Functional expert responsible for the planning, staffing, and tactical execution of group and/or broad-based relationship management plans, programs and events designed to strategically identify and cultivate alumni and students in meaningful ways that result in engaged volunteers and donors. Serves as liaison to both University and Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA).

Reporting to the Senior Associate Director, Alumni Engagement on the programs team of the NAA, the Assistant Director (AD), Alumni Engagement, will extend the mission of the NAA through the creation, growth, and continued development of virtual programming related to alumni professional and personal development. As a podcast host, plan the show and research the topic under discussion, sketch out questions for guests, and work to produce lead-in copy. The AD will develop relationships with alumni volunteers that help foster virtual opportunities to engage alumni around personal and professional development and success.

The Assistant Director is responsible for the following:

• Northwestern Intersections podcast and NAA Career Webinar Series.
  • Develop annual calendar of speakers and themes.
  • Coordinate recruitment of podcast and webinar guests from staff and volunteer recommendations and manage relationships with hosts
  • Responsible for promotion and marketing of all NAA virtual career events
  • Interview, record, and post-production for podcasts/webinars
  • Follow-up duties (upload recordings, transcriptions, code data in CATracks, and program analytics)
  • Partner with stakeholders across to build and sustain successful virtual content, including periodic check-ins with communications, engagement, and editorial teams for assessment
• Assists with implementation of Northwestern | Connects global networking program.
• Creates ROI reports to assess programming success.

Serve as backup host for and assist with other NAA programs and events throughout the year.

Please note: there will be some evenings and weekend work in this role.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• Administers & maintains existing strategic plans.
• Recommends changes & improvements to maximize & ensure most effective & efficient use of revenue streams ultimately leading to a culture of engagement & participation with the University.
• Implement social media campaigns as part of strategic planning with the support of the Marketing and Communications team.

Collaboration

• Involves moderate level of collaboration with internal department partners and moderate level of collaboration with University partners in implementing and expanding existing relationships to accomplish strategic goals.
• Please bullet examples of key partnerships and work involved below
  • Marketing and Communications (e-newsletters, promotional material)
  • Major Gift Officers and Directors of Development
  • Professional School’s Office of Communications (mainly for podcast)
  • Peer Institutions (for benchmarking calls)

Volunteers

• Assists with volunteer management, including generating reports and lists, coordinating updates, and other scheduled communications.
• Implements career programming opportunities both in-person & virtually designed to meet the needs of entry level to late career alumni in locations around the world.
• Travels occasionally throughout the region or country.

Events

• Manages 2 or more portions of basic, standard programs &/or events.
• Coordinates with leaders on interests in venue space and speakers.
• Processes & maintains online event information, registration &/or databases.
• Markets & promotes events using broadcast email, individual web pages, &/or social media.
• Assists in scheduling details such as venue, space, caterers, musicians, technical requirements, nametags, etc.
• Prepares event plans & summaries.
• Reviews information & recommends “best practices” for future events.

Administration

• Organizes and executes administrative aspects of production and distribution of constituent communications.
• Includes data manipulation.
• Manages timelines and related expenses.
• Coordinates graphic design and/or scripting.
• Documents results & response levels.
• Responsible for tracking participants & volunteers, recording engagement, and donor interactions in database.
• Optimizes the use of technology including social media for marketing, communications & data reporting & analysis.
• Assists in the development of dashboards & metrics which provide quantitative analysis of program & event outcomes.

Budget

• Implements & administers approved budget for designated programs &/or events.

Miscellaneous

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 2 years development, marketing, sales or the equivalent experience is required.

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

• Organization, detail oriented, exemplary written and verbal communication skills
• High level of intellectual curiosity and creativity
• Able to work cross-functionally with internal and external partners

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with project management and technology implementation

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Familiarity with Adobe Suite (including Audition, Premiere, and Photoshop) especially on the MacOS platform.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Suite (including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word)
• Experience with serving as a virtual host or interviewer
• Previous experience in podcast production and marketing

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! 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 strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.