Program Specialist, Alumni Affairs

Council on Foreign Relations•New York, NY

8d•$75,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Program Specialist, Alumni Affairs supports the planning and execution of programs, communications, and events that keep alumni of the Stephen M. Kellen Term Member Program and International Affairs Fellowship Program engaged with the institution and one another. Working within a small, collaborative team, the program specialist handles day-to-day operations, database management, event logistics, and member communications that strengthen CFR's alumni community over time. This position is based in CFR’s New York office at least four days per week. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are considered institutional anchor days where all staff are required to be onsite. CFR’s remote working schedule is subject to change.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in International Relations or a related field.
A minimum of four years of relevant experience in alumni relations, development, events, or a related administrative role
Proficiency with Microsoft Office
experience with a CRM or membership database (e.g., Salesforce, iMIS, or similar) is required
Self-starter with excellent planning, organizational, problem-solving, and leadership skills
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Strong research skills and excellent written and verbal communication skills, including proofreading and editing ability
Ability to work flexible hours (many events are held over breakfast or in the evening)

Nice To Haves

MA in international relations or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for alumni, communicating professionally by phone, email, and in person
Act as liaison between CFR and alumni on all event-related details including room setup, discussion format, and registration
Develop, update, and maintain accurate alumni contact records for Term Member and IAF alumni in the CRM database; research and compile participation data and report on engagement trends
Advise on the development of an online alumni directory and portal on cfr.org, accessible exclusively to program alumni
Oversee alumni dues billing process
Communicate professionally with CFR alumni, members, visitors, media, and staff; by phone, email, and in person
Coordinate semi-regular alumni events, including in-person meetings, virtual gatherings, and salon discussions; responsibilities span the full event lifecycle from drafting invitations and speaker and presider outreach to audience development, logistics oversight, and post-event follow-up including thank-you correspondence and voucher processing
Staff all alumni events and serve as operator for virtual and hybrid meetings
Perform any other duties or tasks as assigned or required