University of Missouri-St. Louis
Director, Alumni Engagement
JOB DESCRIPTION
Position Summary
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.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Leadership & Engagement Planning
– Translate AVC strategy into annual business plans; set KPIs and evaluate results using CRM reports and analytics.
– Analyzes engagement data to set tactical direction and segmented strategies, sets measurable engagement and participation targets (events, giving, volunteerism), and refines tactics to demonstrate impact and alignment to campaign and institutional goals.
– Lead a portfolio of alumni engagement programs: student-facing initiatives, milestone reunions, and regional events within Greater St. Louis and in primary and secondary national markets as defined by the Division.
– Partner closely with development/fundraising teams to build the donor pipeline.
– Oversee signature events (e.g., Night at the Ballpark, UMSL 5K, Night at the Blues, Family Legacy Pinning, Golden Graduates), homecoming, regional programs, and virtual engagement.
– Serves as liaison and leads assigned UMSL Alumni Association committees, following strategic goals set by AVC and Board. This includes assisting the AVC with setting agendas and meeting materials, writing and submitting meeting minutes, and facilitating action items for a variety of Association work. The Director is also specifically assigned to the Alumni & Student Engagement Committee and Advocacy Committee. Other volunteer committees may be created to facilitate highly detailed programs and events such as the UMSL 5K.
– 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.
– Under the direction of AVC, collaborate with deans, faculty, and Advancement colleagues to develop and implement scalable engagement plans by college/department aligned to campaign priorities.
Operational Stewardship & Resource Management
– Works within a defined budget for events and programs, adhering to all UM System, UMSL, and Advancement purchasing policies. Tracks expenditures towards budget and submits and pays invoices and bills in a timely and accurate manner. Manage vendor relationships.
– Negotiate cost containment strategies and track ROI for Alumni Engagement team.
– Coach and develop staff; set individual goals; ensure adoption of best practices.
– Demonstrate thoughtful judgment and discretion in managing relationships, communications, and program execution, appropriately escalating issues, synthesizing input, and determining next steps in dynamic and sometimes ambiguous environments.
– Ensure volunteer recruitment, assignment tracking, and stewardship in CRM; integrate alumni into networking and career development opportunities.
Performance Analytics, Continuous Improvement & Institutional Effectiveness
– Works 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 including escalating blocks to project managers as needed.
– Continually evaluate programs and workflows to identify opportunities for improvements and efficiencies.
– Maintain data integrity, enter contract reports on a timely basis, 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.
Shift
40 hours per week/M-F; some nights and weekends required
Minimum Qualifications
A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 5 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.
Preferred Qualifications
– 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 GiveCampus; strong analytical skills
– Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes
Anticipated Hiring Range: $72,000 – $78,000
