Alumni Clubs Specialist

Purdue University; West Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10 paid holidays

Vacation days up to 22 per year

Retirement plans with employer match

Tuition discounts for Purdue programs

Job summary

Purdue For Life Foundation is seeking an Alumni Clubs Senior Specialist to support alumni volunteers and strengthen Purdue's nationwide club network. You will partner with university colleagues to empower leaders, expand engagement, and drive programs that connect Boilermakers from coast to coast.

The role involves managing club operations, developing leadership pipelines, and coordinating with Engagement, Marketing & Communications, Finance, and Special Events. Travel 15–30% is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, management, hospitality, organizational leadership, marketing, or related field.
• Minimum of two years’ experience in event planning, customer service, sales, communications, human resources, volunteer management, or marketing.
• Experience with Salesforce or similar customer marketing software preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support alumni volunteers and strengthen Purdue's alumni club network.
• Collaborate with Purdue For Life Foundation & university partners to empower alumni leaders.
• Develop engagement opportunities for lifelong Purdue connections.
• Travel domestically 15–30% to club regions for recruitment and events.
• Coordinate with Engagement, Marketing, Finance and other teams to align programs.

Skills

Proactive mindset

Multi-project management

Adaptability

Relationship building

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

Salesforce

Ascend CRM

Job description

Alumni Clubs Specialist

Department: Engagement

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Purdue for Life Foundation

Description

Working for the Purdue For Life Foundation offers a unique opportunity to be part of an organization dedicated to empowering Purdue University alumni and fostering a lifelong connection to the institution. By joining our team, you'll have the chance to contribute to a mission that supports educational initiatives, scholarships, and programs that positively impact the lives of Purdue students and graduates. The Foundation's commitment to education and community engagement provides a fulfilling work environment where you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and the broader community. Additionally, you'll have access to a network of passionate colleagues and the resources needed to drive positive change, making the Purdue For Life Foundation an inspiring and rewarding place to build your career. Your next giant leap starts here!

Responsibilities

The Purdue for Life Foundation is an organization that advances Purdue University by helping people who love Purdue stay connected, get involved, and give back. As the Alumni Clubs Senior Specialist, you will play a critical role in supporting alumni volunteers and strengthening Purdue's alumni club network. You will partner closely with PFLF and University colleagues to empower alumni leaders, foster meaningful connections, and expand Purdue's presence nationwide. Your work will directly contribute to building vibrant, engaged communities of Boilermakers across the country.

Alumni Club & Volunteer Engagement

• Promote the value of the Purdue Alumni Association and Alumni Clubs by helping create meaningful opportunities for lifelong connection, community, career development, and engagement.
• Recruit, onboard, train, and support the ongoing development of alumni club leaders through proactive communication, coaching, feedback, and leadership development.
• Establish and reactivate Alumni Clubs by guiding prospective and existing clubs through the process to achieve official status, while supporting volunteer recruitment, retention, and leadership succession efforts.
• Build strong relationships with club leaders, providing guidance, resources, and best practices to strengthen club engagement and effectiveness.
• Maintain accurate club and program information and support systems, processes, reporting, and documentation to promote effective and consistent club operations.
• Research and monitor alumni engagement trends, club activity, and community needs; identify opportunities and challenges and provide relevant insights, resources, best practices, and engagement recommendations.
• Represent Alumni Clubs at Purdue for Life Foundation and Purdue University events, supporting campus partnerships and alumni engagement.
• Coordinate with internal partners across Engagement, Marketing & Communications, Finance, Special Events, and other teams to support Alumni Club programs and initiatives; facilitate operational, financial, programmatic, and policy communications to promote alignment and consistency.
• Support club activities and operations in alignment with Purdue for Life policies, organizational standards, and applicable requirements.
• Travel approximately 15-30% to club regions for volunteer recruitment, training, event support, and speaking engagements.

Scholarship & Student Engagement

• Support strategic initiatives to strengthen and expand alumni club scholarship programs, increasing applications, participation, and fundraising through targeted engagement strategies.
• Support scholarship program administration, including timelines, training, review processes, award details, and coordination with students, club leaders, and the Alumni Club Specialist.
• Partner with Marketing & Communications on scholarship publicity and promotion to increase awareness and participation.
• Strengthen connections between students, young alumni, and the broader alumni network through PASE, Graduates of the Last Decade, and other engagement initiatives.

Digital & Social Engagement

• Support social media and digital engagement initiatives that increase alumni engagement across Purdue for Life platforms.
• Partner with Marketing & Communications to develop professional, visually engaging content and resources for alumni clubs across multiple platforms.
• Monitor club social media activity to identify trends, opportunities, and best practices and support adherence to Purdue for Life social media guidelines.
• Track social media performance, including reach, engagement, and follower growth, and share insights to inform content and engagement efforts.
• Provide club leaders with guidance, training, and best practices to strengthen their social media and digital engagement.
• Support digital engagement initiatives and administration of the Club Leaders Facebook group, including content and member support.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Become fluent in all engagement programs through rotation and project support (20% of time), partnering with Marketing & Communications, Finance, Special Events, and other internal teams to advance engagement initiatives.
• Support engagement activities, special projects, and organizational priorities in alignment with Purdue for Life policies, standards, and applicable requirements.
• Perform other duties and support additional projects as needed to advance Engagement and Purdue for Life priorities.

Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Proactive and self-motivated, with the initiative to identify needs, opportunities, and solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities with organization, accountability, and follow-through.
• Adaptable and effective in fast-paced, dynamic environments.
• Ability to learn and apply new technologies, systems, and processes.
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with colleagues, volunteers, alumni, and partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Customer-focused with strong responsiveness, follow-through, and attention to detail.
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Willingness to travel domestically (15-30%) and internationally as needed.

Required Education, Experience and Benefits Summary

• Bachelor's degree required in business, management, hospitality, organizational leadership, communication, marketing, or related field.
• A minimum of two years relevant experience in event planning, customer service, sales, communications, human resources, volunteer management, training or marketing required.
• Salesforce, Ascend, or other Customer Marketing Software or database management preferred.

Job Level: Professional 2

*Purdue For Life Foundation job levels and compensation ranges are independent of, and differ from, those of Purdue University.*

Benefits Summary for eligible employees:

• 10 paid holidays per year.
• Accrue up to 22 vacation days a year.
• Traditional pre-tax 403(b) and Roth retirement plans available.
• 10% employer contribution to your retirement plan and immediate vesting.
• Health Savings Account- earn up to $700 annually towards medical expenses.
• Employer funded Preventative Dental and Vision insurance.
• Tuition discounts on eligible programs at Purdue University and Purdue Global for qualified employees, spouses, and dependents.