Associate Director, Global Engagement

Uniglobalcareers; Boston, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Vision benefits

Dental benefits

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Wellness program

Retirement plan

Commuting support

Job summary

Northeastern University is seeking a strategic Leader for the Leadership Relations Team to grow and activate its Global Volunteer Network across international campuses. The role centers on recruiting volunteers, connecting alumni, students, and donors, and coordinating signature programs on a global scale.

You will drive communications, planning, and event execution while supervising staff and student employees in a fast-paced environment that values diversity and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 5–7 years of experience in alumni relations, advancement, volunteer management, or a related field.
• Experience recruiting, onboarding, or managing volunteer networks, ideally including young professional, affinity, or committee/co-chair models.
• Event planning experience with ability to manage several projects independently in a team environment.
• Detail-oriented with customer service and interpersonal skills, able to engage diplomatically with alumni, volunteers, students, parents, faculty, staff, and external partners.
• Experience partnering across departments to build referral pipelines is a plus.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including proficiency with virtual platforms and online learning tools.

Responsibilities

• Build & Grow the Global Volunteer Network across all global networks and affinity groups.
• Turn network engagement into giving by managing donor appeal projects and campaigns.
• Communicate on behalf of the network through strategic marketing plans.
• Plan & Execute signature programs and events within Leadership Relations programming.
• Oversee a team including a full-time staff member and student employees; participate in hiring and training.

Skills

Volunteer management

Event planning

Communications

Cross-cultural engagement

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Video conferencing

Job description

United States — International Student Market

1.2M inbound students (2025) +3%

1. India 363K

2. China 266K

3. South Korea 42K

4. Canada 30K

5. Vietnam 26K

9 international branch campuses in United States

This employer operates 3 active branch campuses in 3 countries (since 2008)

The Leadership Relations Team (LRT) operates as both an innovation team and a success and operations team — building new engagement models while also running the day‑to‑day infrastructure that keeps them working. As a result, this role requires comfort with a fast‑paced, priority‑shifting environment and the flexibility to move fluidly between big‑picture thinking and hands‑on execution as the team’s needs evolve. This role exists to grow, diversify, and activate Northeastern’s Global Volunteer Network — the volunteers, ambassadors, and leadership constituents who power Northeastern’s international engagement and giving. Reporting to the Director, Leadership Relations, this person supports the connective tissue between the University and its global volunteer base, driving:

• Volunteer recruitment, matching, and retention across all global networks — including Young Global Leaders (President Aoun’s appointed network of emerging global leaders), Campaign volunteer leadership, community leaders, and affinity networks
• Full-circle integration connecting emerging leaders, students, alumni, and Campaign volunteer leadership with one another and with key campus partners
• Strategic communications and marketing on behalf of volunteer programs
• Event planning, content generation, and signature program execution
• International donor participation, tied directly to volunteer engagement
• Integration of Campaign priorities across the Leadership Relations portfolio

This position is required to perform its duties in person, on the Boston campus. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 5–7 years of experience in alumni relations, advancement, volunteer management, or a related field; experience in higher education is a plus.
• Experience recruiting, onboarding, or managing volunteer or leadership networks, ideally including young professional, affinity, or committee/co-chair models.
• Event planning experience and the ability to work independently and productively with minimal supervision, while managing several projects at once in a team environment.
• Detail-oriented with strong customer service and interpersonal skills, and the ability to engage professionally and diplomatically with alumni, volunteers, students, parents, faculty, staff, and external partners.
• Experience partnering across departments — such as career services, cooperative or experiential education, or corporate relations — to build referral pipelines is a plus.
• Effective coordination, organization, and written and oral communication skills, including a strong phone presence and proficiency with virtual communication platforms and online learning tools.
• A self-starter who thrives in a fast‑paced, priority‑shifting environment, is flexible to changing priorities, and is adaptable to new systems, with knowledge of and interest in international affairs and sensitivity to diverse cultures highly desirable.
• Comfort working with and coaching student, young alumni, and volunteer leaders across a range of career stages, and supervising junior staff and student employees.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Build & Grow the Global Volunteer Network

• Recruit and diversify volunteers through direct outreach and partnership with Advancement colleagues, matching each volunteer to the network best suited to their interests and goals -- including Young Global Leaders (President Aoun’s appointed network of emerging global leaders), Campaign volunteer leadership, community leaders, and affinity networks.
• Build full-circle connections across the volunteer network, integrating emerging leaders, students, alumni, and Campaign volunteer leadership so that each constituency helps grow and strengthen the others.
• Extend the network’s reach by partnering with campus stakeholders across the global university system.
• Cultivate and retain volunteers through personalized, experiential offerings tied to their interests and philanthropic goals; serve as the primary liaison between Northeastern Advancement and the volunteer network.

Turn Network Engagement Into Giving

• Manage donor appeal projects and promote international donor stories across channels.
• Steward international parent leads in partnership with Family Philanthropy.
• Lead the launch of Global Giving campaigns across all volunteer networks.
• Own the YGL annual giving participation ask and goal in partnership with Leadership Annual Giving, and serve as team liaison with Annual Giving and Giving Day on donor challenge gift strategy.

Communicate on Behalf of the Network

• Develop and implement the strategic communications and marketing plan for all volunteer networks and programs.
• Drive communications strategy for flagship volunteer-facing programs including the Global Leadership Summit and the Intergenerational Leaders Exchange (ILE).
• Weave Campaign priorities and messaging into all volunteer-facing communications, in partnership with the AVP.

Plan & Execute Signature Programs and Events

• Oversee planning and execution of signature content driven sessions integrated into Leadership Relations programming
• Manage a portfolio of global communities and their associated volunteer community leaders.
• undefined

Team Management

• Manage a team of one full-time administrative/professional staff member and student employees including coop students; participate in hiring, orientation, and training of Leadership Relations Team staff.
• Provide guidance and mentorship, lead by professional example, and drive annual goal-setting and benchmarking for the team.

Position Type

Advancement

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

108S

Expected Hiring Range:

$60,315.00 - $85,192.50

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.