About this opportunity
SUNY Cortland lists this Director of Alumni Engagement opportunity in city of cortland, New York. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Position Details
Position Information
Budget Title
Director of Alumni Affairs
Campus Title
Director of Alumni Engagement
School/Division
Institutional Advancement, Division of
Department
Institutional Advancement Office
Staff Sub-Type
Staff & Administration
Salary Level
SL4
Salary Range
$100,000 + depending on experience (DOE)
Salary Determination
Starting salary rates are based on multiples factors which mayinclude the position’s major responsibilities, the applicant’sbackground including education, work experience, and keycompetencies, the university’s strategic priorities, internal peerequity and external market analyses, applicable federal, state, andlocal laws and negotiated labor contracts.
Position Effort
Full-Time
Position Summary
The Director of Alumni Engagement provides strategic leadership foralumni engagement initiatives that strengthen lifelongrelationships between SUNY Cortland and its alumni while advancinginstitutional priorities and generating philanthropic support.Serving as the Executive Director of the Cortland AlumniAssociation, the Director develops and implements a comprehensivealumni engagement strategy that fosters pride, volunteerism,advocacy, mentorship, networking, and meaningful connections amongalumni, students, parents, and friends of the university. TheDirector leads programs and partnerships that increase alumniparticipation, engagement, and support while enhancing theuniversity’s mission, reputation, and long-term advancementgoals.
What makes SUNY Cortland a great place to work?
Our positions provide predictable salary progressions, and manyoffer permanency.
Generous benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance,various retirement program options, paid family leave and/orparental leaves, flexible spending and dependent care accounts,long term disability and tuition reimbursement.
SUNY Cortland prioritizes work-life balance and well-being in allforms. The university’s state-of-the-art Student Life Center isfree for employees to use, with membership options for families.Alternate work schedules are available with a supervisor’sapproval.
Professional development opportunities exist through training,continuing education programs, tuition reimbursement and conferencetravel, based on funding.
Cortland County and surrounding areas offer easy access to arts,entertainment, outdoor recreation and much more. Experience Cortland dives deep into the region’s offerings
Major Responsibilities
Alumni Engagement Strategy & Leadership
Develop and execute a strategic alumni engagement plan alignedwith the university’s mission and institutional advancementpriorities and goals. Articulate a clear vision for alumniengagement operations, establish departmental objectives andperformance goals, and foster a shared sense of purpose amongstaff.
Analyze alumni participation data, engagement trends, andperformance metrics to assess program effectiveness, measureprogress toward goals, identify opportunities for growth, andinform strategic decision making.
Provide leadership and day-to-day management of the AlumniEngagement team by assigning and adjusting responsibilities basedon staff roles, priorities, and organizational needs. Plan,organize, and monitor work progress to ensure successfulachievement of departmental goals and initiatives.
Hire, onboard, train, supervise, and evaluate staff. Establishclear performance expectations, provide ongoing coaching andfeedback, complete performance programs and evaluations in a timelymanner, and support employee growth through training andprofessional development opportunities.
Create innovative programs and initiatives that increase alumniparticipation, affinity, regional and volunteer involvement.
Strengthening alumni connections through regional programming,reunions, affinity groups, career networking, mentorshipopportunities, and digital engagement.
Ensure staff compliance with university policies, procedures,and applicable state and federal regulations by monitoring andconfirming completion of required training and professionalobligations.
Serve as a liaison between staff and senior universityleadership by communicating departmental priorities, initiatives,and institutional updates. Foster a collaborative and inclusivework environment, facilitate effective communication, and addressworkplace concerns to support employee engagement and teameffectiveness.
Alumni Association Management
Serve as Executive Director and primary liaison to the AlumniAssociation Board and its committees.
Support board development, governance, strategic planning,meeting management, and volunteer leadership cultivation.
Ensure alignment between the Alumni Association, InstitutionalAdvancement and university priorities.
Oversee implementation of Alumni Association initiatives,awards, communications, and flagship events.
Recruit, engage, and steward Alumni Association Board membersand volunteers to advance alumni engagement, advocacy, andphilanthropic goals.
Develop and monitor goals, outcomes, and performance measuresfor Alumni Association programs and initiatives to assesseffectiveness and inform future planning.
Advancement & Fundraising Collaboration
Partner closely with development staff to strengthen the alumnidonor pipeline and increase philanthropic engagement.
Identify, cultivate, and steward alumni volunteers andprospective donors.
Support advancement campaigns and fundraising initiativesthrough alumni outreach and engagement efforts.
Provide alumni engagement data, participation trends, andrelationship insights to support donor cultivation and stewardshipstrategies.
Communications & Marketing
Collaborate with marketing and communications to developcompelling alumni communications across print (Columns),digital (Red Dragon Tales), and social platforms.
Promote alumni achievements, campus updates, and engagementopportunities.
Enhance alumni storytelling and brand affinity.
Collaborate with marketing and communications staff onstrategies that increase alumni participation, strengthen affinity,and support engagement and fundraising objectives.
Student & Campus Engagement
Develop programs that connect current students with alumnithrough mentorship, career readiness, networking, andtraditions.
Partner with Enrollment Management to engage alumni inprospective student and family outreach efforts, includingadmissions events, student panels, and ambassador programs thatstrengthen recruitment and enhance the SUNY Cortland experience forfuture students and their families.
Collaborate with campus partners to expand meaningfulopportunities for alumni and student engagement.
Budget & Operations
Establish, monitor, and evaluate key performance indicators foralumni engagement programs and initiatives, utilizing data andanalytics to inform strategy, improve effectiveness, anddemonstrate outcomes.
Manage departmental budgets and resources responsibly andeffectively.
Maintain fiscal responsibility of the Lynne Parks ’68 SUNYCortland Alumni House.
Ensure effective use of alumni database and engagementtechnologies.
Functional and Supervisory Relationships
Reports to the Vice President for InstitutionalAdvancement.
Supervises three direct reports and provides oversight ofalumni engagement staff members.
Works closely with the Associate Director of Campus EventManagement in overseeing the operations of the Lynne Parks ’68 SUNYCortland Alumni House.
Works closely with Advancement Information Services,Advancement Financial Services, Annual Giving, Development, CareerServices and the President’s Office.
Works closely with the executive team (volunteers) of theCortland College Alumni Association Board.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree.
Five years of progressively responsible experience in alumnirelations, advancement, higher education, nonprofit leadership,constituent engagement, or related field.
Experience leading, supervising, developing, and evaluatingstaff.
Demonstrated experience in volunteer management, boardrelations, stakeholder engagement, and event or programleadership.
Experience developing and implementing strategic initiatives,programs, or engagement activities that support organizationalgoals.
Experience building and maintaining effective relationshipswith diverse internal and external constituents.
Willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends asneeded.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree.
Experience working with alumni associations, advisory boards,or volunteer governing boards.
Experience in higher education advancement, alumni relations,or fundraising environments.
Experience utilizing alumni engagement platforms, constituentrelationship management ( CRM ) systems, and data analytics toinform engagement strategies and decision-making.
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, andbelonging.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Ability to develop and implement strategic alumni engagementinitiatives aligned with institutional and advancementpriorities.
Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to engagealumni, volunteers, donors, students, and campus partners.
Demonstrated leadership, staff supervision, coaching, and teamdevelopment skills.
Strong project management, organizational, and event planningabilities.
Effective written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentationcommunication skills.
Ability to analyze engagement data and metrics to evaluateoutcomes and inform decision-making.
Knowledge of alumni relations, volunteer management, andadvancement best practices.
Ability to collaborate across diverse constituencies whileexercising sound judgment and professionalism.
About the University
A top public university of approximately 6,600 students located inthe geographic center of New York State, SUNY Cortland providesaccessible, affordable education to students from across the U.S.body. One of 13 comprehensive universities in the State Universityof New York system, SUNY Cortland prides itself on its rigorousundergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts, sciences,education, and professional studies. For more than 150 years, SUNYCortland has provided unmistakable value for students seeking awell-rounded academic, athletic, and social experience. TheUniversity ranks among the top campuses in the nation on Moneymagazine’s “Best Colleges for Your Money List,” fields a powerhouseDivision III athletics program and boasts an impressive network ofalumni making a difference in education, business, government,fitness, medicine and many other fields.
EEO Statement
The State University of New York at Cortland is an Affirment/Equal Employment Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act(AA/ EEO / ADA ) employer. The university actively seeksapplications from women, veterans, individuals with a disability,members of underrepresented groups or anyone that would enrich thediversity of the university.
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Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.