Director, Alumni Engagement for Career Programs and Industry Networks

The George Washington University; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

The George Washington University seeks a Director of Alumni Engagement for Career Programs and Industry Networks within the Office of Alumni Relations. You will lead strategy for industry networks, develop alumni career programs, and partner with university advancement colleagues to engage top donors and prospects.

You will manage volunteers, build partnerships, and guide marketing and data-driven initiatives across in-person and virtual events, webinars, and networking opportunities for GW's

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 7 years of relevant professional experience, or a Master’s degree or higher plus 5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Experience in higher education development or related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develops strategy and goals for in-person and virtual alumni career programming.
• Develops strategy for GW’s alumni industry networks including events, budgets, communications and metrics.
• Identify and steward informal networks of alumni champions at target corporations and organizations.
• Manages and engages alumni volunteers for events, training, leadership, and fundraising activities.
• Plans and executes marketing strategies to increase alumni participation in career programs and networking initiatives.

Skills

Alumni engagement

Strategic planning

Volunteer management

Event planning

Marketing communications

Data management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree or higher

Tools

LinkedIn

GW Career Connect

GWebinars

Job description

Job Description Summary

University Advancement is responsible for leading the university’s constituent engagement and fundraising efforts and seeks to promote a culture of philanthropy throughout the university community, including alumni, students, families, faculty, staff, corporations and foundations, patients and other friends. Our goal is to advance GW’s mission of excellence in education, research, scholarship, and patient care.

The Director, Alumni Engagement for Career Programs and Industry Networks is part of the Alumni Career & Life Design team in the Office of Alumni Relations. The Director, Alumni Engagement for Career Programs and Industry Networks creates the strategy for engaging alumni in industry-based networks and in alumni career and professional development programs. This involves high-touch customer service to some of the university’s top donors and prospects. In addition to collaborating extensively with university advancement and alumni engagement colleagues, this employee serves as a critical alumni voice on university-wide councils and committees.

Responsibilities include

• Develops and implements strategy and goal setting for in-person and virtual career and professional development programming for alumni. These strategies include, but not limited to, industry and career-specific events, networking events, professional development programs, and other collaborative initiatives.
• Develops and implements a strategy, aligned with university priorities, industry trends and alumni interests, for GW’s alumni industry networks including goal setting, event and program execution, budget allocation, strategic communications, data management, and metrics tracking.
• Identify and steward informal networks of alumni ‘champions’ at target corporations and organizations creating opportunities for alumni-to-alumni networking, professional mentorship, and the collective elevation of the institution’s profile within the corporate sector.
• Manages and engages alumni volunteers for events and programs to include recruitment, training, leadership development, gift solicitation, and overall stewardship. This position will expand the base of alumni volunteers interested in sharing their career and industry expertise and experience.
• Manages, promotes and increases alumni participation in GW’s online networking and engagement programs including GWebinars, LinkedIn and GW Career Connect.
• Plans and executes on-going, measurable marketing strategies and campaigns to increase overall awareness and engagement in alumni career and industry related programs and professional networking initiatives.
• Partners with Student-Alumni Career and Industry Programs, Recent Revs and Generational Alumni Engagement on programs and opportunities to build a pipeline of engaged students and alumni for GW’s career and industry-based programming. Works in collaboration with alumni relations colleagues and school constituent engagement officers on career and industry network related events.
• Conduct in-person and virtual visits with the goal of engaging more alumni in our events, volunteer opportunities and philanthropy.
• Supports office-wide, signature programs such as the annual GW’s Alumni and Family Weekend.

Performs other work-related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position

Minimum Qualifications

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 7 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 5 years of relevant professional experience. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional experience in a higher education setting, including experience in development, institutional advancement, or a related field such as event planning/management, communications, marketing, or public relations is desired.
• Experience or additional certification in career or workforce development is highly desired.
• Demonstrated ability to strategize, implement and build constituency programs and activities, along with a talent for motivating volunteers is preferred.
• Established flexibility and initiative; the ability to work independently, as well as thrive in a team environment to achieve institutional goals.
• Demonstrated strong writing, planning and organizational skills. Capability to organize and complete multiple tasks simultaneously with close attention to detail and prioritization to meet deadlines is desired.
• Flexibility to work frequent evenings and occasional weekend events.

Hiring Range

$74,041.08 - $101,731.95

GW Staff Approach to Pay

How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

Healthcare Benefits

GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.

JOB DETAILS

Campus Location: Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.

College/School/Department: University Advancement

Family: Dev & Alumni Relations

Sub-Family: Alumni Relations

Stream: Individual Contributor

Level: Level 4

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time

Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (daytime hours) Occasional evenings/weekends and flexibility to work frequent evenings, occasional weekend events and travel.

Will this job require the employee to work on site? Yes

Employee Onsite Status: Hybrid

Telework: Yes

Required Background Check: Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

Special Instructions to Applicants: Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

Internal Applicants Only: No

Posting Number: S014550

Job Open Date: 11/05/2026

Background Screening

Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

EEO Statement

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.