Assistant Director, Alumni Clubs & Engagement

Columbia Business School; New York (NY); On-site; USD 68,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia Business School is seeking an Assistant Director of Alumni Clubs & Engagement to serve as the liaison for about 30 regional alumni clubs, including one high-priority club. The role focuses on volunteer management, planning, community engagement, and collaboration with faculty and staff to offer meaningful learning experiences.

The incumbent partners with the Director to plan leadership summits, recruit volunteers, track engagement metrics, and expand club activities while supporting

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; 2–4 years of related work experience preferred.
• Experience in higher education, alumni relations, or volunteer management is preferred.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills and the ability to engage diverse audiences are essential.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills; detail-oriented and adaptable in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary point of contact for 30 regional alumni clubs and one high-priority club.
• Guide club leaders through event planning, execution, and post-event reporting.
• Build and sustain relationships with volunteer leaders and alumni communities.
• Provide advisory support on engagement strategy, planning, and operations.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and growth of club leaders and volunteers.

Skills

Relationship management

Event planning

Volunteer management

Communication

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

MS Office

Google Workspace

Project management tools

Job description

Grade 11

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $68,000 - $78,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Alumni Engagement and Programs, the Assistant Director, Alumni Clubs & Engagement is the alumni relations liaison to a portfolio of approximately 30 regional alumni clubs across domestic and international regions. The incumbent is responsible for volunteer and relationship management, providing best practices for club leadership, and ensuring club communities have access to opportunities for meaningful connection, continuous learning, and engagement with faculty, fellow alumni, and the School. This engagement occurs both in-person and virtually through club events and programs. The Assistant Director partners with the Director of Alumni Engagement and Programs in the planning and execution of the Annual CBS Alumni Clubs Leadership Summit, and collaborates on leadership recruitment, volunteer training, and engagement tracking to strengthen alumni involvement globally. This individual works closely with colleagues across Alumni Relations and the Development Office to maximize opportunities such as alumni hosting, sponsorships, and storytelling that benefit CBS and assigned clubs. The role includes occasional domestic and international travel.

About CBS

For over a century, Columbia Business School has helped develop leaders and builders of enterprises who drive value for their stakeholders and society at large through our MBA, MS, PhD, and Executive Education programs. We are equally committed to cultivating new scholars and teachers, and to creating and disseminating pathbreaking knowledge, concepts, and tools that advance the understanding and practice of management through our faculty research and PhD programs. Our vision is simple: to develop ideas and leaders that transform the world - from the very center of business. Our ever-evolving curriculum, featuring pioneering courses, STEM certification, and immersive experiential learning, prepares students to excel in key areas such as digital transformation, entrepreneurship and innovation, twenty-first century finance, the intersection of business and society, and climate and sustainability.

Responsibilities

Relationship Management & Club Portfolio

• Serves as the primary point of contact for 30 regional clubs, including one high-priority club.
• Guides club leaders through event planning, execution, and post-event reporting to ensure meaningful engagement and alignment with School priorities.
• Builds and sustains strong relationships with volunteer leaders and regional alumni communities.
• Provides ongoing advisory support to club leaders on engagement strategy, planning, and operations.

Volunteer Leadership & Governance

• Supports the recruitment, onboarding, and growth of club leaders and volunteers.
• Actively contributes to forming new clubs and expanding leadership pipelines including managing transitions and recruiting new volunteers.
• Provides guidance and best practices for governance, leadership transitions, and succession planning.
• Maintains accurate and current records of club leadership utilizing the clubs’ tiered matrix to track and measure success, engagement, and growth.
• Contributes to volunteer recognition efforts and leadership appreciation initiatives

Programming & Alumni Engagement

• Collaborates with internal and external partners to design and execute in-person and virtual programs that strengthen alumni connections and expand engagement.
• Partners with CBS Faculty and internal stakeholders to develop intellectual and academic programming for top-tier regions based on clubs tiered matrix requirements.
• Assists with CBS flagship alumni events and other schoolwide engagement initiatives as needed.
• Contributes to alumni storytelling initiatives that highlight alumni and club impact.

Communications & Marketing Support

• Provides communications support to club leaders, including email templates, social media guidance, and promotional best practices.
• Advises on email outreach, social media usage, and event promotion strategics.
• Prepares event briefings and engagement materials as needed.

Events, Operations, & Logistics

• Manages logistics for club-related events, projects, and meetings.
• Coordinates operational processes including contract submissions, approvals, and documentation.
• Tracks event plans, status updates, and execution milestones across the club portfolio.
• Supports planning and execution of CBS Alumni Clubs Leadership Summit and other major alumni programs.

Data, Metrics, & Budget Management

• Tracks and monitors club budgets to ensure alignment with engagement priorities and responsible use of resources.
• Uses engagement metrics, tracking systems, and assessment tools to evaluate activity, participation, and outcomes across the club portfolio.
• Supports special international gatherings, reunions, and signature regional events as needed, and partners with CBS faculty to develop intellectual programming for top-tier clubs based on the School’s engagement strategy.
• Partners with Alumni Relations and Development colleagues to identify opportunities for collaboration, hosting, and sponsorship that enhance the alumni experience and advance institutional priorities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required. Minimum of 2-4 years of related work experience required.
• Prior experience in higher education, alumni relations, or volunteer management is preferred.
• Experience developing and delivering innovative programming, events, and leading volunteer initiatives is preferred
• Exceptional relationship building skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences, foster strong partnerships, and represent the School with professionalism and credibility.
• Proven ability to partner with a wide range of stakeholders, including administrators, faculty, board members, and leaders in the field, is essential.
• Must possess outstanding communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills; with strong attention to detail and adaptability in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated strength in project management, teamwork and with the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across a dynamic team.
• Strong interest in leveraging intellectual content and faculty expertise to create value for alumni communities is also highly desirable
• Proficiency in MS Office, Google Workspace, and project management platforms is required.
• Valid driver’s license and passport required.
• Willingness to travel and support evening and weekend events required.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.