Job Summary:
Primary management officer with comprehensive responsibility for program and team results. Works with senior management to establish goals and report on progress to those goals. Manages multiple teams in developing strategies and translating those strategies to action plans. Monitors results, determines strengths and weaknesses of component programs and works with team leaders and development staff to modify plans and strategies to ensure achievement of program and organization goals. Participates in department management activities. May manage a portfolio of high profile/high-level alumni volunteers. Serves as liaison to both University and Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA). Position is responsible for oversight, marketing and metrics for overall programming for the NAA including in person and virtual for our alumni and students.

Specific Responsibilities:
Strategic Planning

• Primary responsibility for development & implementation of strategic plans focused on engagement and participation of alumni, friends, faculty and staff.
• Oversees, relationship management groups creating, implementing, and managing these plans to incorporate cutting edge & best practices to dramatically increase engagement & participation.
• Initiates, plans and implements innovative & visionary organizational change & takes calculated risks to develop new strategies to continually expand engagement & participation across the globe.
• Works closely with senior department management and other senior managers to set goals and to develop and implement overarching relationship management strategies, including alumni leaders’ identification and engagement.
• Oversees programmatic performance evaluation and resourcing, process improvement and research.

Collaboration

• Reviews & proposes strategic alliances, joint ventures & key collaborations with department and other University partners to identify opportunities to integrate University strategic plan goals.
• Oversees and coaches team members regarding department collaborations.
• Please bullet examples of key partnerships and work involved below:
  • Northwestern Career Advancement office
  • Student Affairs
  • Annual Giving
  • Reunion Programs

Prospects & Gifts

• Plays a primary role in developing and managing relationship strategies including the creation & implementation of world-wide programs & services for alumni, students, parents, friends and groups of volunteers and prospect/donor pools that ultimately result in increases in philanthropic contributions.
• Maintains up to date current knowledge on key alumni and high level donors.
• Tracks and manages the emerging prospect pool to develop reports and monitor program results.

Volunteers

• Leads efforts to create and facilitate a vibrant culture of philanthropy, service and volunteerism which includes working with high-level volunteers to determine goals, and then identify, recruit, and coach groups of volunteers, plan and coordinate meetings, determine strategies, and report on progress.
• Leads efforts to refine & expand the NAA & University’s board’s membership, involvement, and responsibilities and introduces strategies to deepen broader alumni volunteerism, providing more opportunities for alumni to become involved.
• Oversees development & implementation of a variety of leadership training opportunities both in-person & virtually designed to meet the needs of entry level to advanced alumni leaders in locations around the world.
• Requires extensive travel throughout the region or country.

Events

• Oversees development & management of events & programs designed to expand constituent engagement & participation across the globe.
• Reviews and approves event plans & summaries ensuring that overall goals & objectives are attained.
• Works directly with high level volunteers & donors to ensure that individual needs are met.

Administration

• Manages multiple teams, provides leadership, determines & evaluates individual goals, develops & implements training and mentoring, assigns and monitors coverage of primary areas of focus ensuring that goals & objectives are attained.
• Conducts associated ongoing data analysis to determine trends, results & future plans.
• Encourages & optimizes the use of technology, social networking, and other virtual engagement tools to increase & broaden NU’s & schools global reach to prospects & donors.
• Selects and manages high-level vendor/consultant relationships, including determining goals and coordinating activities with department and University staff.

Budget

• Strategically manages a department budget ensuring to minimize expenses while maximizing return.

Supervisory

• Supervises 2 or more staff.
• Provides training to staff within or outside of immediate dept. or division in regard to function.
• Leads, coaches and evaluates performance of direct reports
• Completes 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.
• 8 years development, marketing, sales or the equivalent experience is required.

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

• Team leadership; analytical thinking, complex problem solving and planning; global/organizational perspective; ability to work in a fast-paced environment; comfortable with change, and associated ambiguity.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advance degree
• 10 years working in higher education
• 7 years working in alumni relations
• Experience managing staff
• Execute large scale university program
• Working with mulitple units on campus
• Experience working with students
• Developing programming for different populations
• Led intiatives related to virtual programming including marketing and metrics
• Strong understanding of Northwestern
• Direct experience working for an Alumni Association
• Developed proposals for new or rewamped programming
• Led university or alumni association through significant change

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.