Program Specialist, Alumni Affairs

Council on Foreign Relations; New York (NY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

The Council on Foreign Relations in New York is seeking a Program Specialist, Alumni Affairs to support planning and execution of alumni programs, events, communications, and engagement across CFR's Term Member and IAF programs. The role sits in a small, collaborative team and focuses on operations, database management, and member communications.

The position is based in CFR’s New York office at least four days per week, with onsite anchor days Tuesday–Thursday.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in International Relations or related field; MA preferred.
• At least four years in alumni relations, development, events, or related admin role.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and CRM/membership databases.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary contact for alumni via phone, email, and in person.
• Coordinate events, manage room setup, registration, and program details.
• Maintain alumni CRM records, compile participation data, and report engagement trends.
• Oversee dues billing and alumni directory/portal development.
• Staff alumni events and support virtual/hybrid meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Microsoft Office

CRM experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in International Relations or related field

MA in international relations or related field

Tools

Salesforce

iMIS

Job description

Position Summary

The Program Specialist, Alumni Affairs supports the planning and execution of programs, communications, and events that keep alumni of the Stephen M. Kellen Term Member Program and International Affairs Fellowship Program engaged with the institution and one another. Working within a small, collaborative team, the program specialist handles day-to-day operations, database management, event logistics, and member communications that strengthen CFR's alumni community over time.

This position is based in CFR’s New York office at least four days per week. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are considered institutional anchor days where all staff are required to be onsite. CFR’s remote working schedule is subject to change.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for alumni, communicating professionally by phone, email, and in person
• Act as liaison between CFR and alumni on all event-related details including room setup, discussion format, and registration
• Develop, update, and maintain accurate alumni contact records for Term Member and IAF alumni in the CRM database; research and compile participation data and report on engagement trends
• Advise on the development of an online alumni directory and portal on cfr.org, accessible exclusively to program alumni
• Oversee alumni dues billing process
• Communicate professionally with CFR alumni, members, visitors, media, and staff; by phone, email, and in person
• Coordinate semi-regular alumni events, including in-person meetings, virtual gatherings, and salon discussions; responsibilities span the full event lifecycle from drafting invitations and speaker and presider outreach to audience development, logistics oversight, and post-event follow-up including thank-you correspondence and voucher processing
• Staff all alumni events and serve as operator for virtual and hybrid meetings
• Perform any other duties or tasks as assigned or required

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in International Relations or a related field. MA in international relations or related field preferred.
• A minimum of four years of relevant experience in alumni relations, development, events, or a related administrative role

Related Skills & Other Requirements

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with a CRM or membership database (e.g., Salesforce, iMIS, or similar) is required
• Self-starter with excellent planning, organizational, problem-solving, and leadership skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Strong research skills and excellent written and verbal communication skills, including proofreading and editing ability
• Ability to work flexible hours (many events are held over breakfast or in the evening)

Compensation and Benefits

• The full-time annual compensation range for this position is $75,000-$85,000, depending on experience.
• In addition to competitive salaries, the Council on Foreign Relations offers a competitive benefits package.

About CFR

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is committed to fostering a foreign policy community in the United States that is more representative of American society, recognizing that diverse backgrounds and perspectives contribute to broader, more informed participation in the foreign policy debate and lead to an enhanced understanding of the world and the United States’ role therein. To that end, CFR is dedicated to continuing to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout its work and workplace by building a more diverse membership and staff, producing and dispensing thoughtful analysis on a broad range of foreign policy issues, and developing relevant, wide-reaching programming that also serves to expand the foreign policy talent pipeline to underrepresented populations.