Syracuse University - Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement

Company Information

Syracuse University
United States
Syracuse, NY

Contact Information

Anthony Fano
anfano@syr.edu
3154431204

Job Details

Job title: Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement

Date posted: June 04, 2025
Posting expires: August 31, 2025

Job #

041866

Job Title

Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement

Department

Public Communications

Location

Syracuse, NY

Pay Range

$88,000 - $119,000

Pay Determination

Pay rates at Syracuse University are based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the job responsibilities; the candidate’s education, training, work experience and key competencies; the university’s strategic priorities; internal peer equity; applicable federal, state, local laws, grant funding and contractual requisites; and external market analyses.


Staff Level

S6

FLSA Status

Exempt

Hours

Standard University business hours.

8:30am – 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am – 4:30pm (summer)
Hours may vary based on operational needs.


Job Type

Full-time

Campus

Syracuse, NY

Unionized Position Code

Not Applicable

Job Description

The Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement will support the Assistant Dean for Advancement and the Newhouse School Advancement team with a goal of meaningfully engaging Newhouse School alumni and promoting philanthropic support of the school’s mission. In coordination with the school’s advancement, communications and marketing teams, the Director will provide innovative leadership to create broad strategies that design and execute a set of extensive programming and communications strategies to ensure deep and ongoing engagement with alumni.

The Director will also create, plan and execute parent specific programming to engage parents and encourage philanthropic support. The Newhouse School seeks a forward thinker and team player who is creative, innovative, self-confident with high emotional intelligence and sound judgement. Position requires some work and appearances during weekends and evenings, as well as travel. Consideration will be given for remote for the right candidate.


Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Three (3) plus years of experience working with volunteers and special events.
• Higher education alumni relations experience preferred.


Skills and Knowledge

• Mature and professional attitude; customer/client/donor focus and ability to represent the school in a professional manner.
• Strategic, creative, and team-oriented, ability to leverage relationships and partner with numerous cohorts.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to appropriately manage sensitive and confidential information.
• Strong operational/project management skills. Budget/event management skills required.
• Must be able to manage multiple projects at once with ease and attention to detail.
• Comfortable working with social media and alumni engagement platforms.
• Highly developed organizational skills.
• Proven record of implementing and facilitating successful social engagements and events.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated and has ability to generate results. Resilient and flexible.
• Ability to use data-driven approaches for measuring engagement.
• Public speaking skills preferred.
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.


Responsibilities

• Develop/implement/manage integrated alumni and parent engagement program in line with school’s mission/strategic priorities.
• Engage alumni through strategic efforts. Invite/engage/steward alumni engagement through personal meetings, events, social media, eblasts, etc.
• Collaborate with faculty/staff/units to organize alumni engagement.
• Partner with Communications Office to develop/deploy effective alumni communications.
• Participate in social media communities.
• Manage alumni pages on school website.
• Generate promotional material ideas/content.
• Champion giving programs; implement donor recognition/stewardship strategies.
• Partner with student recruitment, DEIA Office and Career Center to enhance current alumni engagement efforts and grow/manage in measurable/meaningful ways.
• Strategize transition of recent graduates into alumni engagement plan.
• Explore alumni mentorship opportunities.
• Build/manage relationships with Newhouse Emerging Leaders (NEL).
• Work with board to execute meetings/activities/budget.
• Act as board’s primary liaison and representative to academic units, identifying opportunities to speak in classes, serve on panels, mentor students and support admissions outreach/yield activities.
• Collaborate on Newhouse Alumni Professional Gallery and Newhouse Alumni Engagement Scorecard tracking.
• Input and maintain Citrus data that helps plan and execute strategic alumni and parent events throughout the year both on and off campus, that build engagement and promote giving (i.e. networking receptions/events).
• Work with the Newhouse Events Team as necessary on select events; develop and drive the content for alumni engagement events.
• Partner with faculty and staff for alumni engagement events linked to conferences, industry events and other select formal gatherings.
• Prepare event analytics for debriefing and provide guest list to the development team for follow-up.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with the University’s Office of Alumni Engagement and its regional offices to engage Newhouse alumni and to integrate Newhouse in SU alumni initiatives.
• Collaborate with the central alumni and parent engagement teams on programming elements for University events, such as Orange Central, Family Weekend and Coming Back Together.
• Other duties as assigned.

Application link: https://www.sujobopps.com/postings/109397

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