Job Description

Title: Senior Director, Alumni Engagement
Division Name: University Advancement
Department: Alumni and Donor Engagement
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Alumni and Donor Engagement, the Senior Director of Alumni Engagement provides strategic leadership and direct program execution for Illinois State University’s comprehensive alumni engagement efforts. The Senior Director supervises and develops the Alumni Engagement team while remaining actively responsible for leading the planning, coordination and execution of marquee alumni engagement programs, including Homecoming, time-based reunions and signature events developed in partnership with Athletics. The position also provides strategic oversight for regional and affinity communities, volunteerism, mentorship, lifelong learning, alumni experiences and other opportunities that strengthen alumni connection, belonging and lifelong participation. The Senior Director will partner with the Illinois State University Alumni Association Board of Directors and works collaboratively with campus and Advancement partners to deliver coordinated, meaningful alumni experiences. In close partnership with Philanthropic Engagement, the Senior Director is accountable for increasing alumni participation across the CASE modes of communication, experiential, volunteer and philanthropic engagement, including measurable growth in alumni donor participation. The position is specifically accountable for ensuring that alumni programs create intentional pathways to impact. The engagement program should be designed to deepen alumni relationships from initial engagement through sustained involvement and philanthropic investment in Illinois State.

Additional Information

Alumni and Donor Engagement is an integrated team within University Advancement that brings together alumni engagement, philanthropic engagement, donor relations and stewardship, engagement communications, and data and insights to strengthen lifelong relationships with Illinois State University. Guided by the belief that intentional engagement inspires impact, the team creates coordinated opportunities for alumni, donors, students, parents, employees and friends to connect with the University, participate in its community, contribute their time and expertise, and invest in its mission.
The Alumni Engagement team plays an essential role in this broader constituent journey by creating meaningful experiences, communities and opportunities that strengthen alumni connection, belonging and lifelong participation. Its work includes signature programs such as Homecoming and reunions; regional and affinity-based communities; volunteerism and mentorship; lifelong learning and alumni experiences; Alumni Association Board engagement; and programs developed in partnership with Athletics, academic units and other campus areas. The team advances measurable engagement across the CASE modes of communication, experiential, volunteer and philanthropic engagement.
Success requires close partnership with colleagues across Alumni and Donor Engagement, Development, Advancement Operations, University Marketing and Communications, academic units, Athletics and other campus areas. Through shared strategy, coordinated communications, inclusive experiences and data-informed outreach, the Alumni Engagement team helps move individuals from connection to participation, volunteerism, advocacy and philanthropy. The team shares responsibility for increasing alumni participation in giving and ensuring that engagement programs create intentional pathways to sustained involvement and long-term philanthropic investment in Illinois State.

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$97,000 annual salary

Required Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in higher education, communications, marketing, public relations, recreation, business, nonprofit management, student affairs or a related field.
2. Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in alumni relations, constituent engagement, advancement, higher education, volunteer management, community engagement or a closely related field.
3. Demonstrated experience developing and implementing comprehensive engagement strategies, programs or experiences for alumni, volunteers, members or other constituent audiences.
4. At least three years of experience supervising, coaching or providing strategic direction to professional staff, student employees or cross-functional teams.
5. Experience planning and executing significant events or engagement initiatives involving multiple partners, audiences and logistical components.
6. Demonstrated experience recruiting, supporting and stewarding volunteers, advisory groups, boards, networks or other constituent leaders.
7. Experience building collaborative relationships with academic units, campus departments, senior leaders and external constituents.
8. Demonstrated ability to establish program goals, evaluate participation and outcomes, and use constituent data and feedback to inform engagement strategy.
9. Strong project-management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple programs, deadlines, budgets and stakeholders simultaneously.
10. Excellent written, verbal, presentation and interpersonal communication skills.
11. Demonstrated ability to develop inclusive programs and experiences that engage constituents across different generations, backgrounds, geographic areas and areas of interest.
12. Experience managing program budgets, contracts, vendors or external partners.
13. Ability to work evenings and weekends and travel as required to support alumni programs and University events.
14. Demonstrated experience developing alumni or constituent engagement opportunities that deepen affinity, support a culture of philanthropy, and create pathways to increased participation and giving.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Significant experience in alumni relations or engagement within higher education or another complex, decentralized organization.
2. Experience leading a comprehensive alumni engagement program with responsibility for multiple areas such as regional networks, affinity communities, reunions, volunteerism, mentorship, lifelong learning, career engagement or signature events.
3. Experience partnering with an alumni board, governing board or senior volunteer leadership group.
4. Experience leading major institutional traditions or signature engagement experiences such as Homecoming, alumni weekends, milestone reunions or regional programs.
5. Demonstrated experience developing and expanding regional, affinity, identity-based or interest-based alumni communities.
6. Experience building volunteer, mentorship, career-development or alumni-to-student engagement programs.
7. Experience integrating alumni engagement with annual giving, donor development, stewardship and broader institutional priorities.
8. Familiarity with CASE alumni engagement standards and the four modes of engagement: communication, experiential, volunteer and philanthropic.
9. Experience using a constituent relationship management system, event-registration platform, engagement-scoring model or communications technology to manage and evaluate alumni relationships.
10. Demonstrated experience creating dashboards, participation measures or key performance indicators for alumni engagement.
11. Active involvement in CASE or another relevant higher-education or advancement professional association.

Work Hours

The role generally works during standard University business hours of 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with flexibility required to support campus partnerships, volunteer, alumni events and Alumni Association Board activities, program deadlines, and major alumni engagement initiatives. Regular evening and weekend work is expected in connection with Homecoming, reunions, Athletics-partnered events, regional and affinity programs, board meetings, and other alumni and University activities.

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:
1. Remain at a workstation for extended periods
2. Move about in various locations across campus as needed to complete day-to-day work.
3. Effectively communicate on a daily basis.

Proposed Starting Date

November 2026

Required Applicant Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. Reference List

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

University Benefit Highlights:

- Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life

- Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options

- Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents

- Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks

- Paid benefit time

Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/

Sponsorship: Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for Illinois State University in the United States. Illinois State University will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. Illinois State University is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12-month OPT may be used to work at Illinois State University.

Contact Information for Applicants

Jillian Nelson,
jyoun11@ilstu.edu

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.