Executive Director, Alumni Engagement

Drexel University; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Drexel University is seeking an Executive Director of Alumni Engagement to lead the alumni engagement strategy, operations, and programming. This hands-on leadership role oversees a growing team and partners with university leaders to strengthen alumni relationships and donor involvement.

The position is hybrid, requiring in-person work 2-3 days per week, with strategic oversight of programs, events, and metrics to drive impact across the alumni lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent; 10+ years in relationship management, program development, international outreach and engagement, and volunteer management.
• Experience supervising/managing staff and leading teams.
• Demonstrated success in alumni engagement with measurable increases in engagement rates.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects concurrently.

Responsibilities

• Set the overall strategy for and manage the growing Alumni Engagement team, including programs, events, and operations.
• Design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy aligned with university priorities.
• Provide leadership and supervision to nine engagement professionals and foster collaboration.
• Build strategic relationships with university leaders, deans, faculty, and campus partners; advise on alumni engagement best practices.
• Collaborate with frontline fundraising staff to create engagement opportunities that strengthen the donor pipeline.

Skills

Relationship management

Program development

International outreach

Volunteer management

Staff supervision

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

Job Summary

The Executive Director of Alumni Engagement is responsible for building and leading Drexel University's alumni engagement strategy, operations, and programming. Reporting to the AVP of Alumni and Constituent Engagement, this role will lead the team responsible for designing and delivering meaningful engagement experiences that strengthen relationships with alumni and donors and inspire philanthropic support. This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who enjoys both strategy and execution, developing a holistic alumni engagement strategy while actively managing a growing team of engagement professionals.

This is a hybrid position, working in person 2-3 days per week.

Essential Functions

• Set the overall strategy for and manage the growing Alumni Engagement team, including school and college programs, industry, career, and affinity programming, student engagement, regional programs, signature events, and alumni engagement operations.
• Design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy that advances the university's mission, strengthens alumni affinity, supports institutional priorities, and enhances the constituent experience across the alumni lifecycle.
• Provide leadership and supervision to nine engagement professionals, conducting regular individual and team meetings, establishing performance expectations, fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability, and supporting professional development opportunities.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with university leaders, deans, faculty, and campus partners to develop strategic alumni engagement plans, and serve as a trusted advisor on alumni engagement best practices.
• Advocate for alumni perspectives and experiences in institutional planning and decision‑making, while championing the value of alumni engagement across the university.
• Spearhead industry‑leading initiatives to increase alumni engagement, expand alumni reach, and strengthen participation across diverse alumni populations, including regional, affinity, identity‑based, industry, and professional networks.
• Serve as the university's principal ambassador for alumni engagement, representing Drexel at regional and campus events, volunteer gatherings, donor functions, and other constituent‑facing opportunities, while cultivating strong relationships with alumni, volunteers, donors, and university leadership.
• Provide strategic oversight of alumni engagement operations, including budget management, resource allocation, program assessment, and operational planning to maximize effectiveness, efficiency, and impact.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators and engagement metrics; leverage data analytics, benchmarking, and constituent insights to inform strategy, assess program effectiveness, improve decision‑making, and regularly report outcomes to university leadership and stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with frontline fundraising staff to develop engagement opportunities that strengthen the donor pipeline, enhance stewardship efforts, identify prospective volunteers and philanthropic leaders, and support overall advancement objectives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree or the equivalent combination of education and work experience. (Please review the Equivalency Chart for additional information.)
• Minimum of 10 years of significant professional experience in relationship management, program development, international outreach and engagement, and volunteer management
• Experience supervising/managing staff
• Demonstrated success in managing effective efforts in alumni engagement with measurable and significant increases in alumni engagement rates
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage several projects simultaneously
• Excellent presentation skills and superior written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external colleagues, alumni volunteers, parents, prospects, and donors
• Ability to exercise diplomacy, judgment and discretion
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically
• Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree
• Strong sense of initiative to effectively navigate a diverse and complex environment

Location

• Hybrid/Flexible Work Arrangement

Additional Information

This position is classified as Exempt, grade N. Compensation for this grade ranges from $99,720 - $149,580 per year. Please note that the offered rate for this position will vary based on the successful candidate's qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review.

Applicants are encouraged to explore the Professional Staff salary structure and Compensation Guidelines & Policies for more details on Drexel's compensation framework. For information about benefits, please review Drexel's Benefits Brochure.