Assistant Director, Alumni Engagement

Department: Law Development

Salary/Grade: EXS/6

Target hiring range for this position will be between $ 56,782 - $70,978. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Job Summary:

Functional expert responsible for the planning, staffing, and tactical execution of group and/or broad-based relationship and volunteer management. Plans programs & events designed to strategically identify & cultivate alumni in meaningful ways that result in engaged volunteers. Under the leadership of the Director, this position will serve as a liaison to volunteer boards and affinity-based communities, lead external partnerships to expand Law ARD's reach and impact, and provide support on other strategic initiatives. Serves as liaison to both University and Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA).

Manages, leads, and supports Law alumni affinity groups and works with mirroring student groups. Serves as primary volunteer manager for the Northwestern Law Board, Law School Fund Board, and Clinic Advisory Board. Makes assessments, establishes goals, and strategizes to ensure boards are successful. Responsible for managing and planning Stewardship and Donor Relations programming and events. Evening and weekend work which may also include overnight travel is expected.

Northwestern Pritzker Law Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) prides itself on its active and diverse community, which brings together a passionate and talented group of students, staff, faculty, and alumni. The Law School and ARD endeavor to take principled action towards ensuring that we live up to our responsibility-and our institutional values-to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community for all constituents. Leadership commits to working tirelessly to ensure every member feels valued, all students can study and train to be successful in their careers, all staff members can develop personally and professionally, faculty can both teach and support our students and produce top quality research and scholarship, and alumni are provided with intentional lifelong engagement opportunities that support, develop, and generate a vibrant and inclusive community.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• Administers & maintains existing strategic plans for the Global Alumni Engagement Program focused on engaging alumni regionally and by identity/affinity through events and meaningful volunteer roles.

• Administers & maintains existing strategic plans for the Law Board, Law School Fund Board and Clinic Advisory Board focused on engaging alumni to volunteer opportunities within the broader Northwestern Law community, including student mentorship and recruitment, and other senior leadership priorities.

• Assess and develop messaging, incorporate cutting edge & best practices to dramatically increase engagement and alumni and donor participation through multiple channels.

• Initiates, plans, and implements innovative & visionary organizational change & takes calculated risks to develop new strategies to continually expand engagement & participation across the globe.

• Assists with developing tracking measures and an accountability framework for fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within the office and alumni community.

Collaboration

• Involves moderate level of collaboration with internal department partners and low level of collaboration with university partners in implementing and expanding existing relationships to accomplish strategic goals.

Prospects & Gifts

• Significant participation in developing volunteer leaders, board stewardship and cultivation.

• Identifies prospects.

• Makes personal visits to alumni to develop relationships that result in strategic volunteer involvement, alumni programming, global alumni engagement program participation, and annual giving

• Solicits LSF gifts at the $2,500+ level.

• Works with development officers to implement strategies that will maximize dollars raised & participation of donors.

Volunteers

• Assists with volunteer management, including generating reports and lists, coordinating updates, and other scheduled communications.

• Assists with leadership training opportunities both in-person & virtually designed to meet the needs of entry level to advanced alumni leaders in locations around the world.

• Assists with recruitment process of alumni volunteers for one-off career development and/or mentoring opportunities by collaborating with relevant offices, leveraging alumni volunteer recommendations, and proactively identifying a robust and diverse group of prospective volunteers.

• Serve as Alumni Relations Liaison for two or more classes per reunion cycle.

• Support high profile ARD events as needed, including reunion, Law Board meetings, chair ceremonies, etc.

Events

• Travels throughout the country on alumni visits, managing volunteer boards and/or organizing engagement events.

• Manages one or more portions of basic, standard programs &/or events.

• Coordinates with leaders on interests in venue space and speakers.

• Develops, plans & implements events that promote engagement, inclusivity & philanthropic opportunities for all alumni.

• Processes & maintains online event information, registration &/or databases.

• Markets & promotes events using broadcast email, individual web pages, &/or social media.

• Assists in scheduling details such as venue, space, caterers, musicians, technical requirements, name tags, etc.

• Prepares event plans & summaries.

• Reviews information & recommends "best practices" for future events.

Administration

• Organizes and executes administrative aspects of production and distribution of constituent communications for the Global Alumni Engagement Program, Law Board, Law School Fund Board and Clinic Advisory Board.

• Includes data manipulation.

• Manages timelines and related expenses.

• Coordinates graphic design and/or scripting.

• Documents results & response levels.

• Responsible for tracking participants & volunteers, recording engagement, and donor interactions in database.

• Optimizes the use of technology including social media for marketing, communications & data reporting & analysis.

• Assists in the development of dashboards & metrics which provide quantitative analysis of program & event outcomes.

Budget

• Implements & administers approved budget for designated programs &/or events.

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 2 years of alumni relations, development, marketing, sales, volunteer management or the equivalent experience is required.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Organization, detail oriented, able to take verbal/oral instruction

• Team leadership; analytical thinking, complex problem solving and planning; global/organizational perspective; ability to work in fast-paced environment; comfortable with change and associated ambiguity

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Previous experience working in Alumni Relations and/or Development in a university setting.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:

Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.

We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:

Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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