Director for Retiree Relations

University of Washington; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading public university is seeking a Director for Retiree Relations in Seattle. This full-time role leads strategy, outreach, and communications for the university’s retiree community. The ideal candidate will have over five years in higher education administration and exceptional interpersonal skills. Responsibilities include managing financial operations and designing programs for retiree engagement. This position allows for a hybrid work schedule with both in-office and telework days.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in constituent engagement or higher education administration.
• Ability to handle confidential information empathetically and clearly.
• Experience with program development.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy and programming for the UW retiree community.
• Manage UWRA financial operations and ensure compliance.
• Design programs that drive membership acquisition and retention.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Problem-solving

Organizational skills

Microsoft Office Suite

CRM software

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

For over 160 years, the University of Washington has been a hub for learning, innovation, problem solving and community building. Supporting this legacy and important public mission—with the goal of making the UW the world’s greatest public university, as measured by positive impact—guides everything we do in University Advancement. Bringing together development; alumni and stakeholder engagement; marketing and communications; and advancement operations, we advance the UW’s impact by developing meaningful connections that foster pride, advocacy and philanthropic support.

Alumni and Stakeholder Engagement (ASE), working in collaborative partnerships with the UW Alumni Association (UWAA), UW Retirement Association (UWRA) and the University Book Store, fulfills its mission to advance higher education in the state of Washington and to support the UW through impactful, broad-based engagement with alumni, students, retirees and friends of the University. This starts with creating a culture of belonging within our organization that values the diverse experiences and expertise of our team members, allowing everyone to thrive and to contribute their unique talents as we strive to achieve our shared goals.

Alumni & Stakeholder Engagement has an exciting opening for a Director for Retiree Relations. This is a full-time permanent position.

The Director for Retiree Relations leads strategy, programming, outreach and communications to support and engage the University of Washington’s retiree community while overseeing the financial and administrative operations of the UW Retirement Association (UWRA). Reporting to the Senior Director for Engagement Strategy, this role drives integrated engagement strategies that strengthen affinity with the UW and advance UWRA’s self-sustaining revenue goals. Serving as a strategic and relationship-centered leader, the Director fosters strong, emotionally intelligent connections across campus and community partners, demonstrating exceptional communication skills, executive resilience and a commitment to the UW’s public mission.

What You Will Do:

Engagement Program Leadership

• Develop and deliver comprehensive programs, services and communications that engage UW retirees in a purpose‑driven relationship with the University and with one another.
• Evolve and manage a program portfolio aligned with the UWRA’s mission and strategic plan, using subject‑matter expertise in topics relevant to aging adults and UW retirees to inform priorities and decisions.
• Design, implement and assess integrated programs and services that drive UWRA membership acquisition and retention, support business development and expand revenue‑generating opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships to advance shared goals and align programming with UA priorities, working closely with key internal and external stakeholders, including UWRA leadership, UW units serving retirees, the Washington State Health Care Authority, the Department of Retirement Systems, and Era Living
• Supervise the Assistant Director for Board and Member Services, including recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management and professional development.
• Manage individual and team workflows to ensure responsive customer service, efficient daily operations and capacity for future program growth.
• Foster and contribute to an inclusive and productive team culture that embraces opportunities.

Operations and Administration

• Lead and manage all UWRA financial operations, including budget oversight, nonprofit compliance and partnering with the treasurer and external accountant to maintain sound accounting practices and accurate records.
• Support standing committees of the UWRA Board of Directors, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and fostering a meaningful, purpose‑driven volunteer experience.
• Collaborate with marketing and communications partners to develop, execute and evaluate program marketing materials and the communications calendar, ensuring alignment with revenue goals, participation targets and strategic priorities.
• Oversee the UWRA website and collaborate with colleagues and vendors to implement improvements that enhance usability, relevance and alignment with program and organizational goals.

Other duties as assigned

Bachelor's degree and five or more years of experience in constituent engagement, higher education administration, program development, or related field.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

What You Bring:

• Previous or current employment in higher education.
• Strong interpersonal skills, exceptional customer service and the ability to handle confidential information with care while communicating clearly and empathetically.
• Strength in solving complex, unstructured problems through open communication, follow‑through and relationship‑centered approaches.
• Ability to make decisions in ambiguous situations, exercise good judgment based on information and analysis.
• Proven creativity, strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite for managing correspondence, reports, schedules and presentations.
• Familiarity and comfort with industry-standard CRM or other broad‑based engagement software and tools.
• Access to reliable transportation for local travel and willingness to travel when necessary.
• Ability to travel in and out-of-state up to 3 times per year for events and meetings.

What You Can Expect:

• Hybrid-work schedule with four days in the office and one day eligible for telework, subject to business needs.
• Workload and times may vary, including occasional evenings or weekends.
• Cubicle/open workspace environment that may result in higher noise levels and visual distractions.