Senior Director, Alumni Engagement

The University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 12,000 - 19,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of British Columbia seeks a Senior Director of Alumni Engagement to lead strategy for a global alumni program, working with senior leadership to grow engagement, revenue, and impact. The role steers marquee programs, career initiatives, and alumni relations across campuses.

The successful candidate will require extensive fundraising and alumni engagement experience, a strong leadership track record, and a deep commitment to equity and inclusion in a large research university

Qualifications

• Minimum of eight years of related experience in fundraising, alumni engagement, or advancement work.
• Experience leading and developing career and professional-level employees is required.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in work and teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy for local, regional and global alumni engagement initiatives.
• Develop and manage the alumni engagement budget and revenue growth plans.
• Advise senior administration on opportunities and best practices.
• Collaborate with Faculties, departments, and external partners across campuses.
• Oversee major alumni programs, events, and career programming initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Fundraising

Education

University degree in a relevant discipline

Job description

Job Title: Senior Director, Alumni Engagement

Staff - Non Union Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Development & Alumni Engagement, Level F

Compensation Range $12,418.42 - $18,613.67 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date September 14, 2026. Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date. Job End Date Ongoing. This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The Senior Director, Alumni Engagement works closely with the Associate Vice President/Executive Director and as an integral part of the alumni UBC Leadership Team to develop and direct long-term University-wide strategies for a comprehensive, innovative, and highly-effective global alumni engagement program. With the goal of engaging 50% of our 450,000, and growing, alumni body; doubling the number of alumni engaged and enhancing the Alumni Associations capacity via increased revenue production. The Senior Director role will provide leadership across our marquee programs, student engagement initiatives, young alumni outreach, career programming, and affinity groups; actively supporting and contributing to the development, cultivation and growth of a philanthropy pipeline. Areas of responsibility include leading the strategy for local, regional, and global alumni engagement; creating and executing a strategy to deepen engagement enhancing opportunities for alumni to contribute to UBC and key alumni programs; advising and providing recommendations to senior administration and the President’s office on strategic opportunities and best practices; deepening the relationships and collaborative efforts with senior leadership in Faculties and Departments across both campuses, colleagues in the Development and Alumni Engagement portfolio, Board of Directors, external stakeholders, and with lead volunteers. This position plays a key role in the successful implementation of the new alumni UBC Strategic Plan and the Alumni Engagement Campaign, monitoring overall organizational performance towards key performance indicators as well as translating strategic priorities into tactical activities and success for team members.

Work Performed

• · Provides leadership, guidance, and direction across a wide range of areas including policy setting and strategy development and implementation relating to staff, operations, budgets, organizational development, marketing, Board, governance, university relations, and strategic alliances for the whole of the enterprise
• · Providing strategic direction, leadership, preparation, and administration of the alumni UBC budget to ensure fiscal integrity, responsibility, and operational best practices; supporting plans to successfully grow revenue
• · Advocating for and nurturing relationships between alumni, alumni UBC, the Development Office, DAE Services, President’s Office, and other key partners across both campuses and external to the University
• · Growing university-wide alumni engagement efforts and creating strategic alignment with constituent-based programs and initiatives creating enhanced experiential learning opportunities by leading the career programs including: career support, summer internships, and returning alumni for career growth and advancement
• · Developing the strategy to ensure a culture of engagement among students and young alumni
• · Provides oversight of the largest alumni programs including: 12,000 + graduates twice a year, homecoming with participation rates of 20,000+ individuals, ongoing alumni webinar series with participation rates in the high thousands, and strategizes and develops with various faculties, University leadership, and ceremonies teams to align programs with University’s long-term strategy.
• · Leads strategic direction, planning, and implementation of UBC’s next imagination strategy, creating flexibility for learners and reimagining extended learning within the University context and alumni UBC’s partnership and participation
• · Understanding and using data as well as analyzing and understanding trends and best practices to develop strategies. Recalibrating plans to align with this information to ensure alumni and student engagement goals are met and achieve maximum impact and cost-effectiveness
• · Leads and formulates the strategy for alumni engagement including programming, volunteer management, and human resources to deliver an outstanding stakeholder experience
• · Providing leadership to the Board and committees of the Board; supporting and working with lead volunteers on regional leadership committees and the alumni UBC Advisory Council
• · Representing UBC and alumni UBC to peer institutions, community organizations, senior level alumni volunteers, and colleagues across campus. This involves public speaking, travel, and interaction with senior faculty, staff, alumni volunteers, administrators, and student leaders
• · Cogently reviewing team effectiveness to identify need for resources in the context of the larger alumni engagement needs, and monitoring return on investment in terms of progress toward goals
• · Providing leadership and ensuring systems (technology, financial, management, etc.) are in place to ensure success
• · Planning, prioritizing and managing the work of direct reports, providing strategic and tactical advice, guidance and coaching to contribute to ensure effective program delivery
• · Taking on special management projects as needs arise
• · Remaining current with best practices in post-secondary education advancement
• · Performing other duties as required in support of alumni UBC and the AVP/ED

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The position is considered high profile and a critical point of contact for alumni, corporate leaders, donors, community leaders, staff, volunteers and strategic partners, as well as for the DAE executive team and key UBC administration as it relates to alumni activities. The Senior Director is expected to make decisions and recommendations impacting the University s most senior relationships in the community. Incorrect interpretation or communication of university positions, policy and procedures or lack of tact, diplomacy or sensitivity in dealing with these alumni and senior administrators could potentially result in damaged relationships and credibility for alumni UBC, Development and Alumni Engagement, the President’s Office and the University as a whole, leading to potential financial, reputational, and political implications. This position is also critical in advising and ensuring proper interpretation of alumni attitudes, feelings and interests to senior decision-makers and development colleagues. As Senior Director, the incumbent is responsible for the management of highly sensitive relationships. If inappropriate advice, incorrect interpretation or improper analysis were conveyed to these alumni or senior university administrators, considerable financial, political and reputational resources could be incorrectly solicited or administered.

Supervision Received

The incumbent works independently according to broad objectives and with discretion relating to policy administration and interpretation, and administrative responsibilities. Work is reviewed based on objectives achieved, and effectiveness of results attained.

Supervision Given

The Senior Director, Alumni Engagement plans and directs work of alumni engagement teams including senior level employees. Establishes objectives and reviews and evaluates work for attainment of objectives and performance in managerial areas. Also has significant responsibility for managing senior volunteer leaders. Responsible for the overall leadership of alumni programs and strategy. - Authority to hire, discipline, and terminate staff. - Reviews performance of subordinates and allocates work. Trains subordinates and resolves human resources issues.

Minimum Qualifications

• - University degree in a relevant discipline.
• - Minimum of eight years of related job experience including five years of experience in including fund-raising, alumni engagement, advancement experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• - Minimum of ten years of related experience, of which eight years of experience leading and developing career and professional level employees, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• - Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• - Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in a senior fundraising position, 5 years leading and developing career and professional-level employees or the equivalent combination of education and experience. Minimum of 10 years of related experience including experience in volunteer management, major-gift fundraising and strategy development, significant alumni relations/advancement experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience. Minimum 10 years of experience at a post-secondary education institution, including significant alumni relations/advancement experience. Excellent attention to detail. Ability to manage multiple priorities, complex tasks, and to meet deadlines. High-level understanding of university advancement issues and environment. UBC experience a plus. Proven leadership abilities in complex, decentralized and multi-stakeholder environments. Experience in program development, delivery, and management. Experience in budget development and control required. Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with a strong bias for creating win/win solutions. Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, must be both a skilled communicator and a persuader. Must be a strategic and creative thinker and problem-solver, with an orientation towards customer service. High level of comfort with consultative processes but persuasive and able to move to consensus quickly, agile in a team environment and in working with a wide range of people. Excellent organizational skills, the ability to effectively manage time and to work well under pressure.

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally. A large part of what makes us unique is the community of engaged students, faculty, and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world. Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada, UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential. New ideas, changing infrastructure, innovative technology, and fresh approaches are opening up possibilities for the future of research, teaching, and work. Are you ready to embrace the future together?

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fuses the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at [e-mail].