Assistant Director for Alumni Engagement – Alumni Engagement

Assistant Director for Alumni Engagement – Alumni Engagement

Salary: Commensurate with experience
Benefits: Generous benefits include paid time off including holidays and vacation, retirement match, and tuition remission for employee and dependents.  Details at www.duq.edu/benefits
Location: Alumni Engagement, University Advancement
Position Status: Full-time                                             
Hours: Varied
Position Number: 235563/10-1062               
FLSA Status: ­­Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing dynamic alumni programming, with a particular emphasis on family events and alumni events in the Pittsburgh area. This position will foster lifelong relationships with alumni and their families, ensuring they remain connected, engaged, and invested in the institution’s mission. The Assistant Director will work collaboratively with other members of the Alumni Engagement team and campus partners to enhance alumni and family engagement, creating opportunities for alumni to connect with one another, their families, and the institution.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Alumni Programming Development & Management:

Design and implement a wide variety of alumni events, including regional gatherings, virtual programming, reunions, alumni generations events, and other engagement initiatives

Create family-friendly events designed to foster alumni involvement and encourage participation from alumni with children, including family tailgates, picnics, and family-friendly volunteer opportunities

Develop and execute creative, engaging, and innovative programming that appeals to diverse alumni populations across various ages, interests, and professional backgrounds

Oversee logistics for alumni events, including family events and Pittsburgh-area alumni gatherings, from venue selection to event execution

Ensure all events, both virtual and in-person, run smoothly, and manage all event-related details such as catering, transportation, venue coordination, and on-site management

Manage the budget for alumni programming, ensuring events are executed within financial guidelines while maximizing impact

Organize family-oriented events such as school spirit events, holiday celebrations, alumni family days, and other activities that align with institutional values and foster family connections to the university

Establish events focused on alumni generations programming, aiming to foster curated programming for alumni who have one or more relative that attended Duquesne University

Pittsburgh Area Alumni Events:

Plan and coordinate events specifically for alumni residing in the Pittsburgh area, fostering local engagement and building a strong alumni community within the region

Identify opportunities for local partnerships with Pittsburgh-based organizations, businesses, and community groups to expand alumni involvement and enrich event offerings

Serve as the main point of contact for Pittsburgh-area alumni, gathering feedback on local event preferences and responding to inquiries regarding regional alumni programming

Regional Network Management:

Act as liaison to alumni volunteers in two regional networks, New York City, NY, Chicago, IL, and Dallas, TX

Plan and coordinate events specifically for alumni residing in these regional networks, working with alumni volunteers in these cities to build a strong alumni community within the region

Travel to each regional network at least once per year to visit with alumni, hold a meeting, attend an event, etc.

Communication and Outreach:

Collaborate with the communications team to create promotional materials, including emails, newsletters, and social media content, to effectively market alumni events, family programs, and Pittsburgh-area gatherings

Serve as a point of contact for alumni inquiries related to events, providing timely and helpful information regarding program details and registration

Alumni Programming Evaluation:

Regularly assess the effectiveness of alumni and family programming through participant feedback, surveys, and attendance metrics, using this data to continuously improve future events

Track engagement metrics to ensure programming is aligned with alumni preferences and the university’s broader alumni engagement strategy

Travel is required for this position

Completes other duties as assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervises student employees only

REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, higher education administration or related field from an accredited institution and 1-3 years of experience

At least 2 years of experience in alumni relations, event planning, or program management, preferably in a higher education environment

Experience working with volunteers and managing volunteer programs

Valid driver’s license in good standing

Preferred qualifications:

Master’s degree in higher education administration, nonprofit management or related field from an accredited institution

Alternately, the successful candidate may possess any equivalent combination of experience and training, which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Strong communication skills (written and verbal) with the ability to engage and inspire diverse alumni audiences, including alumni with families

Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and execute events and programs successfully, particularly family-oriented and regional events

Ability to work independently and collaboratively, with strong organizational and project management skills

Proficiency with office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with alumni engagement software or databases

Ability to travel at least once per year for events held in regional networks and/or for any University leadership events

Ability to occasionally work outside of regular office hours to staff events on evenings and weekends

Other Skills and Competencies:

Event Management: Ability to coordinate large and small-scale events, including family events and regional alumni gatherings, both in-person and virtually

Relationship Building: Strong interpersonal skills to develop relationships with alumni, families, local community members, and institutional stakeholders

Time Management: Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously

Local Knowledge: Knowledge of Pittsburgh-area venues, businesses, and alumni networks, with the ability to develop partnerships that enhance alumni engagement

 Creativity & Innovation: Strong ability to design unique and engaging family and alumni programs that foster connection and excitement

 Commitment to the University’s values of diversity, equity and inclusion, and recognition of the importance of treating each individual with dignity and respect consistent with the University’s Mission.  Demonstrated experience with, and understanding of, the broad diversity of the University community (students, faculty, staff and others)

 Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the University Community

 Ability and willingness to contribute actively to the mission of the University and to respect the Spiritan Catholic identity of Duquesne University.  The mission is implemented through a commitment to academic excellence, a spirit of service, moral and spiritual values, sensitivity to world concerns, and an ecumenical campus community.

 APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.

Catholic in its mission and ecumenical in spirit, Duquesne University values equality of opportunity as an educational institution and as an employer. We aspire to attract and sustain a diverse faculty and staff that reflects contemporary society, serves our academic goals and enriches our campus community. We particularly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups and support dual-career couples through our charter membership in this region's HERC (http://www.hercjobs.org/oh-western-pa-wv/).

We invite applicants for this position to learn more about our university and its Spiritan heritage by visiting http://www.duq.edu/about/mission-and-identity/mission-statement. Those invited to campus for an interview may be asked about ways in which they see their talents contributing to the continued growth of our community and furthering its mission.

Duquesne University was founded in 1878 by its sponsoring religious community, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit.  Duquesne University is Catholic in mission and ecumenical in spirit.  Motivated by its Catholic identity, Duquesne values equality of opportunity both as an educational institution and as an employer.