Alumni Engagement Lead — Digital Platform & Programs

Penn State University; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Penn State University in State College, PA invites applications for the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations. You will collaborate with the Development and Alumni Relations Smeal team, major gift officers, faculty, staff, and alumni to build engaging programs that connect generations and advance the college’s mission.

You will lead the digital alumni engagement platform, design events and webinars, and measure outcomes to continuously improve impact.

Qualifications

• Ability to build and sustain meaningful relationships with alumni, volunteers, donors, and campus partners.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to create an inclusive and respectful environment for all students and colleagues.
• Willingness to travel within State College and work evenings/weekends as needed.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Collaborative, solutions‑oriented mindset across departments.
• Initiative and proactive approach to identifying opportunities that strengthen alumni engagement.
• Positive, adaptable approach to work and professionalism.
• Proven ability to work independently and in a team.
• Commitment to professional development and mentorship.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the team on alumni engagement strategies, including events, volunteer opportunities, communications, and outreach initiatives to foster a sense of community.
• Articulate Penn State's needs, ambitions, and values through excellent informal and formal communications.
• Serve as the primary administrator and strategic lead for Smeal's digital alumni engagement platform.
• Develop and execute strategies to grow platform participation and encourage meaningful connections among alumni, students, and other members of the Smeal community.
• Create and manage engagement campaigns, affinity groups, networking opportunities, and content that drives ongoing participation.
• Monitor platform analytics and user engagement metrics to inform strategy and continuous improvement.
• Create opportunities for alumni networking, volunteerism, professional development, and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.
• Develop and coordinate webinars, panel discussions, workshops, and other lifelong learning initiatives, partnering with alumni volunteers, faculty, college leadership, and external partners to identify timely topics, engaging speakers, and meaningful opportunities for alumni engagement.
• Monitor emerging industry and workforce trends to inform program development and ensure relevance to alumni audiences.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and recommend enhancements based on participation data, feedback, and engagement outcomes.
• Partner with Smeal offices, centers, institutes, and academic departments to connect alumni with thought leadership, professional practice, and industry engagement opportunities.
• Partner with marketing and communications to showcase alumni success stories that strengthen alumni affinity and elevate the college's brand.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support alumni engagement efforts.

Skills

Relationship building

Interpersonal communication

Organization & project mgmt

Cross-department collaboration

Strategic thinking

Flexibility / resilience

Self-motivation

Job description

Penn State University in State College, PA invites applications for the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations. You will collaborate with the Development and Alumni Relations Smeal team, major gift officers, faculty, staff, and alumni to build engaging programs that connect generations and advance the college’s mission.

You will lead the digital alumni engagement platform, design events and webinars, and measure outcomes to continuously improve impact.