Associate Director of Alumni Engagement

Overview

Macalester College seeks an operationally sharp systems-minded professional to serve as Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement leading the colleges annual Reunion program and supporting Alumni Board operations. This role is built for someone who can see the full picture build the plan close the gaps and execute without waiting to be told what comes next.

The ideal candidate brings proven experience in project management volunteer coordination and stakeholder communication and is ready to own their work from strategy through implementation. This is a full-time hybrid-eligible position with the option of Tuesday through Thursday in office and Monday and Friday remote.

About the Engagement Team:

Macalesters Engagement team works to expand and enrich the ways alumni and friends of the college connect with one another and with Macalester. Through events volunteering and giving opportunities we cultivate lifelong relationships rooted in pride and purpose. We are committed to creativity collaboration and community-focused strategy approach our work through an equity lens and take pride in being innovative inclusive and impact-driven.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

Reunion Project Management & Communications

• Lead the operational planning and execution of Macalesters annual Reunion program serving as the central point of coordination for logistics communications volunteer activities and event execution.

• Develop and manage project plans timelines workback schedules and implementation processes across Advancement Special Events Communications and campus partners.

• Track project milestones identify potential obstacles and proactively communicate next steps and deadlines to all stakeholders.

• Manage committee requests meeting schedules documentation and information flow to keep all parties organized and aligned.

• Design and document workflows that make Reunion processes repeatable and scalable year over year.

• Support efforts to leverage Reunion participation as a springboard for ongoing alumni engagement with the college.

• Develop track and evaluate key performance metrics survey results and participant feedback to assess program effectiveness and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

• Monitor Reunion expenses and track budget activity throughout the year providing regular updates and recommendations to help ensure programs and events remain within budget parameters.

Volunteer Management & Stewardship

• Develop and direct Reunion volunteer strategy in close collaboration with Advancement partners including identifying and engaging key stakeholders and outreach to new volunteers.

• Coordinate recruitment onboarding training and communications for Reunion volunteers providing clear and consistent expectations resources and support.

• Serve as primary staff liaison for 13 Reunion Committees.

• Partner with Macalester Fund staff to coordinate Reunion class gift volunteer training and activities.

• Recruit coordinate and mentor campus volunteers and Reunion Student Coordinators.

• Assist with the recruitment training supervision and support of Reunion student staff and Reunion Coordinators to ensure successful program execution and a positive volunteer experience.

Alumni Board Support

• Provide operational support for Alumni Board activities enabling the Director of Alumni Engagement to focus on strategy and relationship-building.

• Coordinate meeting logistics agendas materials timelines and follow-up communications.

• Prepare and brief speakers; track action items and deliverables across board initiatives.

• Anticipate upcoming needs and ensure board projects remain organized and on schedule.

• Advise and engage Alumni Board Student Directors and oversee their annual project ensuring they have at least one group project each year.

• Serve as staff liaison for an Alumni Board committee coordinating meetings communications project timelines and follow-up actions to support the committees goals and initiatives.

Alumni Engagement & Advancement Projects

• Contribute to additional programming events and initiatives throughout the year in collaboration with Advancement and campus partners applying the same operational rigor and collaborative approach as formally assigned work.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion

• Engage in and promote Macalesters culture of diversity and inclusion encompassing individuals of any heritage identity status or orientation.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in project management including building and managing timelines workback schedules and multi-stakeholder workflows.

• Experience in event management volunteer coordination or program administration in a complex organizational environment.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively across a variety of audiences and styles.

• Proven ability to prioritize and manage multiple competing projects in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience creating and maintaining organizational systems process documentation and operational workflows.

• Ability to anticipate gaps solve problems proactively and exercise sound judgment with limited supervision.

• Commitment to diversity equity and inclusion and experience working with individuals from a variety of backgrounds identities and perspectives.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 or more years of progressively responsible experience leading programs or functions with significant independence (strongly preferred for Associate Director consideration).

• Experience designing and improving operational systems not just executing within them.

• Demonstrated ability to manage across stakeholder groups including volunteers colleagues and senior leaders.

• Experience supervising mentoring or managing junior staff or student employees.

• Familiarity with alumni engagement advancement or nonprofit relationship management.

• Experience in higher education

Compensation:

$62135.00-$64959.00

Union:

MAPE

Benefits

At Macalester we are proud to offer excellent comprehensive employee benefits. Here are some highlights:

• 10% employer contributions to the retirement plan.
• Outstanding vacation and sick time packages plus an additional 10 holidays.
• Competitive health dental vision and life & disability insurance
• Generous employer contribution to Health Savings Account.
• Tuition assistance which pays between 75% - 90% of eligible tuition for employee dependents at select institutions.
• Free primary care for most services through Nice Healthcare when enrolled in a Macalester health plan.
• Access to the athletics fitness facility wellness coaching and activities.

These are just some of the great benefits Macalester has to offer! To see our full benefits packages and options please visit our Benefits Page

Bargaining units may have slightly different benefits negotiated in their contracts. Please see applicable contracts for more details.

Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check is a condition of employment.

Application Guidelines

For best consideration please submit your cover letter and resume through the Macalester Employment Opportunities webpage by August 26th 2026. No applications will be received after this date.

Kim Price
Interim - Talent Acquisition Manager

Macalester College does not discriminate on the grounds of sex gender identity race color national origin age religion creed disability marital status familial status pregnancy genetic information membership or activity in a local human rights commission veteran status sexual orientation status with regard to public assistance or other categories protected by law. For additional information see Macalester Colleges full Notice of Nondiscrimination.