Title: Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement

Employee Classification:

Pay Grade: AP 04

Division: Advancement

Subdivision: VP Advancement

Department: EMU Foundation and Advancement

Campus Location: Main Campus

General Summary

The Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement plays a crucial role in fostering the connection between Eastern Michigan University and its global alumni network by leading the planning, execution, and evaluation of a robust portfolio of alumni and donor engagement events. This role will also support campus-wide programming, communications, and volunteer management.

This position focuses on advancing alumni involvement through a high volume of events annually, while providing strategic liaison guidance for alumni engagement across campus. The Assistant Director partners closely with the Advancement team and campus stakeholders to deliver high-quality, mission-driven experiences that strengthen alumni and donor relationships and support fundraising goals.

This role requires exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to thrive under time-sensitive deadlines. Flexibility to work evenings and weekends, as needed, is essential.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, execution, and communications for alumni and donor events, from small gatherings to large-scale events. This includes EMU Alumni & Friends Homecoming Tailgate, affinity-based alumni programming, EMU Alumni Awards ceremony, and curated donor experiences.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to design, coordinate, and manage all event logistics for in-person and virtual events, including site selection, catering, A/V and technical support, transportation, speakers/entertainment, itineraries, RSVP tracking, participant correspondence, staffing and volunteer coordination, event setup, and cleanup.
• In partnership with the AVP for Alumni Engagement, develop, implement, and document consistent event-planning processes, including templates and briefs, to support efficient planning and execution of alumni and donor events.
• Upkeep the master EMUF events calendar to ensure coordination across teams, alignment with institutional priorities, and effective planning of alumni-focused events hosted by EMUF, including consultative support for campus partners engaging alumni in their programming.
• Design and execute customized cultivation and stewardship events in collaboration with the Advancement team to enhance donor engagement and advance fundraising goals.
• Coordinate with internal partners to ensure consistent messaging and a seamless participant experience before, during, and after events.
• Track event outcomes and provide insights to inform continuous improvement and future planning.

Liaison Responsibilities

• Serve as the alumni engagement liaison to assigned campus partners.
• Partner with academic leadership and advancement colleagues to align alumni engagement opportunities with college-specific initiatives and goals.
• Support college-based programming, communications, and volunteer management to enhance alumni affinity and philanthropic support.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in event planning, alumni engagement, hospitality, or Advancement work
• Demonstrated experience managing complex events and multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines while maintaining high standards of quality and professionalism.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills with strong attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in higher education or nonprofit fundraising environments.
• Familiarity with CRM databases and event management/communication software.
• Knowledge of branding and marketing principles related to donor and alumni engagement.
• This position operates in a dynamic environment with fluctuating workloads tied to the academic calendar and event schedules. The Assistant Director must be adaptable, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing time-sensitive priorities while delivering exceptional experiences for alumni and donors.

Personal Competencies:

• Excellent relationship and trust-building skills
• Highly credible with personal integrity
• Proactive and highly responsive
• Solution-oriented and able to identify new opportunities
• Results and goal-oriented
• Excellent communication skills
• Confident in taking initiative and managing projects independently

Eastern Michigan University Foundation offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and life insurance; a retirement plan with a 4% employer contribution; an outstanding vacation and time off policy; a tuition waiver program; and more. This hybrid position is based in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and may require occasional local travel.
The salary range for this position is $60,000-$70,000 annually.

Appointment Percentage:

100%