Senior Director of Alumni and Student Engagement
University of Illinois

Job Info

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Senior Director of Alumni and Student Engagement

University of Illinois Alumni Association

ABOUT UIAA

The mission of the University of Illinois Alumni Association (hereinafter, "UIAA") is to enhance and advance the relationship between the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (hereinafter, the "University") and all its alumni; to inspire lifelong loyalty and pride among alumni and friends by strengthening their relationship with the University; and to educate the public about the value of the University and its alumni. The objectives of this Association are educational and charitable. The Association functions as an advocate for the alumni and the University by informing interested parties of current issues, events, and accomplishments of alumni and the University. In fulfilling its mission, the Association may provide a variety of services to the University and its alumni.

ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

The UIAA President reports directly to the Board of Directors (hereinafter, "board") of the 501©(3) corporation, in addition to maintaining an ongoing dialogue with the Illinois Chancellor. All other staff report directly or indirectly to the President.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Senior Director of Alumni and Student Engagement will report to the Vice President of Engagement. This role will provide management and oversight of various alumni engagement-focused efforts, including but not limited to the alumni clubs program, the alumni travel program, and in-person and online alumni events. Additionally, this role will be directly responsible for young alumni and student-focused engagement efforts, including but not limited to advising Student Alumni Ambassadors, designing and implementing events and programs and current students and/or young alumni, and ensuring student and/or young alumni inclusion in other events and programs whenever appropriate.

This role will als - act as a midlevel leader within the UIAA, supervising several team members, coordinating closely with the Vice President of Engagement and other leadership team members as appropriate, and ensuring synergy among all UIAA engagement efforts. The Senior Director's work and oversight will directly facilitate the achievement of the UIAA's mission, goals, and metrics.

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Alumni and Student Engagement (60%)
  • Develops and executes a young alumni engagement strategy. Oversees planning, promotion, and execution of all young alumni-focused engagement initiatives, including but not limited to in-person UIAA events, in-person club events, and online UIAA events and programs.
    • Coordinates and collaborates with other team members as appropriate.
    • Serves as a liaison to the Career Center and identifies strategic collaborative opportunities to engage young alumni through professional development-focused events.
    • Tailors general alumni engagement opportunities to young alumni when appropriate. Works closely with marketing and other team members to identify strategies to increase young alumni participation in existing events and programs.
    • Designs new young alumni engagement programs and opportunities as needed.
  • Oversees planning, promotion, and execution of all general student engagement initiatives, including but not limited to in-person UIAA events, in-person SAA events, and online UIAA events and programs.
    • Coordinates and collaborates with other team members as appropriate.
    • Serves as a liaison to the Career Center and identifies strategic collaborative opportunities to engage current students and, when appropriate, to connect current students and alumni through professional development-focused events.
    • Identifies opportunities to incorporate students into alumni-focused programs and ensures that students are integrated successfully.
    • Designs new student engagement programs and opportunities as needed.
  • Serves as advisor for Student Alumni Ambassadors (hereinafter, "SAA").
    • In consultation with relevant UIAA and SAA leadership team members, sets priorities and goals for SAA programs and initiatives. Evaluates and assists SAA with self-evaluating all efforts according to the agreed-upon metrics and advises upon expansion, revision, rehabilitation, and/or cancellation of efforts as needed.
    • In consultation with SAA leadership team members, administers and ensures adherence to annual SAA budget.
    • Attends SAA meetings and events as needed. Oversees and guides the planning of SAA events.
    • Provides mentorship, motivation, and support to both officers and general members as appropriate.
    • Ensures SAA is familiar with all relevant UIAA programs, events, and initiatives and that SAA is integrated into such efforts when appropriate.
  • Serves as a team lead for Homecoming efforts and supports other on-campus and/or off-campus events.
    • Coordinates closely with the President and Vice President of Engagement to ensure synergy between UIAA and University-wide Homecoming plans. Facilitates cross-campus communication about UIAA efforts.
    • In coordination with other UIAA team members, provides oversight of key Homecoming events including but not limited to the SAA 5K and pancake breakfast kickoff event, the alumni awards gala, the awardee breakfast, the student leader luncheon and panel, the parade, and any athletic and/or community events. Coordinates closely with all direct reports involved in and/or responsible for the planning of such events.
    • Participates in all relevant planning meetings and on various committees and working groups as assigned. Facilitates cross-campus communication and collaboration as needed.
    • Attends and/or staffs events as requested
    • Coordinates with vendor partners as needed.
  • Acts as a liaison to Board of Directors' Alumni and Student Engagement Committee and Awards Committee, respectively, including but not limited to coordinating closely with committee chairs, other committee liaisons, and the Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement to arrange meetings and develop meeting agendas and other documents. Oversees committee-based student-alumni mentorship program(s). Acts as liaison to other board committees and working groups as requested.
  • Acts as a liaison to the board when requested, including but not limited to providing written or in-person reports and attending meetings, trainings or educational sessions, athletics events, meals, and other events.
  • Communicates and, when appropriate, collaborates with various campus partners to ensure awareness of UIAA programs and initiatives and maximization of alumni and/or student engagement efforts. Participates in Alumni Relations Roundtable meetings as requested.
• Supervision and Team Management (30%)
  • Acts as head of team for alumni engagement-focused staff (hereinafter, "engagement team").
    • In consultation with the Vice President of Engagement and other engagement team members, sets priorities and goals for engagement-focused programs and initiatives. Evaluates engagement efforts according to agreed-upon metrics and expands, revises, rehabilitates, and/or cancels efforts as needed.
    • Ensures synergy among all student- and alumni-focused engagement efforts, seeking out and maximizing opportunities for collaboration and idea-sharing both within the engagement team and with other members of the UIAA staff and broader University community.
    • In consultation with the Vice President of Engagement and other engagement team members, prepares and administers the budget that supports engagement efforts. Works closely with all team members to ensure adherence to all budgets.
    • Serves as a liaison between the Vice President of Engagement and/or UIAA leadership team and the engagement team. Works closely with the Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and other non-reporting team members when appropriate.
    • Maximizes development of engagement team members, including but not limited to developing and leading internal professional development opportunities, encouraging external professional development opportunities, conducting regular individual meetings with direct reports, leading or co-leading regular engagement team meetings, and participating in the evaluation and administration of the annual employee evaluation process.
  • Supervises Director of Alumni Clubs and Engagement.
    • Provides oversight of and support for alumni clubs program.
    • Attends meetings and staffs events as needed, including traveling for non-local events and meetings.
  • Supervises Assistant Director of Engagement Events and Travel.
    • Provides oversight of and support for alumni travel program.
    • Represents the UIAA as a tour host when appropriate.
    • Provides oversight of and support for event planning and logistics.
    • Staffs events as needed, including traveling for non-local events and meetings.
    • Coordinates with vendor partners as needed.
  • Supervises Assistant Director of Online Engagement.
    • Provides oversight of and support for all online engagement efforts.
    • Serves as event host or moderator as needed, including coordinating with speakers as needed.
    • Coordinates with vendor partners as needed.
  • Supervises Lou Liay Intern, including identifying and delegating short- and long-term projects and assigning temporary co-supervisors as appropriate. Looks for opportunities for collaboration with other student workers.
  • Supervises or co-supervises other student workers as assigned, including graduate student workers.
  • Co-leads weekly operations meetings and ensures that marketing and operational needs for engagement programs are met. Provides or solicits regular updates during meetings to ensure awareness of engagement efforts and synergy between these efforts and other UIAA initiatives; adjusts operations or processes as needed to minimize friction and maximize results. Provides similar informational updates during staff and other meetings as requested.
  • Participates in strategic planning and/or other leadership-level planning processes as requested.
  • Participates in and promotes office-wide professional development, workplace culture, and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs when offered. Assists with the planning of those programs as appropriate.
• Other Responsibilities (10%)
  • Plans and/or executes special projects as assigned by staff and/or board leadership.
  • Serves on committees, working groups, or other special project teams as requested.
  • Performs other duties as requested.

TYPICAL DELIVERABLES EXPECTED

• Satisfaction of agreed-upon engagement metrics.
• Project- and/or area-specific strategic plans.
• Project- and/or area-specific budgets.
• Staff evaluations and professional development plans.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Minimum 5 years experience in alumni relations or a closely related area, preferably in higher education.
• Minimum 3 years supervisory experience. Strong leadership and collaborative skills.
• Knowledge of the UIAA's strategic goals and objectives.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including writing, proofreading, and public speaking.
• Strong process assessment and improvement skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Preferred:
  • Minimum 3 years of student advising experience.
  • Minimum 3 years of event, meeting, and/or program planning experience.
  • Minimum 1 year of volunteer management experience.

CORE COMPETENCIES EXPECTED

• ATTENTION TO COMMUNICATION: ENSURING THAT INFORMATION IS PASSED ON to OTHERS WH - SHOULD BE KEPT INFORMED.
• EMPOWERING OTHERS: CONVEYING CONFIDENCE IN EMPLOYEES' ABILITY to BE SUCCESSFUL, ESPECIALLY AT CHALLENGING NEW TASKS; DELEGATING SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY; ALLOWING EMPLOYEES to HAVE FREEDOM to DECIDE HOW THEY WILL ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS AND RESOLVE ISSUES.
• Fostering Teamwork: As a team member, the ability and desire to work cooperatively with others on a team; as a team leader, interest, skill, and success in getting groups to learn to work together cooperatively.
• Provides Coaching: Works to improve and reinforce performance of others. Facilitates their skill development by providing clear, behaviorally specific performance feedback and making or eliciting specific suggestions for improvement in a manner that builds confidence and maintains self-esteem.
• Results Orientation: Focusing on the desired end result of one's own or one's unit's work; setting challenging goals, focusing effort on the goals, and meeting or exceeding them.

EDUCATION AND/OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Master's degree preferred.

Appointment Information:

This is a 100% full-time position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after November 4, 2024. The budgeted salary range for the position is $100,000 to $105,000.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by November 4, 2024, at 6:00 PM. Interested candidates should apply by sending a cover letter and resume to racarlsn@illinois.edu , attention Becky Pope. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-6117.

The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Convictions are not a bar to employment.

The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit Policy on Consideration of Sexual Misconduct in Prior Employment .

As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility.

University of Illinois faculty, staff and students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for an exception in accordance with applicable University processes.

Requisition ID:req12158
Job Category: Administrative

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