Director, Waldron Student-Alumni Connections Program

Department: WCAS Administration

Salary/Grade: EXS/9

Job Summary:

The Director of the Waldron Student-Alumni Connections Program leads a high-impact, endowed initiative within the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (WCAS) that connects undergraduate students with alumni for career exploration. Sitting within the Office of the Dean, the Director designs and executes an annual portfolio of approximately 20 events, builds and stewards a meaningful alumni volunteer pipeline, and partners across campus to advance both student career development and the Universitys broader alumni engagement and fundraising goals.

This position is full-time and regular onsite work is required, particularly during the academic year. Evening and occasional weekend availability is expected for events. Occasional remote work will be possible, and more information will be discussed during the interview.

The target salary range for this position is $80,000 - $105,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicants education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Program Leadership: Lead the Waldron Student-Alumni Connections Program, designing and executing an annual portfolio of approximately 20 events, including panels, fireside chats, career treks, and the annual Career Summit that connect Weinberg College students with alumni across diverse industries, backgrounds, and career stages.
• Alumni Engagement: Build and steward a meaningful alumni volunteer pipeline in partnership with Alumni Relations and Development, including leading the roughly 15-member Waldron Alumni Council and helping identify alumni who can grow into engaged, long-term supporters of the College.
• Student Programming: Create career-focused experiences for undergraduates by leading the Waldron Connections Student Council, overseeing student communications, and helping students, particularly those still exploring their career direction, build professional confidence.
• Campus Partnerships: Cultivate strategic partnerships across campus, including with Northwestern Career Advancement and the Weinberg College Office of Undergraduate Student Affairs and Advising, to expand the programs reach and impact.
• Budget & Operations: Manage the programs endowed budget in partnership with the WCAS Deans Office and oversee the systems and tools that keep the program running smoothly.
• Data & Donor Relations: Maintain accurate alumni engagement data and reporting, partnering with Alumni Relations and Development to support prospect management and donor cultivation.
• Digital Engagement: Provide strategic direction for the Weinberg in the World podcast and the Ask a Wildcat digital mentoring platform, tracking performance and sharing insights with campus partners.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree, preferably in a liberal arts field, or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.

• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, alumni relations, development, student affairs, career services, or a closely related field.

• Demonstrated experience planning and executing events, including large-scale conferences or multi-stakeholder programming.

• Experience managing budgets and working within financial reporting structures.

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

• Proven ability to recruit, engage, and steward volunteers, with an understanding of volunteer management best practices.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills; ability to work effectively with students, alumni, faculty, staff, and donors across organizational levels.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to represent the program in presentations and written materials.
• Comfort with CRM or constituent management systems, data management, and using data to inform program decisions

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree in higher education administration, communications, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Seven or more years of experience, including at least two years in alumni engagement, development, or a program director role within higher education.
• Experience working in a liberal arts college context or with liberal arts student populations.
• Familiarity with alumni engagement and fundraising strategy, including moves management and the role of volunteer engagement in donor cultivation.
• Experience with digital mentoring or alumni networking platforms (e.g., Protopia/Ask a Wildcat, Graduway, or similar tools).
• Experience producing or managing a podcast series or similar multimedia content.
• Knowledge of career exploration frameworks and labor market trends for liberal arts graduates.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, 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 University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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