Assistant Director - Alumni Engagement & Volunteer Programs

Union College (NY); City of Schenectady (NY); On-site; USD 62,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous vacation & sick time

Winter recess

Healthcare: Medical, Dental, Vision

On-campus fitness access

401(k)/403(b) retirement plan

Tuition exchange

Job summary

Union College in Schenectady, NY, is seeking an Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement & Volunteer Programs to create and sustain programs that connect alumni to the College through regional outreach, affinity groups, and year-round involvement.

The role leads volunteer recruitment, coordinates events, collaborates with College Relations, and supports Alumni Council operations, requiring a collaborative, durable relationship-builder mindset.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 2–3 years of professional experience in alumni relations or related fields.
• Experience developing and managing engagement programs and events.
• Experience recruiting and managing volunteers preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive alumni engagement plan for regional and affinity programs.
• Plan, execute, and assess regional alumni events to boost participation.
• Recruit, onboard, train, and steward alumni volunteers.
• Develop volunteer engagement strategies with clear expectations and recognition.
• Oversee year-round alumni programs and initiatives to boost lifelong engagement.
• Assist reunion committee engagement and Alumni Council operations.
• Collaborate with campus partners to promote engagement opportunities.
• Track engagement metrics and generate reports for improvement.

Skills

Alumni relations

Volunteer management

Event management

Relationship-building

Communication

Project management

CRM systems

Office/Workspace tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

CRM systems

Event platforms

Email marketing

Job description

The Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement & VolunteerPrograms is responsible for creating, executing, and maintainingprograms and strategies that enhance alumni connection to theCollege through regional outreach, affinity groups, volunteerparticipation, and year-round opportunities for meaningfulinvolvement

Assistant Director - Alumni Engagement & VolunteerPrograms

Pay Status and Classification:

Exempt, Regular Full-time,In-Person. This position is not eligible for relocation assistanceor visa sponsorship.

Supervisor:

Director - Alumni & Parent Engagement

Position Purpose:

The Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement & VolunteerPrograms is responsible for creating, executing, and maintainingprograms and strategies that enhance alumni connection to theCollege through regional outreach, affinity groups, volunteerparticipation, and year-round opportunities for meaningfulinvolvement.

Through thoughtful outreach, program development, and volunteermanagement, this role helps build lifelong relationships betweenalumni and the College, fosters community, and supports a cultureof connection, service, and institutional pride.

The Assistant Director collaborates with campus partners andCollege Relations colleagues to create opportunities that deepenalumni affinity and promote ongoing involvement with theCollege.

This position provides leadership for regional and affinityengagement efforts, alumni volunteer recruitment and stewardship,and selected year-round alumni programs. The role also serves as abackup to the Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement for AlumniCouncil operations and volunteer continuity, helping to maintainstrong communication, engagement, and follow-through across keyvolunteer structures.

A collaborative and relationship-oriented professional, theAssistant Director must effectively manage multiple priorities,foster meaningful relationships with constituents, and turnengagement into lasting alumni connections. This role collaborateswith Annual Giving and other College Relations colleagues tosupport broader institutional objectives, while Annual Givingmaintains primary responsibility for solicitation strategies,reunion giving, volunteer fundraising efforts, and the annual fundperformance.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive alumni engagement plan forregional and affinity-based programs that enhances alumniconnections to the College and aligns with institutionalpriorities.
• Plan, execute, and assess regional alumni events andaffinity-based engagement activities to boost participation, buildrelationships, and create meaningful experiences forconstituents.
• Recruit, onboard, train, support, and steward alumni volunteersin collaboration with the Director of Alumni and Parent Engagementand other College Relations team members.
• Develop and sustain effective volunteer engagement strategies,including setting clear expectations, establishing communicationplans, implementing recognition efforts, and providing ongoingstewardship.
• Develop and oversee year-round alumni programs and initiativesthat promote a sense of belonging, encourage participation, andsupport lifelong engagement beyond major signature weekends.
• Assist in the reunion committee engagement efforts alongsidethe Associate Director and the larger Alumni and Parent Engagementteam, focusing on volunteer communication, participation, and theoverall experience of constituents.
• Assist the Director with Alumni Council operations, volunteercontinuity, and related communications as needed.
• Work with Advancement Communications and other campus partnersto promote alumni engagement opportunities using clear, consistent,and audience-appropriate messaging.
• Collaborate with the Office of Annual Giving, Major Gifts, andother College Relations colleagues to identify highly engagedalumni and volunteers for deeper institutional involvement andphilanthropic pipeline growth, while primarily focusing onengagement instead of fundraising strategy.
• Track engagement, volunteer efforts, and program results;develop metrics and generate reports to evaluate effectiveness andfind areas for growth and improvement.
• Prompt appropriate colleagues to ensure timely follow-up onevents and programs, including tracking attendance, codingconstituents, stewardship communication, and internalreporting.
• Participate in and support other events and initiativesorganized by the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement, includingoccasional travel and work during evenings and weekends.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 2–3 years of professional experience in alumnirelations, advancement, higher education, volunteer management,event/program management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage engagement programsand events from concept through execution and assessment.
• Experience recruiting, managing, motivating, and stewardingvolunteers preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with theability to work effectively with alumni, volunteers, colleagues,campus partners, and other constituents.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, includingthe ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlinessimultaneously.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, take initiative, solveproblems independently, and work collaboratively as part of ateam.
• Experience with databases, CRM systems, event-managementplatforms, email marketing tools, and Microsoft Office/GoogleWorkspace preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating welcoming and inclusiveengagement opportunities for alumni from a wide range ofbackgrounds, generations, affinities, and geographic regions.
• Ability and willingness to work occasional evenings andweekends and travel as required for programs and events.

Compensation:

The annual salary range for this position is$62,000-$64,000. Except for roles with a set rate of pay, thewage/salary of the finalist selected for this role will be setbased on a variety of factors, including but not limited todepartmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education,licenses, specialty, and training. The stated hiring rate/range represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of therate/range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Location:

Schenectady, NY

We know some job seekers may not apply for career opportunities unless they meet every qualification in the position description including the preferred qualifications. We are most interested in hiring the best staff and faculty colleagues, and recognize that a successful candidate may come from a less traditional career path. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet everyone of our preferred qualifications.

We offer exceptional benefits including:

• Generous Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time
• Winter Recess Break in Addition to Paid Holidays (in accordancewith policy)
• Healthcare: Medical (PPO & HDHP), Dental, and VisionInsurance (Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts)
• Free On-Campus Fitness Facility Access and Discounts forOn-Campus Wellness Programs
• Pre and Post Tax participation in a 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Salary Continuation Program in the event of Disability
• Tuition Exchange

Background Checks:

In accordance with our background check policy, finalists for hire will undergo abackground check that includes education, employment, and criminalconvictions.

E-Verify Participation:

Union College participates inE-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9information to confirm that you are authorized to work in theUnited States. Learn more about E-Verify and your Right to Work (Derecho a Trabajar).