What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Director, Digital Engagement and Outreach position at Syracuse University?
Job Description
This role in the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving manages online platforms, communities and technology to support alumni engagement, connectivity and philanthropy. The position will be the primary manager of an online professional development community that utilizes artificial intelligence to leverage and scale networking opportunities and informal mentorship among alumni and students. The role creates outreach communications on behalf of alumni volunteers including, but not limited to, monthly email content, event reminders, survey emails, and a regular cadence of social media content. The person in this role will empower volunteers to be true Orange ambassadors, both for engagement and philanthropic giving, via volunteers’ personal networks. Additionally, the Assistant Director will act as a community manager for existing alumni social media channels, building engagement across all channels to ensure alumni feel heard and connected to their alma mater and tracking that engagement. This role monitors external alumni community communications and will identify and cultivate a network of alumni volunteers. This role will collaborate with internal and external partners to build volunteer activities that promote alumni leadership and advocacy, and support overall university programming, fundraising and outreach goals.
Education and Experience
Not Applicable
Tools/Equipment
Not Applicable
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About The Syracuse Area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Campus Community
Syracuse University maintains an inclusive learning environment in which students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse, multi-cultural, and international worldview. The University community recognizes and values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in an inherently diverse country and world made up of people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, military backgrounds, religious beliefs, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. To do so, we commit ourselves to promoting a community that celebrates and models the principles of diversity and inclusivity.
This role in the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving manages online platforms, communities and technology to support alumni engagement, connectivity and philanthropy. The position will be the primary manager of an online professional development community that utilizes artificial intelligence to leverage and scale networking opportunities and informal mentorship among alumni and students. The role creates outreach communications on behalf of alumni volunteers including, but not limited to, monthly email content, event reminders, survey emails, and a regular cadence of social media content. The person in this role will empower volunteers to be true Orange ambassadors, both for engagement and philanthropic giving, via volunteers’ personal networks. Additionally, the Assistant Director will act as a community manager for existing alumni social media channels, building engagement across all channels to ensure alumni feel heard and connected to their alma mater and tracking that engagement. This role monitors external alumni community communications and will identify and cultivate a network of alumni volunteers. This role will collaborate with internal and external partners to build volunteer activities that promote alumni leadership and advocacy, and support overall university programming, fundraising and outreach goals.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Two (2) plus years of alumni engagement and/or higher education experience required.
- Communications experience required.
- Experience in career services/training and development desirable.
- Prior experience managing digital networks and communities designed to foster professional growth and strengthen constituent engagement desirable.
- Knowledge of Microsoft office products, and University advancement systems.
- Valid driver’s license and passport required for travel.
- Syracuse University graduate preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to build scalable frameworks, cultivate meaningful connections within diverse audiences, and leverage digital platforms to drive measurable impact and long-term engagement.
- Proven ability to develop relationships across diverse populations, including internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage several projects simultaneously required.
- Impeccable written, verbal and interpersonal skills required.
- Excellent administrative skills required; strong presentation skills and/or demonstrated training experience desirable.
- Graphic design skills desirable, utilizing platforms including Canva and/or Photoshop.
- Ability to effectively leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and technologies to enhance operational efficiency and drive innovation.
- Strong understanding of AI trends, tools (e.g., machine learning models, natural language processing, predictive analytics), and their applications in higher education and/or advancement required.
- Oversee and direct the day-to-day function of Syracuse University’s professional development community that utilizes artificial intelligence to support networking and informal mentorship among alumni and students. Ensure consistent cadence of communications via platforms and tools. Engage campus partners in successfully adopting the technology across student, alumni, faculty and staff populations. Identify and refer select alumni to development officers for cultivation and stewardship. Provide technical support for community users and identify opportunities to strengthen engagement among users through training, on-demand resources, and other support services. Serve as the liaison to Advancement Services in ensuring constituent data is transferred seamlessly between the community and the CITRUS database on an on-going basis.
- Serve as a community manager across Syracuse University’s existing alumni social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, to create content as needed to promote alumni programming and initiatives, monitor comments and draft responses as appropriate, and identify alumni who engage via these channels for future engagement and cultivation opportunities. Track digital engagement consistently as part of Syracuse University’s engagement scoring efforts.
- Create, edit and evaluate content on behalf of alumni volunteers to be used in email marketing communications and on social media channels in tandem with the Outreach Programs and Communications teams. Create content and build templates for monthly emails to share club/regional programming.
- Liaise with the Forever Orange Committee of the Syracuse University Alumni Association Board of Directors, ensuring that the “Forever Orange Promise” and related/new initiatives and outreach remains at the forefront of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving’s mission. Will lead presentations for the SUAA Board on this topic.
- Identify, review and evaluate emerging vendor platforms and partnerships as applicable, and participate on related university and AEA committees as assigned.
Not Applicable
Tools/Equipment
Not Applicable
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About The Syracuse Area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Campus Community
Syracuse University maintains an inclusive learning environment in which students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse, multi-cultural, and international worldview. The University community recognizes and values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in an inherently diverse country and world made up of people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, military backgrounds, religious beliefs, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. To do so, we commit ourselves to promoting a community that celebrates and models the principles of diversity and inclusivity.
