Senior Associate Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement, Travel Programs

Lewis & Clark College

Portland (OR)

Hybrid

USD 68,000 - 83,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Travel opportunities

Job summary

Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR is seeking a Senior Associate Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement, Travel Programs to lead the design, administration, and execution of the L&C Travel program, developing offerings and coordinating staffing and logistics.

You will cultivate partnerships with tour providers and campus collaborators, manage program finances and communications, and ensure engaging experiences for alumni, parents, and travelers while supporting broader alumni engagement

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
Four years of travel program management experience.
Three years of event planning experience.

Responsibilities

Lead annual travel program schedule with eight tours per year.
Generate at least $110,000 in annual revenue from bookings.
Coordinate staff and faculty leads for programs.
Develop targeted travel communications and manage Slate CRM data.
Support alumni events and volunteer engagement as needed.

Skills

Travel program management

Relationship management

Budget management

CRM: Slate

Event planning

Communication skills

Project management

Hospitality knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Slate CRM

Google Workspace

Job description

PRIMARY PURPOSE

The Senior Associate Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement, Travel Programs within Alumni & Parent Engagement reports directly to the Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement. This role is primarily responsible for leading the design, administration, and execution of the L&C Travel program, including developing travel offerings, cultivating partnerships with tour providers and campus collaborators, selecting and coordinating trip staffing, overseeing program finances and communications, and resolving issues that arise during travel programs. The role also provides limited support for Alumni & Parent Engagement events, programs, and volunteer engagement. The ideal candidate will possess strong experience in travel program administration, event planning, relationship management, financial oversight, marketing communications, and constituent engagement. To be successful in this position, the individual must excel at managing complex programs, building collaborative relationships, exercising sound judgment, and delivering engaging experiences that connect alumni, parents, and travelers with Lewis & Clark.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Travel Program Strategy and Operations

Lead, plan, and execute the annual L&C Travel program schedule, delivering at least eight high-quality tours each year that intentionally connect travelers with institutional priorities.
Generate a minimum of $110,000 in annual revenue through travel bookings, and grow that revenue by at least 3% year over year.
Develop and test curated affinity travel itineraries to assess constituent interest and market demand.
Select and coordinate faculty leaders, staff trip hosts, and other program representatives for individual travel programs.
Manage complex travel logistics and respond effectively to program issues that arise before, during, or following travel experiences.
Evaluate participant feedback, program outcomes, and industry practices to continuously strengthen travel offerings.

Partnerships and Constituent Engagement

Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with travel providers, tour operators, external vendors, faculty leaders, alumni, parents, travelers, and campus partners.
Negotiate and manage vendor and tour operator agreements to support program quality and protect institutional interests.
Partner with Advancement colleagues to position travel experiences as opportunities for donor cultivation and stewardship.
Integrate faculty experts, alumni hosts, researchers, campus leadership, and other institutional connections into travel experiences.
Serve as a key liaison to alumni constituencies and groups, including the Board of Alumni.

Marketing, Data, and Financial Management

Develop and distribute targeted travel and event communications through email campaigns, website content, direct mail, alumni publications, and other appropriate channels.
Use Slate Customer Relationship Management (CRM) to manage registration information, support event logistics, maintain revenue data, and inform future program planning.
Monitor program operations, revenue goals, expenses, and other financial measures to support responsible program management.
Analyze registration patterns, participant feedback, financial information, and program outcomes to inform future offerings and marketing strategies.

Engagement

Support Alumni & Parent Engagement colleagues with regional, on-campus, and virtual programs, including small gatherings, signature institutional celebrations, Alumni Weekend, Homecoming, and milestone events.
Collaborate with the Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement to strengthen alumni volunteer networks.
Recruit, engage, and support event and chapter volunteers.
Track volunteer participation and contributions to support departmental planning and goals.

Other Duties as Assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, & BEHAVIORS

Superior knowledge of curated travel program administration, itinerary development, and hospitality practices.
Proficient in tour operator, vendor, and contract relationship management.
Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills when working with alumni, parents, donors, faculty, volunteers, travelers, and external partners.
Superior judgment and problem-solving skills in complex, time-sensitive, and changing environments.
Excellent event planning, organizational, and project management skills.
Proficient in budget management, financial tracking, revenue analysis, and program assessment.
Proficient in Customer Relationship Management systems, including Slate, and digital communication platforms.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills across in-person, digital, and virtual settings.
Extremely detail-oriented, with strong prioritization skills when managing multiple programs and competing deadlines.
Strong commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment in which people with varied backgrounds, identities, perspectives, and experiences are respected and supported.

REQUIRED EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience..
Four years of experience in travel program management, hospitality, constituent relations, or customer-facing operations.
Three years of experience in event planning and project execution.

PREFERRED EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

Experience managing affinity travel programs.
Experience partnering with fundraising, advancement, or donor development teams.
Experience developing marketing communications and constituent outreach.
Experience supporting or managing volunteer networks.
Experience working in higher education settings.
Preferred Tech: Slate Customer Relationship Management (CRM); Google Workspace.

WORK SCHEDULE

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time
Schedule: 37.5 hours per week, Monday through Friday, with occasional evening and weekend hours as needed for events and travel programs.
Benefit Eligible: Yes
Travel: Periodic domestic and international travel is required to host L&C Travel programs and support select regional alumni engagement events.
Hybrid/Remote: This position is primarily in person with hybrid flexibility based on departmental needs and College policy.

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