Director, Waldron Student-Alumni Connections Program

Northwestern University; Evanston (IL); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Vacation & holidays

Parental leave

Tuition benefits

Pre-tax accounts

Retirement benefits

Wellness programs

Job summary

Northwestern University is seeking a Director for the Waldron Student-Alumni Connections Program within WCAS Administration. The role designs and executes an annual events portfolio, builds an alumni volunteer pipeline, and partners across campus to advance student career development and alumni engagement.

The position is full-time and onsite, with occasional remote work discussed during interviews. Salary range targets $80,000–$105,000 annually, commensurate with education and experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field.
• Experience planning large-scale events and multi-stakeholder programs.
• Experience with budgets and financial reporting structures.
• Demonstrated success in alumni relations or development is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Waldron Student-Alumni Connections Program, designing and executing an annual portfolio of ~20 events (panels, fireside chats, career treks, Career Summit).
• Build and steward a meaningful alumni volunteer pipeline, including leading the ~15-member Waldron Alumni Council.
• Create career-focused experiences for undergrads via the Waldron Connections Student Council and alumni communications.
• Cultivate partnerships across campus (e.g., Northwestern Career Advancement, WCAS Undergraduate Student Affairs).
• Manage the program's endowed budget with the Dean's Office and oversee systems/tools to run smoothly.
• Maintain alumni engagement data and reporting with Alumni Relations and Development for donor cultivation.
• Provide strategic direction for the Weinberg in the World podcast and the Ask a Wildcat mentoring platform.

Skills

Volunteer recruitment

Interpersonal skills

Event planning

Budget management

Data reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

CRM systems

Alumni platforms (Protopia/Ask a Wildcat)

Job description

Location: Evanston, Illinois

Department: WCAS Administration

Salary/Grade: EXS/9

Job Summary

The Director of the Waldron Student-Alumni Connections Program leads a high-impact, endowed initiative within the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (WCAS) that connects undergraduate students with alumni for career exploration. Sitting within the Office of the Dean, the Director designs and executes an annual portfolio of approximately 20 events, builds and stewards a meaningful alumni volunteer pipeline, and partners across campus to advance both student career development and the University's broader alumni engagement and fundraising goals.

This position is full-time and regular onsite work is required, particularly during the academic year. Evening and occasional weekend availability is expected for events. Occasional remote work will be possible, and more information will be discussed during the interview.

The target salary range for this position is $80,000 - $105,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Specific Responsibilities

• Program Leadership: Lead the Waldron Student-Alumni Connections Program, designing and executing an annual portfolio of approximately 20 events, including panels, fireside chats, career treks, and the annual Career Summit that connect Weinberg College students with alumni across diverse industries, backgrounds, and career stages.
• Alumni Engagement: Build and steward a meaningful alumni volunteer pipeline in partnership with Alumni Relations and Development, including leading the roughly 15-member Waldron Alumni Council and helping identify alumni who can grow into engaged, long-term supporters of the College.
• Student Programming: Create career-focused experiences for undergraduates by leading the Waldron Connections Student Council, overseeing student communications, and helping students, particularly those still exploring their career direction, build professional confidence.
• Campus Partnerships: Cultivate strategic partnerships across campus, including with Northwestern Career Advancement and the Weinberg College Office of Undergraduate Student Affairs and Advising, to expand the program's reach and impact.
• Budget & Operations: Manage the program's endowed budget in partnership with the WCAS Dean's Office and oversee the systems and tools that keep the program running smoothly.
• Data & Donor Relations: Maintain accurate alumni engagement data and reporting, partnering with Alumni Relations and Development to support prospect management and donor cultivation.
• Digital Engagement: Provide strategic direction for the Weinberg in the World podcast and the Ask a Wildcat digital mentoring platform, tracking performance and sharing insights with campus partners.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in a liberal arts field, or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, alumni relations, development, student affairs, career services, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing events, including large-scale conferences or multi-stakeholder programming.
• Experience managing budgets and working within financial reporting structures.

Minimum Competencies

• Proven ability to recruit, engage, and steward volunteers, with an understanding of volunteer management best practices.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills; ability to work effectively with students, alumni, faculty, staff, and donors across organizational levels.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to represent the program in presentations and written materials.
• Comfort with CRM or constituent management systems, data management, and using data to inform program decisions

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in higher education administration, communications, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Seven or more years of experience, including at least two years in alumni engagement, development, or a program director role within higher education.
• Experience working in a liberal arts college context or with liberal arts student populations.
• Familiarity with alumni engagement and fundraising strategy, including moves management and the role of volunteer engagement in donor cultivation.
• Experience with digital mentoring or alumni networking platforms (e.g., Protopia/Ask a Wildcat, Graduway, or similar tools).
• Experience producing or managing a podcast series or similar multimedia content.
• Knowledge of career exploration frameworks and labor market trends for liberal arts graduates.

Benefits

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits.

• health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance;
• paid vacation and holidays;
• paid medical/sick and parentalleave;
• tuition benefits for the employee and dependents;
• pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care;
• generous retirement savings options;
• wellness programs.

For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness

• Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
• We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development

• Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources.
• Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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