Job Description and Position Requirements

The College of the Liberal Arts seeks an experienced alumni relations professional to serve as Associate Director of Alumni Relations. Reporting to the Director of Alumni Relations, the Associate Director will assist with the strategy and implementation of events and initiatives designed to engage an increasing portion of more than 100,000 alumni, both on and off campus. As a key member of the college’s advancement team, the successful candidate will play an integral role in one of the most respected and successful fundraising operations in higher education and will contribute to the strategic goals of the college and Penn State’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations.

The Associate Director is directly responsible for planning and executing more than 25 alumni events annually, ranging from small gatherings to more complex receptions and banquets, including coordinating venues and caterers, creating event invitations and lists, establishing event budgets, developing briefing materials, managing on-site event logistics, recording results, measuring the effectiveness of events, and recommending improvements and new strategies. This position will also assist the Director of Alumni Relations with the development and implementation of other alumni engagement initiatives, such as identifying and recruiting volunteers for career development activities with students, identifying candidates for alumni awards and recognition at the unit and college level, working with the Liberal Arts Alumni Society board of directors and task forces, and tracking engagement metrics.

• This job will be filled as a level 2, or level 3, depending upon the successful candidate’s competencies, education, and experience.
• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree or higher plus two years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience for a level 2.
• Additional experience and.or education and competencies are required for higher level jobs.
• The candidate must be highly organized, adhere to precise deadlines with attention to detail, skilled at managing multiple projects simultaneously, possess excellent interpersonal skills, and demonstrate effective verbal and written communication.
• Experience in the field of Alumni Relations and familiarity with best practices in advancement is preferred.
• Knowledge of online systems such as email marketing, alumni databases, and event planning tools are essential.
• The position involves some evening and weekend work, as well as periodic travel.
• In addition, successful candidates must either have demonstrated a commitment to building an inclusive, equitable, and diverse campus community, or describe one or more ways they would envision doing so, given the opportunity.

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.