Director, Alumni Engagement

Director, Alumni Engagement

Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) for Alumni Engagement, the Director, Alumni Engagement leads the day-to-day execution of UMSL’s comprehensive alumni engagement program. This role builds a vibrant, inclusive alumni community that advances institutional priorities, including philanthropy, student success, brand reputation, and volunteer leadership. The Director manages team members (including the Assistant Director Alumni Engagement and Alumni Engagement Officer) responsible for managing a variety of alumni programs, while also directly overseeing signature and regional programming.

• Translate AVC strategy into annual business plans; set KPIs and evaluate results using CRM reports and analytics.
• Analyze engagement data to set tactical direction and segmented strategies, set measurable engagement and participation targets for events, giving, and volunteerism, and refine tactics to demonstrate impact and alignment to campaign and institutional goals.
• Lead a portfolio of alumni engagement programs, including student-facing initiatives, milestone reunions, and regional events within Greater St. Louis and primary and secondary national markets.
• Partner closely with development/fundraising teams to build the donor pipeline.
• Oversee signature events such as Night at the Ballpark, UMSL 5K, Night at the Blues, Family Legacy Pinning, Golden Graduates, homecoming, regional programs, and virtual engagement.
• Serve as liaison and lead assigned UMSL Alumni Association committees, following strategic goals set by AVC and the Board, providing agendas, meeting minutes, and facilitating action items.
• Identify, train, and manage alumni volunteers to support event and program goals and outcomes.
• Support alumni chapters, affinity groups, and leadership councils.
• Partner with Advancement Communications to build multi-channel outreach plans (mail, email, social, geofencing, personal outreach) to achieve business plan goals by program.
• Collaborate with deans, faculty, and Advancement colleagues to develop and implement scalable engagement plans by college/department aligned to campaign priorities.

• Operate within a defined budget for events and programs, adhering to all UM System, UMSL, and Advancement purchasing policies.
• Track expenditures towards budget, submit and pay invoices and bills timely and accurately, and manage vendor relationships.
• Negotiate cost containment strategies and track ROI for the Alumni Engagement team.
• Coach and develop staff, set individual goals, and ensure adoption of best practices.
• Demonstrate judgment and discretion in managing relationships, communications, and program execution, escalating issues, synthesizing input, and determining next steps in dynamic and ambiguous environments.
• Ensure volunteer recruitment, assignment tracking, and stewardship in CRM; integrate alumni into networking and career development opportunities.

• Work with Advancement Services to create reporting and tracking mechanisms to measure engagement activity progress and other communication and planning tools in the CRM.
• Update project plans with status updates on assigned activities, escalating blocks to project managers as needed.
• Continuously evaluate programs and workflows to identify opportunities for improvements and efficiencies.
• Maintain data integrity, enter contract reports timely, and pull and interpret reports to inform decisions.
• Foster a high-performing, collaborative, and innovative team culture.
• Travel locally and regionally for alumni meetings and activities.

40 hours per week, Monday–Friday; some nights and weekends required.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 5 years of experience providing comparable knowledge and skills.

• 5-7 years of experience in alumni relations, advancement, events, or related fields.
• 2-3 years of supervisory experience.
• Strong project management, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Experience in higher education; familiarity with alumni association governance.
• Proficiency with CRM systems and Give Campus; strong analytical skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes.

Anticipated Hiring Range: $72,000 – $78,000