Career Center

Carnegie Mellon is enjoying its most productive fundraising years in its history, raising more than $950M over the last three years. University Advancement (UA) supports the entire CMU community in building relationships with key constituencies and securing the financial resources the university needs to continue its ascent. This is an exciting opportunity if you thrive in an interesting and challenging work environment. As the executive director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement, you will work actively with colleagues across all areas of advancement, including the schools and colleges, and with volunteers to strengthen and lead alumni engagement at Carnegie Mellon University. Reporting to the assistant vice president of Alumni and Constituent Engagement (AVP), you will join a team dedicated to a collaborative, collegial, and integrated approach to alumni and constituent engagement. You will leverage this approach to build strong and collaborative partnerships with key constituents across the university. You will partner with the AVP on a comprehensive and compelling alumni relations program for Carnegie Mellon University's more than 120,000 alumni, enhancing their lifelong engagement with the university, and engaging with them at their points of interests--professionally, intellectually, and personally. Together with the AVP, you will bring to fruition an ambitious and forward-looking strategic plan. You will lead and supervise a team of eleven members responsible for schools and college programs and strategies, regional alumni programs, domestic and international networks, volunteer management, data and analytics, corporate and entrepreneurship programs and strategies, and identity and affinity networks--establishing a clear vision for priorities. You will iterate and expand activities to build a culture of engagement and philanthropy among CMU graduates. You will serve as a member of the unit's leadership team, collaborating and partnering with a team of high-functioning and well-respected professionals in the areas of alumni relations, university events, and donor engagement.

Your core responsibilities will include:

• in consultation with the AVP, determining professional priorities based on overall organizational goals;
• establishing departmental goals and direction, and assuming responsibility for their successful completion;
• in partnership with the AVP, overseeing multiple aspects of university-wide alumni relations programs and communications for 120,000+ alumni, assuming leadership for staff and budget administration for the alumni engagement unit;
• collaborating on the initiative, building, maintenance, and measurement of the effectiveness of a forward-thinking, integrative global alumni relations program;
• establishing priorities and developing project plans and schedules, revising priorities and plans as appropriate;
• ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget, and interpreting and clarifying policies, procedures, and regulations to ensure consistent administration and compliance;
• gathering information, identifying gaps, developing decision criteria, establishing implementation plans, and executing plans;
• working with the AVP to develop strategic plans and respond to complex or high-impact problems or opportunities for the alumni engagement unit;
• collaborating on the definition of the relations between the alumni relations unit, school/college-based units, the university's Alumni Association Board and other volunteer leaders, the Board of Trustees, and other senior officers of the university through close interaction with their advancement staff and their deans;
• creating project teams and delegating appropriate responsibilities to maximize departmental effectiveness;
• supervising a professional team, including hiring, coaching, and professional development guidance;
• supervising team progress and holding the team accountable toward fulfillment of goals;
• conducting performance appraisals and making recommendations for salary increases and promotions while functioning as a team leader--coaching, developing, and motivating peers;
• serving as an active member of University Advancement's leadership and collaborating with colleagues to achieve division-wide goals;
• serving as a lead for many alumni relations business functions in the Office of Alumni Engagement, including long- and short-term planning, program development, metrics and assessment, and supervision of the alumni engagement directors and their teams;
• collaborating as needed with the AVP and other members of the Alumni and Constituent Engagement leadership team, as well as schools and colleges advancement leadership, in developing and planning of programs;
• developing and maintaining connections and collaborations between the central alumni relations program and those sponsored by the university's schools and colleges;
• developing and maintaining a strong partnership with Advancement Communications;
• working with other partners across the university, such as career services, admission, student affairs, and athletics to develop opportunities for alumni to support and engage;
• representing CMU, University Advancement, Alumni and Constituent Engagement, and 120,000+ alumni to other university offices, constituencies, and individuals including Homecoming Weekend, Spring Carnival, regional and campus events, presidential functions, and other university sponsored events and programs; and
• working with the team to develop meaningful involvement and training opportunities for volunteers.

You should be an entrepreneurial and enthusiastic leader with exemplary interpersonal and communication skills, and a deep understanding of and a passion for the mission of Carnegie Mellon University--to create a transformative educational experience for students focused on deep disciplinary knowledge; problem solving; leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills; and personal health and well-being. You will have demonstrated a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion both in developing your own staff and in the implementation of programs and services. You should possess the competencies and qualifications necessary to lead a team in the creation and introduction of new ideas and incremental changes, balanced by a respect for the traditions of Carnegie Mellon University.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree is required
• At least eight years of experience in alumni relations or a comparable field

Furthermore, you should demonstrate:

• management experience at or equal to the department head level;
• experience in volunteer training and management, program analysis, and development;
• experience in the development of success metrics in alumni relations;
• expressed cultural appreciation and sensitivity in interacting with a diverse alumni population both domestically and internationally as well as a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace;
• an ability to relate well to, and understand the needs and interests of the alumni community to strengthen their engagement with the university;
• excellent leadership and management skills with a variety of staff at different levels of development and experience as well as with alumni volunteers, programs, and budgets;
• excellent written and oral communications skills, problem-solving and reasoning skills, and an ability to communicate professional views and skills to colleagues and volunteers;
• an ability to initiate, follow-through, analyze, monitor, and evaluate programming;
• superb interpersonal skills including the ability to develop excellent working relationships that involve senior university leaders, faculty, trustees, the alumni association, and other volunteers of widely differing backgrounds;
• an ability to forge partnerships with colleagues across campus, particularly with alumni relations officers in the schools and colleges;
• an ability to work under pressure, to meet deadlines, and manage multiple priorities;
• an ability to conceptualize at high levels, to lead staff and teams, and to work independently; and a high degree of self-confidence and creativity at both the strategic and tactical level.

Requirements

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and successfully complete a driver's license verification on an annual basis. Must complete the National Safety Council Defensive Driver Training once every three years
• Successful background check

Application Instructions

Aspen Leadership Group (ALG) is partnering with Carnegie Mellon University to conduct this search; all qualified applicants must apply directly with ALG for consideration. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and resume. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Carnegie Mellon University and the position of Executive Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the successful candidate has been selected.

ALG direct application link: https://opportunities.aspenleadershipgroup.com/opportunities/1125

CMU's COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements: As a condition of employment, Carnegie Mellon University requires all staff and faculty working in the United States to be fully vaccinated, including a booster when eligible, against COVID-19. Prior to commencement of employment, new hires in the United States must provide proof of vaccination or obtain an approved exemption. (Exemptions may be requested for medical reasons or for religious or strong moral or ethical conviction.) Those granted an exemption must comply with all applicable COVID-19 mitigation requirements. The most up-to-date information on CMU's COVID-19 mitigation requirements can be found here: Minimum Requirements to Return to Campus.

Location

Job Function

Position Type

Full Time/Part time

Pay Basis

More Information: