Executive Director, CU Boulder Alumni Association

Job Summary

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 Executive Director will provide strategic vision, strong engagement and fundraising expertise, and a collaborative leadership style to shape the future of alumni engagement in this defining moment for the university.

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 fundraising vision. The role includes overseeing board governance, volunteer leadership, and strategic partnerships. The Executive Director is a highly visible ambassador for CU Boulder and advances innovative, data‑informed strategies that strengthen alumni connection through communication, experiential, philanthropic, and volunteer engagement pathways.

Founded in 1876, CU Boulder is a leading public research university and the flagship of Colorado. With a global alumni community of more than 380,000, the CU Boulder Alumni Association is a dues‑free membership organization that advances lifelong connection, institutional pride, advocacy, volunteerism, and philanthropic engagement across the Forever Buffs community. CU Boulder Advancement is committed to a culture of joy, collaboration, excellence, and impact, and fosters an inclusive environment where everyone matters.

• Strategy & Leadership
  • Champion innovation in alumni engagement by continuously evaluating emerging trends, technology, and best practices.
  • Develop, implement, and refine the Alumni Association’s strategic plan in alignment with campus and divisional goals.
  • Provide strategic and operational leadership to the team, fostering clarity of roles, accountability, and high performance.
  • Partner with the Assistant Vice Chancellor and campus partners to advance a data‑informed engagement model aligned with national metrics and campus objectives.
  • Serve as a strategic thought partner and subject matter expert across the division and broader campus community.
  • Integrate alumni strategy with division‑wide engagement and fundraising initiatives to ensure cohesive execution and measurable impact.
  • Lead or contribute to special initiatives assigned by the Assistant Vice Chancellor, including cross‑campus initiatives, new engagement models, and crisis response efforts.
• Programmatic & Board Leadership
  • Provide governance oversight for the Alumni Association Board of Advisors, aligning board engagement with strategy.
  • Develop and implement a scalable volunteer engagement strategy sustaining a diverse pipeline of alumni leaders.
  • Lead the development and launch of a comprehensive alumni advocacy strategy to mobilize alumni as ambassadors.
  • Partner with campus stakeholders to design and scale career engagement initiatives, including mentorship and employer partnerships.
  • Lead the strategy and continuous evolution of high‑impact alumni experiences that advance institutional priorities.
  • Ensure programming reflects the breadth and diversity of the alumni community, fostering inclusive engagement across all cohorts.
  • Collaborate with Marketing & Communications and campus partners to align alumni‑facing messaging with broader strategies.
  • Provide performance reporting and strategic analysis to leadership and stakeholders using dashboards and data insights.
  • Continuously assess program effectiveness using qualitative and quantitative metrics.
• Partnerships & External Relations
  • Represent the Alumni Association in internal and external forums as a visible ambassador.
  • Cultivate strategic partnerships across the CU System and key campus stakeholders.
  • Partner with the CU Foundation to lead planning and execution of the annual foundation meeting hosted at CU Boulder.
  • Support governmental relations and advocacy efforts by engaging alumni in outreach initiatives.
  • Serve as CU Boulder’s representative to the Council of Alumni Association Executives and other professional associations.
• Operations & Financial Stewardship
  • Oversee financial…