What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Director, Alumni Career Engagement position at Oregon State University Foundation?
Description
Reporting to the Director II, Alumni Career Engagement, the Assistant Director works with colleagues to grow the professional networking opportunities for post-graduate alumni to support career development and develop different approaches to help alumni get the tools and resources they need to be competitive in the workforce.
Work Location
This position will be based at either the CH2M HILL Alumni Center in Corvallis, Oregon or the OSU Portland Center. Position may require working outside normal work hours for the purposes of supporting Alumni events.
Key Partners
Beyond OSUAA colleagues, this position requires collaboration with the following groups:
Develop and strengthen relationships with corporate partners, industry leaders, and alumni in key sectors to create career opportunities, sponsorships, and engagement initiatives, while collaborating with university advancement teams to secure corporate sponsorships, philanthropic contributions, and in-kind support for alumni association programs and events.
Recruit, train, and support alumni volunteers and corporate representatives for mentoring programs, mock interviews, career panels, affinity groups, and regional networks, providing guidance, training, and resources to enhance their effectiveness in professional development initiatives.
Organize networking events, career fairs, and industry panels to connect employers with alumni and students for job placements, internships, and mentorship opportunities, while also curating career-focused content—such as webcasts, podcasts, newsletter articles, and social media posts—to support their professional growth.
Coordinate and manage in-person, virtual, and hybrid events, including networking mixers, career panels, professional development programs, and social gatherings, to foster alumni connections and support student career programming while ensuring seamless execution and engagement.
Establish, manage, and grow alumni affinity groups (e.g., identity-based, professional, or interest-based) and regional networks to strengthen alumni engagement.
Develop marketing strategies and communication plans, including social media, newsletters, and targeted outreach, to engage employers, alumni, and students while ensuring alignment with university goals and keeping alumni informed and connected with their respective groups.
Assist with career networking platforms, mentoring programs, and digital engagement tools, providing technical support and enhancing user experience.
Track engagement and participation metrics, collect feedback, and assess the effectiveness of career programs and affinity/networking efforts while collaborating with campus partners to enhance offerings and ensure alignment with broader university and alumni association goals.
Support and participate in other OSU Alumni Association and OSU Foundation events and programming as needed.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
Bachelor’s degree and three years of professional work experience in a career service, workforce development, alumni relations career development, project management, or non-profit environment. Must possess a valid Oregon Driver’s License or acquire one upon hire.
Core Values
The OSU Foundation strives to be one of the best places to work in the country. We know that the success of the Foundation depends, in large part, on the people who carry out our mission. It’s what we do -and how we do it- that makes the difference. The Foundation’s core values reflect our approach to work and to each other, and we are committed to conduct consistent with these values:
collaborative
Reporting to the Director II, Alumni Career Engagement, the Assistant Director works with colleagues to grow the professional networking opportunities for post-graduate alumni to support career development and develop different approaches to help alumni get the tools and resources they need to be competitive in the workforce.
Work Location
This position will be based at either the CH2M HILL Alumni Center in Corvallis, Oregon or the OSU Portland Center. Position may require working outside normal work hours for the purposes of supporting Alumni events.
Key Partners
Beyond OSUAA colleagues, this position requires collaboration with the following groups:
- OSU alumni, OSU Career Services staff, OSU academic units and departments, OSU Athletics, and other appropriate colleagues.
- Vendors/providers of career-building workshops and seminars.
- Representatives from private, public, and non-profit industries.
- Ensure experiences advance the OSU brand and engage constituents in creative and energetic new ways, as measured by post-events surveys and other applicable metrics.
- Ensure experiences grow in scale and participation.
- Ensure experiences, both online and in-person, are executed flawlessly where all participants are eager to further engage with Oregon State University.
Develop and strengthen relationships with corporate partners, industry leaders, and alumni in key sectors to create career opportunities, sponsorships, and engagement initiatives, while collaborating with university advancement teams to secure corporate sponsorships, philanthropic contributions, and in-kind support for alumni association programs and events.
Recruit, train, and support alumni volunteers and corporate representatives for mentoring programs, mock interviews, career panels, affinity groups, and regional networks, providing guidance, training, and resources to enhance their effectiveness in professional development initiatives.
Organize networking events, career fairs, and industry panels to connect employers with alumni and students for job placements, internships, and mentorship opportunities, while also curating career-focused content—such as webcasts, podcasts, newsletter articles, and social media posts—to support their professional growth.
Coordinate and manage in-person, virtual, and hybrid events, including networking mixers, career panels, professional development programs, and social gatherings, to foster alumni connections and support student career programming while ensuring seamless execution and engagement.
Establish, manage, and grow alumni affinity groups (e.g., identity-based, professional, or interest-based) and regional networks to strengthen alumni engagement.
Develop marketing strategies and communication plans, including social media, newsletters, and targeted outreach, to engage employers, alumni, and students while ensuring alignment with university goals and keeping alumni informed and connected with their respective groups.
Assist with career networking platforms, mentoring programs, and digital engagement tools, providing technical support and enhancing user experience.
Track engagement and participation metrics, collect feedback, and assess the effectiveness of career programs and affinity/networking efforts while collaborating with campus partners to enhance offerings and ensure alignment with broader university and alumni association goals.
Support and participate in other OSU Alumni Association and OSU Foundation events and programming as needed.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
- Deep understanding of career services best practices, job search strategies, industry hiring trends, professional development, and the evolving career needs of alumni at different life stages.
- Expertise in building and sustaining relationships with alumni, leveraging affinity groups, regional networks, and mentoring programs to enhance long-term engagement.
- Strong knowledge of planning, marketing, and executing career events (virtual, hybrid, and in-person), including logistics, volunteer coordination, and audience engagement strategies.
- Familiarity with career-related technology, including alumni networking platforms, mentoring software, webinar hosting, CRM systems, and social media for professional development. Strong skills in Microsoft Office and email.
- Understanding of employer engagement, workforce trends, and how to develop strategic partnerships with companies, industry leaders, and alumni to create career opportunities, sponsorships, and networking connections.
Bachelor’s degree and three years of professional work experience in a career service, workforce development, alumni relations career development, project management, or non-profit environment. Must possess a valid Oregon Driver’s License or acquire one upon hire.
Core Values
The OSU Foundation strives to be one of the best places to work in the country. We know that the success of the Foundation depends, in large part, on the people who carry out our mission. It’s what we do -and how we do it- that makes the difference. The Foundation’s core values reflect our approach to work and to each other, and we are committed to conduct consistent with these values:
collaborative
- inclusive
- responsible
- respectful
- innovative
