Assistant Director, Student​/Young Alumni Engagement; HR Alumni Relations Officer II

Overview

Job Description - Assistant Director, Student/Young Alumni Engagement (HR

Title:

Alumni Relations Officer II) (DEA)

Job Description

Assistant Director, Student/Young Alumni Engagement (HR

Title:

Alumni Relations Officer II) - ( DEA )

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

A nationally ranked private university located near the heart of Dallas, SMU is a distinguished center for global research and teaching.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

Development and External Affairs (DEA) supports SMU by securing funding for University priorities; by promoting meaningful involvement in the life and work of the University; by heightening international, national, state and local awareness of SMU; and by supporting the enrollment of a diverse and able student body.

SMU continues to leverage the benefits from the largest fund-raising campaign in its history to achieve dramatic increases in academic quality and impact.

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

This role leads the strategy and execution of engagement and fundraising efforts for undergraduate students, recent graduates (0–10 years), and next-generation alumni (11–20 years), building a strong pipeline of future donors.

This role fosters lifelong philanthropic relationships through intentional cultivation, solicitation and meaningful engagement opportunities. The position manages key volunteer groups, including the Student Philanthropy Council and Young Alumni Board, to drive participation and annual giving. It also maintains a targeted portfolio of leadership-level prospects, executing personalized strategies to advance engagement and philanthropic support.

Working collaboratively, the role develops high-impact programs that connect constituents to the institution and its mission. The role leverages data-driven insights and multi-channel strategies to increase donor participation, volunteerism and early philanthropic behaviors.

• Strategic Program Leadership & Pipeline Development:
  Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to increase philanthropy from student, young alumni (0–10 years), and next-generation alumni (11–20 years). Design, execute and optimize a series of annual programs and events that intentionally move constituents along the donor engagement continuum. Establish and monitor annual goals for participation (donor) and dollar growth, and pipeline development in collaboration with AGAR leadership. Use benchmarking, analytics, and industry best practices to continuously refine program effectiveness and ROI.
• Portfolio Management & Front-line Fundraising:
  Manage a portfolio of approximately 50–75 leadership-level prospects drawn primarily from young alumni and next-generation cohorts. Develop and execute tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies in partnership with fundraising colleagues. Identify and qualify new prospects through engagement activities, volunteer networks, and events.
• Manage Young Alumni Board (YAB):
  Recruit, train & manage the YAB as a high-performing volunteer body focused on engagement, advocacy & annual giving. Design & execute board meetings, strategic plans & annual expectations aligned with DEA priorities. Coach YAB members to serve as ambassadors, peer solicitors & connectors to emerging leadership donors. Align with broader alumni volunteer structures.
• Student Philanthropy Council Leadership (Union):
  Provide strategic oversight and day-to-day management of the Union, building a…