Director of Alumni Relations

Director of Alumni Relations

University Advancement and External Relations

JOB SUMMARY:

The Director of Alumni Relations leads the strategic design and delivery of dynamic alumni initiatives, fostering lifelong relationships that advance Adelphi University’s mission and inspire philanthropic support. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Advancement, the Director oversees a team of two staff members responsible for regional, industry, and specialized programming.

This role serves as a vital bridge between alumni engagement and institutional development. The Director establishes a clear progression from alumni involvement to active giving by managing a personal portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects, discovering new donor pipelines, and supporting key volunteer bodies such as the Alumni Advisory Council.

SALARY INFORMATION:

In compliance with New York’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $105,000 - $118,000. Adelphi University considers factors such as departmental budgets, scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. An annual base salary higher than the range may be warranted in circumstances where a candidate has demonstrable equivalent prior higher education experience at another University.

Adelphi University provides a comprehensive benefit package for faculty and staff employees. For a list of benefits provided to employees, please click here.

REPORTS TO:

Assistant Vice President of Advancement

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

1. Program Strategy & Pipeline Building: Design and manage targeted alumni programming (Reunions, Spirit Weekend, Adelphi on the Road, an annual alumni awards program, industry networks, and affinity groups) that builds meaningful engagement and translates participation into measurable donor pipelines.

2. Front-Line Fundraising & Discovery: Personally cultivate and solicit gifts from an assigned portfolio of alumni and leadership annual giving prospects. Conduct discovery visits to qualify new prospects and seamlessly transition major gift prospects to the appropriate development officers.

3. Volunteer Leadership Management: Direct the strategy and engagement of the Alumni Advisory Council and other leadership bodies. Empower members to act as university ambassadors, regional hosts, and active philanthropic supporters.

4. Career Networking & Mentorship: Collaborate with the career center and academic units to create alumni-to-alumni networking and alumni-to-student mentorship programs, addressing a primary driver of alumni engagement.

5. Student to Alumni Transition: Partner with Student Affairs and Annual Giving to develop campus programming that builds university pride among current students, drives senior class giving, and successfully transitions graduating seniors into active young alumni.

6. Alumni Communications & Digital Strategy: Partner with University Communications to guide the editorial direction of alumni newsletters, social media channels, and digital platforms, ensuring messaging drives both engagement and philanthropic priorities.

7. Team Leadership & Budget Administration: Supervise and mentor two staff members. Foster a culture of data-informed event planning and continuous evaluation of program return on investment (ROI). Develop and manage the department’s annual operating budget, ensuring fiscal accountability.

8. Cross-Unit Collaboration & Data Collection: Work collaboratively across campus to support tailored alumni volunteer boards. Coordinate closely with Advancement Services to ensure accurate and consistent data collection (capturing updated contact, biographical, and career information), track engagement metrics, and coordinate solicitation strategies.

9. Professional Responsibilities: Stay current on higher education engagement trends, digital programming platforms, and alumni giving strategies. Perform other related duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):

1. Exceptional relationship-building, event organization, project management, and public speaking skills.

2. Proven ability to generate excitement and build institutional pride through events, volunteer management, and personal meetings.

3. Successful experience in front-line fundraising, leadership annual giving, donor discovery, or high-level volunteer solicitation.

4. Demonstrated understanding of the donor life cycle and how to identify and qualify major gift prospects.

5. Proven supervisory and team leadership skills with an emphasis on collaboration, mentorship, and accountability.

6. Proficiency with databases (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce) and modern communication platforms.

7. Ability and willingness to travel regionally and work occasional evenings and weekends to support alumni events and meetings.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Bachelor’s degree is required; Master’s degree is preferred.

2. Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in alumni relations, relationship management, frontline fundraising, or event planning required.

3. Experience within higher education advancement is strongly preferred.

POSITION(S) SUPERVISED:

1. Senior Associate Director.

ABOUT ADELPHI:

Adelphi University, New York, is a highly awarded, nationally ranked, powerfully connected doctoral research university dedicated to transforming students’ lives through small classes with world-class faculty, hands-on learning and innovative ways to support academic and career success. Adelphi offers exceptional liberal arts and sciences programs and professional training, with particular strength in our Core Four—Arts and Humanities, STEM and Social Sciences, the Business and Education Professions, and Health and Wellness. Recognized as a Best College by U.S. News & World Report, Adelphi is Long Island’s oldest private coeducational university, serving more than 7,300 students at its beautiful main campus in Garden City, at learning hubs in Manhattan, the Hudson Valley and Suffolk County, and online. The University offers students 72 undergraduate programs and 92 master’s degree and doctoral programs in the liberal arts, the sciences and professional training. With powerful partnerships throughout the New York area, more than 123,000 graduates across the country, a growing enrollment of students from 44 states and 63 countries, and rising rankings from top publications and organizations, Adelphi is a dynamic community that plays a leadership role on Long Island and in the region.