Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement

Lesley University; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Tuition programs

Job summary

Lesley University in Cambridge, MA is seeking an Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement to design and run a comprehensive program that deepens lifelong connections among alumni and the University. You will lead digital engagement, regional programming, volunteer networks, and alumni cohorts while coordinating with the Advancement team.

You will manage communications via Mailchimp, work with Hivebright, recruit volunteers, and oversee the Alumni Council to align activities with University

Qualifications

• Minimum of three to five years of experience in alumni relations, advancement, communications, or related roles.
• Experience developing alumni engagement, networking, volunteer, or community-building programs.
• Experience developing communications through Mailchimp or similar platform.
• Experience managing digital communities or engagement platforms (Hivebright preferred).
• Experience using data and engagement metrics to evaluate programs and inform strategy (Raiser’s Edge preferred).
• Strong event planning and project management skills to connect alumni with university priorities.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in programs and outreach.
• Creative, entrepreneurial, and collaborative approach to building a vibrant alumni community.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a comprehensive alumni engagement program.
• Grow and strengthen the alumni network through digital engagement, regional programming, professional networking, cohorts, and volunteer programs.
• Recruit alumni volunteers and ambassadors; manage the Alumni Council and ensure activities align with priorities.
• Develop strategic communications using Mailchimp; monitor engagement metrics and adapt strategies.
• Travel regionally and occasionally nationally for alumni events and engagement opportunities.

Skills

Alumni relations

Communications

Event planning

Volunteer management

Data-driven strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

DEI commitment

Public speaking

Tools

Hivebright

Mailchimp

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

Lesley University is seeking an Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement to join our Advancement team. Reporting to the VP of Advancement, the Assistant Director will develop and implement a comprehensive engagement program designed to build meaningful, lifelong connections among alumni and the University. The Assistant Director will lead efforts to grow and strengthen Lesley’s alumni network through a combination of digital engagement, regional programming, professional networking, alumni cohorts, and volunteer programs. This will include recruiting and engaging alumni through Hivebright, developing and expanding the Professional Learning Network, and creating meaningful opportunities for alumni to connect based on shared professional, geographic, academic, and personal interests. This role will create and execute strategic communications through Mailchimp, develop meaningful engagement opportunities, recruit alumni volunteers and ambassadors, and manage the Alumni Council to ensure activities align with University priorities and advancement goals.

The Assistant Director will serve as a key partner to the Advancement team, working collaboratively to identify opportunities to deepen alumni relationships, increase engagement, and connect alumni engagement with broader University advancement goals. The Assistant Director will also manage and support the Alumni Council and its volunteers, providing structure, guidance, communication, and meaningful opportunities for volunteer leadership while ensuring Council activities align with University priorities and alumni engagement policies. The Assistant Director will monitor alumni engagement across programs and platforms, evaluate participation and effectiveness, and use data and feedback to continually refine and improve alumni engagement strategies.

Through the facilitation of strong lifelong alumni relationships, the Assistant Director will strengthen the University community and enhance the personal and professional lives of Lesley graduates.

Qualities and Capabilities

A successful candidate will have:

• Minimum of three to five years of successful experience in alumni relations, advancement, communications, marketing, annual giving, community engagement, or a comparable role
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing alumni engagement, networking, volunteer, or community-building programs; Experience recruiting, engaging, and managing volunteers
• Experience developing communications through Mailchimp or a similar platform
• Experience managing digital communities or engagement platform; Experience with Hivebright or similar alumni networking platforms preferred
• Experience using data and engagement metrics to evaluate programs and inform strategy; Experience working within Raiser’s Edge or a comparable platform system is preferred
• Strong event planning and project management skills with the ability to identify opportunities to connect alumni with University priorities, fundraising, and advancement
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with alumni, volunteers, University leadership, faculty, staff, and external partners
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, evidenced through a track record of building inclusive programs, relationships, and opportunities for engagement
• A creative, entrepreneurial, and collaborative approach to building a vibrant and connected alumni community
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are required, including the ability to write compelling, audience-appropriate communications
• Willingness and ability to travel regionally, and occasionally nationally, for alumni events and engagement opportunities, including occasional evening and weekend commitments

Located in the heart of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lesley University is highly regarded for its graduate and undergraduate programs in the human arts of education, the arts, and applied social sciences. Lesley fosters a highly creative environment in which innovative ideas thrive, theory is integrated with practice and its 6,400 students and 90,000 alumni are empowered to improve and enrich communities.

We offer a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance. In addition, we offer significant paid time off, a generous retirement plan, and tuition programs that enable employees and their dependents to expand their knowledge and skills.

Lesley is committed to the ongoing pursuit of strategic diversity initiatives that help to position diversity, equity, and inclusion as fundamental to institutional and academic excellence at Lesley. In doing so, Lesley strives for a campus culture and community that fosters a true sense of belonging for all, provides opportunity for everyone to participate equally and fully in the Lesley experience, and helps to develop each individual's capacity to confidently and competently engage within and across difference. Given an evolving national context and the rapid change in the demographic profile of our country, the University has made a significant commitment to addressing and enhancing its campus climate and diversity capabilities as an institution.

At Lesley University we strive for a supportive and equitable environment where people -- regardless of race, ethnicity, color, sex, physical ability, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran or military status, membership in uniformed services, and all other categories protected by applicable state and federal laws -- can participate equally and fully as their true selves in all aspects of university life. Accordingly, the University prohibits discrimination based on these protected categories in any education program or activity that it operates, including in admission and in employment. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the fabric of our institution. Individuals may submit concerns or questions related to discrimination to the University's Director of Equal Opportunity. Please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity's webpage for the University's entire notice of nondiscrimination and for additional information.

Base Pay Range: $81,655 - $92,790 annually