Senior Associate Director, Regional Alumni Engagement

The Senior Associate Director, Regional Alumni Engagement is responsible for informing, involving and inspiring alumni engagement across Princeton’s global network of regional associations. Reporting to the Director of Alumni Communities, the Senior Associate Director will manage a team and oversee a network of approximately 1,500 alumni volunteers leading 163 regional associations. Annually, regional alumni associations organize and host approximately 1,000 events that connect alumni with each other and the University.

This role also supports the Alumni Schools Committee, Princeton’s largest volunteer-driven program, engaging over 7,300 alumni each year. The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues across University Advancement, campus partners, and the Alumni Council Executive Committee to ensure that regional engagement programs are impactful, well-coordinated, and aligned with University priorities.

Princeton University Advancement works to inform, inspire, and involve Princeton’s global community of alumni, parents, and friends in ways that enable the University to fulfill its mission of advancing learning through scholarship, research, and teaching to serve humanity.

Regional Engagement:

• Lead the development of a comprehensive regional engagement strategy, setting annual goals and priorities in collaboration with the Director of Alumni Communities. 
• Provide strategic and operational leadership in guiding, planning and implementing signature regional programming such as Orange & Black Day, and special events with campus partners including regional tailgates and conferences.
• Support high-profile, all-alumni regional events featuring the University president and other senior leaders, ensuring robust volunteer engagement and participation. Actively partner with regional volunteer leaders in preparation for these events and meet in person to support and thank alumni leaders during regional visits.
• Partner with colleagues in Graduate Alumni Relations, Class Affairs, Affinity Programming and Volunteer Engagement to strengthen regional programming, volunteer recruitment and pipeline development.
• Collaborate with the Alumni Education and Travel team to promote alumni education offerings, with a particular focus on the regional Speakers Bureau program.
• Advise students groups interested in performing at regional association/club events.

Alumni Council Executive Committee Support:

•  Act as a primary or secondary liaison to key committees of the Alumni Council Executive Committee, including the Committee on Regional Associations and the Princeton Schools Committee. 
• Advise and partner with committee chairs and vice chairs to set annual goals, advance initiatives, manage budgets and ensure effective communication and programs.
• Collaborate with the Office of Admission to support the Princeton Schools Committee and broader Alumni Schools Committee program, including alumni communications, volunteer training, and events.

Volunteer Management, Onboarding and Pipeline Development:

•  Advise, train and consult with regional volunteer leaders on various organizational issues including board composition, volunteer recruitment, leadership succession, governance, financial planning, legal compliance, regional programming, events planning, alumni schools committee work and communication strategies and tactics. 
• Oversee and support the development and deployment of regional volunteer training, tools, and resources to facilitate their work on behalf of Princeton. Collaborate with Advancement Communications on related TigerNet features, policies and training issues. 
• Oversee the new regional president onboarding process and partner with local alumni leaders interested in revitalizing dormant regional organizations.
• Develop plans and initiatives tailored to the needs of international associations.
• Oversee regional award presentations and stewardship initiatives.

Operations:

• Supervise, coach and support the professional development of team members.
• Establish key metrics to evaluate the success of regional engagement programs, including data collection, analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Support regional engagement financial planning, budgeting, and reconciliation processes to ensure efficient resource allocation in partnership with Director of Alumni Communities.
• Participate in broader Advancement and Alumni Engagement initiatives, working groups, and committees as needed. 
• Assist with and attend “all-hands” alumni events, including Alumni Day, Reunions, three yearly Alumni Council executive committee meetings, and special on-campus events and conferences.

Regional Communications: 

• Partner with the Advancement Communications team to develop and implement communications plans that highlight regional alumni engagement opportunities and showcase volunteer leaders and success stories. 
• Leverage channels such as the University website, Alumni Association site, Tiger E-News, Princeton Alumni Weekly, and social media to amplify regional engagement efforts.

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least eight years of Advancement or strongly related work experience
• Proven ability to develop and foster relationships with people at all levels of an organization, and to collaborate and influence at a high level
• Exceptional written, oral and interpersonal skills
• Evidence of self-motivation and the ability to work both independently and in teams with high personal standards representative of Princeton’s commitment to excellence
• Strong strategic planning and project management skills necessary to set and monitor progress against goals, develop plans and timelines, and measure success toward goals

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong familiarity with Princeton University, its mission and its global community of alumni 
• Experience in higher education, alumni relations and/or volunteer management

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS