Associate Director Alumni Relations Reunion Programs and Events

The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy; Medford (MA); On-site; USD 67,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

Tufts University is seeking a senior professional to lead the Office of Alumni Engagement's program development and event management for Reunion activities and related initiatives. The role focuses on expanding engagement with alumni, students, and friends by delivering high-quality, impactful events.

You will oversee strategic planning, collaboration with partners, and execution of signature events, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and budgets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• 5–7 years of experience in alumni relations or related field.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in alumni relations.
• Advanced interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Track record of developing and executing alumni events and programs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and databases.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, development, and execution of Tufts reunions events and programs.
• Oversee major reunion events (e.g., Friday Night Welcome, All-Class Lunch, class dinners).
• Plan alumni panels, faculty presentations, and related programming.
• Manage Tufts Night at Pops and coordinate with partners (e.g., Boston Symphony Orchestra).
• Coordinate vendor and service management for events; ensure budgets and quality standards.
• Collaborate with volunteers, alumni engagement colleagues, and academic leadership to ensure successful programs.

Skills

Alumni relations

Event management

Project coordination

Relationship building

Excellent writing

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Database systems

Job description

Overview

The Office of Alumni Engagement, in collaboration with the Tufts University Alumni Association, strives to build lifelong relationships with the students and alumni of Tufts University with the goal of keeping alumni actively engaged and contributing to the university. This is accomplished through extensive programming initiatives in Boston, throughout the United States, and around the world catering to a variety of alumni needs and interests. OAE is the key point of contact for all alumni of the university. In conjunction with the Alumni Association, the Office of Alumni Engagement plans events and programs including Alumni Weekend, Homecoming, Reunions, Travel-Learn, Career Networking, Alumni Awards, Senior Awards and Alumni Council meetings, as well as programming for current students at the university, soon to be alumni.

What You'll Do

Under limited supervision, designs and implements events and/or programs with a primary aim of broadening and deepening engagement with alumni, students, parents and friends of the school or university. Identifies, recruits and trains student and alumni leadership volunteers. Leads and guides regional or special alumni chapters, committees and organizations. Identifies opportunities to collaborate with other university partners.

• Reunions Program Development and Event Management
  • Lead the strategic planning, development, and execution of Tufts Reunions educational and social programming.
  • Develop programmatic vision and event experiences that strengthen alumni engagement and celebrate Tufts traditions and institutional priorities.
  • Direct project management efforts, including timelines, workplans, stakeholder coordination, and milestone tracking to ensure successful program delivery.
  • Evaluate program effectiveness through participant feedback and event outcomes, identifying opportunities to enhance future reunion experiences.
• Signature Reunions Events
  • Serve as the planning lead for major Tufts Reunions events, including the Friday Night Welcome Event, All-Class Lunch, and reunion class dinners.
  • Design distinctive event experiences through venue selection, program development, food and beverage planning, entertainment, and attendee engagement strategies.
  • Partner with operations, facilities, and vendor management teams to deliver high-quality events that align with reunion objectives, budgets, and institutional standards.
• Reunions Content
  • Plan and manage multiple alumni panel discussions and faculty presentations during Tufts Reunions.
  • Identify program themes and presentation topics aligned with alumni interests and/or university priorities.
  • Coordinate speaker invitations and participation in partnership with academic leadership.
  • Collaborate with class volunteers, reunion committees, and alumni engagement colleagues to identify prospective panelists and facilitate invitations.
  • Coordinate logistical requirements, technology needs, room setup, and event support with internal partners and vendors.
• Tufts Night at Pops
  • Serve as the project lead for Tufts Night at Pops, overseeing all aspects of event planning and execution from concept development through post-event assessment.
  • Manage the partnership with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, coordinating ticketing, seating, special guest performers, contracts, and financial transactions.
  • Develop executive briefings, event remarks, talking points, and other communication materials for university leadership and event participants.
  • Coordinate staffing plans and onsite event management to ensure a seamless attendee experience.
  • Act as the primary liaison between Tufts University and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
• Vendor and Service Management
  • Cultivate and maintain strong partnerships with external vendors, venues, caterers, photographers, entertainers, and campus service providers.
  • Identify, evaluate, and engage vendors that enhance reunion programming and support event goals.
  • Collaborate with colleagues responsible for procurement, contracts, and operational logistics to ensure efficient vendor management.
  • Monitor vendor performance and service delivery to ensure alignment with budget expectations, quality standards, and attendee experience goals.
  • Recommend new vendor partnerships and service enhancements that improve program quality, operational efficiency, and participant satisfaction.

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements:

Knowledge and experience typically acquired by:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 5-7 years
• Extensive knowledge and experience in alumni relations
• Advanced interpersonal and relationship building skills
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Demonstrated track record of developing and executing alumni events and programs
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office/similar systems and experience with database systems

Pay Range

Minimum $67,200.00, Midpoint $83,900.00, Maximum $100,700.00

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.