Alumni Engagement Specialist

Society for Science; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Society for Science, based in Washington, DC, is seeking an Alumni Engagement Specialist to support the Advancement team. You will manage events, communications, and CRM data to keep Science Talent Search (STS), ISEF, and JIC/Broadcom MASTERS alumni connected and engaged.

The role emphasizes detail, service-minded execution, and collaboration with senior leadership. Hybrid in-office schedule with growth opportunities within the alumni program.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• 1–2 years of experience in alumni relations, donor or member engagement, event planning, or a related nonprofit role.
• CRM/database experience, preferably Microsoft Dynamics; Raiser’s Edge or Salesforce acceptable.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail with accurate data entry and content production.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and flag issues proactively.
• Demonstrated affinity for Society for Science’s mission.
• Ability to develop rapport with colleagues and external clients.

Responsibilities

• Support alumni engagement activities at major events by coordinating logistics and on-site VIP service.
• Coordinate logistics for National Leadership Council meetings, including scheduling and minute-taking.
• Coordinate virtual alumni programming and class-year reunions.
• Assist with newsletters, content creation, and email deployment.
• Maintain and update alumni records in CRM and run reports to support data needs.

Skills

Alumni relations

Event planning

Communication

Attention to detail

Multi-deadline management

Donor engagement

Team collaboration

Program support

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics

Raiser’s Edge

Salesforce

WordPress

Customer Insights

Customer Voice

Job description

Society for Science is dedicated to expanding scientific literacy, access to STEM education and scientific research for more than 100 years. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization, our mission promotes the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement: to inform, educate, and inspire. We are best known for our award-winning magazine, Science News, our world class science research competitions and our outreach and equity STEM Programs making sure that every young person can strive to become an engineer or scientist.

Position Overview

The Society is looking for an Alumni Engagement Specialist to support the Advancement team. The Alumni Engagement Specialist is the day-to-day engine of the Society's alumni program, supporting the Director of Alumni Relations across event logistics, communications, and CRM (Microsoft Dynamics) data so that the Society's Science Talent Search (STS), International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), and Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC) / Broadcom MASTERS alumni stay connected, informed, and engaged. This role is where the alumni program's plans become action – coordinating the events, correspondence, content, and records that keep the program running smoothly day to day.

This is a detail-oriented, service-minded position that requires strong organizational skills and the judgment to represent the Society well with alumni, donors, and senior leadership. The Alumni Engagement Specialist is the person the Director relies on to execute engagement plans accurately and on schedule.

We value strong analytical and interpersonal skills, and the ability to contribute to a fast-paced environment as an individual and as part of a team.

This role offers a clear path of growth. A Specialist who demonstrates strong performance and develops their programmatic and relationship-management capabilities will be considered for advancement to a higher-level position as the alumni program continues to scale.

Responsibilities

Engagement Activities

• Support alumni engagement activities at major events, including the Science Talent Search (STS), International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), and Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC), by coordinating logistics and providing high-touch, on-site service to VIP guests and award recipients.
• Coordinate logistics for National Leadership Council (NLC) meetings, including scheduling, materials preparation, and minute-taking.
• Coordinate logistics for alumni programming, including virtual reunions for Science Talent Search alumni across class years.
• Coordinate the Jon C. Graff Prize selection process, including committee outreach and scheduling.
• Participate in regular team meetings, sharing updates and ideas to support the program's planning.

Content and Communication

• Assist with production of the alumni e-newsletter – drafting content, coordinating audience segmentation (via Customer Insights), and managing email deployment in coordination with the Annual Giving team.
• Assist with drafting and production of alumni-facing marketing materials (direct mail, email appeals, sustainer campaign communications) from messaging direction provided by the Director.
• Maintain and update web content highlighting alumni achievements, such as prestigious awards and recognitions.
• Assist with routine updates to alumni web pages in WordPress.
• Monitor and moderate day-to-day activity in online alumni communities, including LinkedIn, following the team's established engagement plan.
  Correspondence and Stakeholder Support
• Draft correspondence and invitations for review and approval by senior leadership, including outreach to prospective speakers, panelists, and other key stakeholders.
• Assist with research to build alumni profiles, supporting the Individual Giving team's prospecting efforts.

Data and CRM Management

• Maintain and update alumni records in CRM (Microsoft Dynamics) and run standard reports to support the team's data needs.
• Support execution of alumni engagement campaigns designed by the Director, such as photo requests, volunteer recruitment, and feedback surveys via Customer Voice.
• Collaborate with Advancement's Donor Research & Portfolio Manager and the IT team to audit, clean, and improve the data integrity of the 80,000+ alumni base within the CRM, ensuring accurate records and streamlined data processes.
• Identify highly engaged alumni, such as event attendees, volunteers, NLC members and first-time donors, and flag them in the CRM for the Individual Giving team, following criteria set by the Director of Alumni Relations. Provide regular reports so that engaged alumni move smoothly into the Society's donor pipeline.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• One to two years of experience in alumni relations, donor or member engagement, event planning, or a related role in a nonprofit or membership organization.
• CRM/database experience, preferably Microsoft Dynamics; other CRM platforms (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Salesforce) accepted.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail with a track record of accuracy in data entry and content production.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously and flag issues proactively rather than reactively.
• Demonstrated affinity for the mission of Society for Science.
• Ability to develop rapport with colleagues and external clients.

Preferred

• Experience with database migration, data hygiene projects, or cross-departmental CRM collaboration.
• Familiarity with WordPress or other content management systems.
• Experience with email marketing/segmentation tools (e.g., Customer Insights) or survey platforms (e.g., Customer Voice).
• Experience moderating online communities or social media platforms (e.g., LinkedIn).
• Experience supporting donor or alumni engagement campaigns in a nonprofit or membership organization.
• Experience drafting correspondence on behalf of senior leadership.

What Success Looks Like

• In the first 90 days: This person has mastered the full range of alumni engagement activities and events supported by the team, has demonstrated a strong command of the CRM for meticulous day-to-day data entry, hygiene, and reporting, and has begun independently handling logistics for recurring meetings such as the NLC. Newsletter and correspondence drafts require only light editing from the Director.
• At six months: This person is running event and meeting logistics with minimal oversight, ensures alumni records, segmentation data, and metrics remain rigorously accurate and current in the CRM, and acts as a trusted data and logistics resource for the team. Content drafts consistently reflect the program's voice with minimal revision.
• At one year: This person has helped carry at least one major event (such as ISEF) and a full cycle of the Jon C. Graff Prize process from start to finish, serves as an expert power-user in the CRM who actively drives data integrity initiatives alongside IT and Advancement Operations, and is ready to begin taking on greater ownership of content, database segmentation strategies, and engagement planning.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee usually works in an office setting. This position is based at Society for Science's Washington, D.C. headquarters, near the Dupont Circle and Farragut North Metro stations. The Society is operating on a hybrid work schedule, with an in-office requirement of 2 days a week.

Position Type and Expected Hours

Standard hours are Monday through Friday during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, with core hours of 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.). Light travel and occasional evening or weekend work are required to support major events such as ISEF, NLC meetings, and class reunions.

Salary

The salary range is $61,800 - $69,400

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to operate a computer and other office equipment.

Additional Information

Society for Science has mandated the COVID-19 vaccine for employees coming into the office and attending Society events. Exceptions to the vaccine requirement may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover every duty, responsibility and activity that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Society for Science

Founded in 1921, the Society for Science (Society), is a champion for science, dedicated to expanding scientific literacy, effective STEM education, and scientific research. Through its world-class competitions, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its award-winning magazines, Science News and Science News Explores, the Society, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization, is focused on promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement: to inform, education, and inspire.

EEO Statement

The Society is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Society for Science & the Public is committed to equal employment opportunity. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, the Society does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis, including but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identify or expression, ancestry, national origin, disability, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, age and/or any other categories protected by the laws of the United States or the District of Columbia.