Executive Director, CU Boulder Alumni Association

Executive Director of the CU Boulder Alumni Association

The University of Colorado Boulder seeks an inspiring, innovative, and future-focused leader to serve as the next Executive Director of the CU Boulder Alumni Association. The ideal candidate will bring strategic vision, strong engagement and fundraising expertise, and a collaborative leadership style to help shape the future of alumni engagement during a defining moment for the university.

An important driver of this momentum, the CU Boulder Alumni Association has cultivated a proud tradition of alumni engagement and service for more than 140 years. As a dues-free membership organization serving a globally connected community of more than 380,000 alumni, the association advances lifelong connection, institutional pride, advocacy, volunteerism, and philanthropic engagement across the Forever Buffs community.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Engagement, the Executive Director leads the alumni association's strategy, operations, and engagement model in alignment with the university's comprehensive campaign and long-term engagement and fundraising vision. A highly visible ambassador for CU Boulder, the Executive Director advances innovative, data-informed strategies that strengthen alumni connection through communication, experiential, philanthropic, and volunteer engagement pathways while aligning alumni engagement with broader institutional priorities.

The Executive Director leads a team of 16 alumni association professionals, fostering a collaborative, high-performing, and values-driven culture. This leader will help shape the future of alumni engagement by deepening participation, strengthening institutional loyalty, and expanding alumni's impact in an evolving higher education landscape.

The role also oversees board governance, volunteer leadership, and strategic partnerships for the alumni association. Serving as the primary liaison to the Forever Buffs Advisory Board, the Executive Director cultivates a strong pipeline of alumni leaders, advocates, mentors, and volunteers while advancing inclusive programs and signature engagement opportunities that strengthen alumni connection and advance institutional priorities.

The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated success in alumni relations, advancement, engagement strategy, or related fields within complex organizations, along with exceptional relationship-building, operational, and financial leadership skills. Most importantly, they will possess the ability to inspire others, foster innovation, and lead with authenticity, optimism, and purpose.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Founded in 1876 and recognized among the nation's leading public universities, CU Boulder is entering a transformative era marked by growing national visibility and its first campus-based comprehensive campaign. As the state's flagship university and one of only 38 U.S. public research institutions in the Association of American Universities (AAU), CU Boulder is advancing research and creative excellence, global sustainability impact, and student success in pursuit of its vision to transform lives in service to a just and sustainable world.

CU Boulder Advancement is committed to a culture of joy, motivated by collaboration, passionate about excellence and driven by impact. These four values define the culture and drive engagement and fundraising success.

We are committed to fostering an environment where everyone matters and all can thrive. This dedication is rooted in our core values and our mission to drive impactful fundraising and engagement. Our team actively engages in learning, reflection, and the transformation of systems, policies, and practices that perpetuate oppressive ideologies—including racism, sexism, ableism, and heterosexism. We recognize our responsibility to lead by example in building a supportive and inclusive culture for both internal colleagues and external partners.

We hold ourselves accountable through individual and divisional goals that continuously assess our progress, growth, and outcomes—ensuring alignment with our mission and values every step of the way.

The Executive Director of the CU Boulder Alumni Association serves as the strategic and operational leader of the CU Boulder Alumni Association, advancing a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy that fosters meaningful, lifelong relationships between CU Boulder and its more than 380,000 alumni. Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Engagement, the ED leads alumni strategy, governance, programming, and operations in alignment with CU Boulder Advancement's broader engagement and…