO

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Denver (DU) is seeking a Program Manager to provide critical operational, logistical, and administrative support to the University Alumni Engagement team. This role supports the assistant vice chancellor, multiple directors, and various programs, including signature events like the DU Alumni Council, Distinguished Alumni Awards, Homecoming, regional engagement, affinity networks, volunteer initiatives, and revenue-generating programs such as alumni travel and insurance. The Program Manager will serve as a central point of coordination for complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives, managing logistics, communications, data tracking, purchasing, vendor relationships, daily operations, and student supervision. This role is crucial for ensuring continuity and high-quality program execution, functioning as an operational backbone for the department. Success in this role requires strong judgment, independence, and the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple functional areas.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
4 years of professional experience, including 2 years of directly related professional experience.
Experience supervising, managing, mentoring, or advising volunteers or employees.
Exceptional attention to detail and strong commitment to quality.
Advanced interpersonal and communication skills, including clear, professional written and verbal communication.
Strong customer service orientation and sound judgment.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, adapt to changing needs, and meet deadlines.
Ability to work independently with a high degree of accountability, while also collaborating effectively.
Demonstrated initiative and problem-solving skills.
Strong organizational and project coordination skills.
Comfort working with data, systems, and vendors.
Ability to exercise discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism while managing sensitive information, budgets, and institutional relationships.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education or a similarly complex nonprofit environment.

Responsibilities

Support the AVC in managing logistics for the DU Alumni Council, including meetings, onboarding, and nomination cycles.
Coordinate logistics for a wide range of programs such as Homecoming, reunions, volunteer engagement, regional, affinity, and Commencement experiences.
Provide operational and logistical support for the alumni travel and alumni insurance programs, including liaising with vendors, tracking commissions, and managing data.
Coordinate additional elements for the alumni travel program, including managing traveler rosters and liaising with travelers.
Recruit, hire, train, supervise, evaluate, and mentor student employees, managing their schedules, payroll, and tasks.
Oversee and serve as backup for student-managed responsibilities, including alumni phone lines, email inboxes, data entry, and special projects.
Maintain and document procedures, workflows, and training materials to ensure continuity.
Oversee stock of branded giveaway items, including ordering, shipping, inventory management, budget adherence, and distribution.
Support team budget management, including tracking expenses, payments, invoices, and related documentation.
Oversee updates to alumni web pages, phone line, and email box, as well as internal toolkits.
Handle complex or escalated alumni inquiries and support daily operational needs of the Alumni office.