Director, Alumni Engagement

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Clayton (MO); On-site; USD 72,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid time off

Educational fee discounts

Job summary

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc. is looking for a Director of Alumni Engagement in Clayton, Missouri. This role involves leading alumni engagement programs, analyzing engagement data, and managing a team to build a vibrant alumni community.

Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree and at least 5 years of experience in alumni relations or a related field. The position offers a salary range of $72,000 – $78,000 and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of experience in alumni relations, advancement, or related fields.
• Strong project management and collaboration skills.
• Experience in higher education preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute alumni engagement programs.
• Analyze engagement data to refine strategies.
• Manage team and volunteers effectively.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Data Analysis

Project Management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

CRM Systems

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Hiring Department

Alumni Activities

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) for Alumni Engagement, the Director of Alumni Engagement leads the day‑to‑day execution of UMSL’s comprehensive alumni engagement program. This role builds a vibrant alumni community that advances institutional priorities, including philanthropy, student success, brand reputation, and volunteer leadership. The Director manages team members (including the Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Alumni Engagement Officer) responsible for managing a variety of alumni programs, while also directly overseeing signature and regional programming.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Engagement Planning: Translate AVC strategy into annual business plans, set KPIs and evaluate results using CRM reports and analytics.
• Analyze engagement data to set tactical direction and segmented strategies, set measurable engagement and participation targets (events, giving, volunteerism), and refine tactics to demonstrate impact and alignment to campaign and institutional goals.
• Lead a portfolio of alumni engagement programs: student‑facing initiatives, milestone reunions, and regional events within Greater St. Louis and primary and secondary national markets as defined by the Division.
• Partner closely with development/fundraising teams to build the donor pipeline.
• Oversee signature events (Night at the Ballpark, UMSL 5K, Night at the Blues, Family Legacy Pinning, Golden Graduates), homecoming, regional programs, and virtual engagement.
• Serve as liaison and lead assigned UMSL Alumni Association committees, following strategic goals set by AVC and Board. This includes assisting the AVC with setting agendas and meeting materials, writing and submitting meeting minutes, and facilitating action items for a variety of Association work. The Director is also specifically assigned to the Alumni & Student Engagement Committee and Advocacy Committee. Other volunteer committees may be created to facilitate highly detailed programs and events such as the UMSL 5K.
• Identify, train, and manage alumni volunteers to support event and program goals and outcomes.
• Support alumni chapters, affinity groups, and leadership councils.
• Partner with Advancement Communications to build multi‑channel outreach plans (mail, email, social, geofencing, personal outreach) to achieve business plan goals by program.
• Under direction of AVC, collaborate with deans, faculty, and Advancement colleagues to develop and implement scalable engagement plans by college/department aligned to campaign priorities.

Operational Stewardship & Resource Management

• Work within a defined budget for events and programs, adhering to all UM System, UMSL, and Advancement purchasing policies. Track expenditures toward budget and submit and pay invoices and bills in a timely and accurate manner. Manage vendor relationships.
• Negotiate cost containment strategies and track ROI for Alumni Engagement team.
• Coach and develop staff; set individual goals; ensure adoption of best practices.
• Demonstrate thoughtful judgment and discretion in managing relationships, communications, and program execution, appropriately escalating issues, synthesizing input, and determining next steps in dynamic and sometimes ambiguous environments.
• Ensure volunteer recruitment, assignment tracking, and stewardship in CRM; integrate alumni into networking and career development opportunities.

Performance Analytics, Continuous Improvement & Institutional Effectiveness

• Work with Advancement Services to create reporting and tracking mechanisms to measure engagement activity progress and other communication and planning tools in the CRM.
• Update project plans with status updates on assigned activities including escalating blocks to project managers as needed.
• Continually evaluate programs and workflows to identify opportunities for improvements and efficiencies.
• Maintain data integrity, enter contract reports on a timely basis, and pull and interpret reports to inform decisions.
• Foster a high‑performing, collaborative, and innovative team culture.
• Travel locally and regionally for alumni meetings and activities.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University will not sponsor applicants for this position for employment visas.

Shift

40 hours per week, Monday–Friday; some nights and weekends required.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 5 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5–7 years of experience in alumni relations, advancement, events, or related field
• 2–3 years of supervisory experience
• Strong project management, communication, and collaboration skills
• Experience in higher education; familiarity with alumni association governance
• Proficiency with CRM systems and GiveCampus; strong analytical skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high‑quality outcomes

Anticipated Hiring Range

$72,000 – $78,000

Application Materials

• Application materials include a cover letter and resume. Finalists will be asked to provide references at a later date.
• Applicants must combine all application materials into one PDF for Microsoft Word document and upload as a resume attachment to the UMSL Careers. The file name must be limited to 50 characters. Maximum size limit is 11 MB. Do not include special characters (/, &, %, etc.). For questions about the application process, please email [e-mail]. If you are experiencing technical problems, please email [e-mail].
• Include the URL https://www.umsl.edu/services/hrs/careers/index.html in your submission if needed.

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short‑ and long‑term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To request ADA accommodations, please email the Office of Human Resources at [e-mail].