Associate Director of Alumni Engagement

Macalester College; Saint Paul (MN); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10% employer retirement contribution

Generous vacation and holidays

Health, dental, vision, life & disabil

Job summary

Macalester College seeks an operationally sharp professional to lead Reunion project management and Alumni Board support. This full-time, hybrid-eligible role offers Tue–Thu in office and Mon, Fri remote, with a title commensurate with experience.

Ideal candidates bring proven project management, volunteer coordination, and stakeholder communication experience, ready to own work from strategy through implementation in a collaborative, equity-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Proven project management experience and ability to build timelines and multi-stakeholder workflows.
• Experience in event management, volunteer coordination, or program administration.
• Strong written and verbal communication across diverse audiences.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience creating and maintaining organizational systems and workflows.
• Ability to anticipate gaps, solve problems, and exercise sound judgment with limited supervision.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational planning and execution of Macalester's annual Reunion program, coordinating logistics, communications, volunteers, and events.
• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, and implementation processes across Advancement, Special Events, Communications, and campus partners.
• Track milestones, identify obstacles, and communicate next steps to stakeholders.
• Manage committee requests, meeting schedules, documentation, and information flow.
• Design workflows to make Reunion processes repeatable and scalable year over year.
• Support Reunion participation as a springboard for ongoing alumni engagement.
• Develop, track, and evaluate metrics and survey results to assess program effectiveness.

Skills

Project management

Volunteer coordination

Stakeholder communication

Job description

Overview Macalester College seeks an operationally sharp, systems-minded professional to serve as Assistant or Associate Director of Alumni Engagement, leading the college's annual Reunion program and supporting Alumni Board operations. This role is built for someone who can see the full picture, build the plan, close the gaps, and execute without waiting to be told what comes next. The ideal candidate brings proven experience in project management, volunteer coordination, and stakeholder communication, and is ready to own their work from strategy through implementation. This is a full-time, hybrid-eligible position with the option of Tuesday through Thursday in office and Monday and Friday remote. Final title will be commensurate with experience.

About the Engagement Team

Macalester's Engagement team works to expand and enrich the ways alumni and friends of the college connect with one another and with Macalester. Through events, volunteering, and giving opportunities, we cultivate lifelong relationships rooted in pride and purpose. We are committed to creativity, collaboration, and community-focused strategy, approach our work through an equity lens, and take pride in being innovative, inclusive, and impact-driven.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

Reunion Project Management & Communications

Lead the operational planning and execution of Macalester's annual Reunion program, serving as the central point of coordination for logistics, communications, volunteer activities, and event execution.

Develop and manage project plans, timelines, workback schedules, and implementation processes across Advancement, Special Events, Communications, and campus partners.

Track project milestones, identify potential obstacles, and proactively communicate next steps and deadlines to all stakeholders.

Manage committee requests, meeting schedules, documentation, and information flow to keep all parties organized and aligned.

Design and document workflows that make Reunion processes repeatable and scalable year over year.

Support efforts to leverage Reunion participation as a springboard for ongoing alumni engagement with the college.

Develop, track, and evaluate key performance metrics, survey results, and participant feedback to assess program effectiveness and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Monitor Reunion expenses and track budget activity throughout the year, providing regular updates and recommendations to help ensure programs and events remain within budget parameters.

Volunteer Management & Stewardship

Develop and direct Reunion volunteer strategy in close collaboration with Advancement partners, including identifying and engaging key stakeholders and outreach to new volunteers.

Coordinate recruitment, onboarding, training, and communications for Reunion volunteers, providing clear and consistent expectations, resources, and support.

Serve as primary staff liaison for 1-3 Reunion Committees.

Partner with Macalester Fund staff to coordinate Reunion class gift volunteer training and activities.

Recruit, coordinate, and mentor campus volunteers and Reunion Student Coordinators.

Assist with the recruitment, training, supervision, and support of Reunion student staff and Reunion Coordinators to ensure successful program execution and a positive volunteer experience.

Alumni Board Support

Provide operational support for Alumni Board activities, enabling the Director of Alumni Engagement to focus on strategy and relationship-building.

Coordinate meeting logistics, agendas, materials, timelines, and follow-up communications.

Prepare and brief speakers; track action items and deliverables across board initiatives.

Anticipate upcoming needs and ensure board projects remain organized and on schedule.

Advise and engage Alumni Board Student Directors and oversee their annual project ensuring they have at least one group project each year.

Serve as staff liaison for an Alumni Board committee, coordinating meetings, communications, project timelines, and follow-up actions to support the committee's goals and initiatives.

Alumni Engagement & Advancement Projects

Contribute to additional programming, events, and initiatives throughout the year in collaboration with Advancement and campus partners, applying the same operational rigor and collaborative approach as formally assigned work.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Engage in and promote Macalester's culture of diversity and inclusion, encompassing individuals of any heritage, identity, status, or orientation.

This position may be filled at the Assistant Director or Associate Director level.

Final title will be commensurate with experience.

Required Qualifications

Demonstrated experience in project management, including building and managing timelines, workback schedules, and multi-stakeholder workflows.

Experience in event management, volunteer coordination, or program administration in a complex organizational environment.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively across a variety of audiences and styles.

Proven ability to prioritize and manage multiple competing projects in a fast-paced environment.

Experience creating and maintaining organizational systems, process documentation, and operational workflows.

Ability to anticipate gaps, solve problems proactively, and exercise sound judgment with limited supervision.

Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and experience working with individuals from a variety of backgrounds, identities, and perspectives.

Preferred Qualifications

5 or more years of progressively responsible experience leading programs or functions with significant independence (strongly preferred for Associate Director consideration).

Experience designing and improving operational systems, not just executing within them.

Demonstrated ability to manage across stakeholder groups, including volunteers, colleagues, and senior leaders.

Experience supervising, mentoring, or managing junior staff or student employees.

Familiarity with alumni engagement, advancement, or nonprofit relationship management.

Experience in higher education

Compensation

Compensation: $62,135.00-$64,959.00

Union

Union: MAPE

Benefits

• 10% employer contributions to the retirement plan.
• Outstanding vacation and sick time packages, plus an additional 10 holidays.
• Competitive health, dental, vision, and life & disability insurance
• Generous employer contribution to Health Savings Account.
• Tuition assistance which pays between 75% - 90% of eligible tuition for employee dependents at select institutions.
• Free primary care for most services through Nice Healthcare when enrolled in a Macalester health plan.
• Access to the athletics fitness facility, wellness coaching, and activities.

These are just some of the great benefits Macalester has to offer! To see our full benefits packages and options, please visit our Benefits Page Bargaining units may have slightly different benefits negotiated in their contracts. Please see applicable contracts for more details.

Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check is a condition of employment.

DEI Statements

Macalester College does not discriminate on the grounds of sex, gender identity, race, color, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, genetic information, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, veteran status, sexual orientation, status with regard to public assistance, or other categories protected by law.

For additional information, see Macalester College's full Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Founded in 1874, Macalester College provides students with the inspiration, insight, and experience to become successful and ethical leaders.

Located in flourishing St. Paul, Minnesota, Macalester enrolls over 2,000 students from across the country and around the world.

Macalester is a preeminent liberal arts college recognized for its student service and celebration of internationalism.

At Macalester, we look at our employees through a whole-person, holistic lens.

With comprehensive benefits and well-being programs, we provide and enable our community members to grow and care for themselves, their families, and one another.

Our whole-hearted fidelity to community-building and social justice exemplify these ideals.

Macalester College continuously prioritizes a culturally diverse and pluralistic community.

We value individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

Our rich blend of people holding varied identities enhances our strong commitment to multiculturalism and global citizenship.

We seek candidates who reflect and strengthen our campus environment.

Macalester invites and encourages everyone to apply who would add depth to our community including those from all sexual orientations, races, ethnicities, national origins, genders, religions, abilities, and ages.