Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving (36475)

Position Information

Posting Detail Information

Working Position Title Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving (36475) Classification Assistant Director Position Number 00036475 Open Date 07/14/2026 Close Date Priority Review Date 08/09/2026 Employee Class Staff Full-Time/Part Time Full-Time FTE 1.00 Position Status Regular FLSA Exempt Job code 1040SPS03 Union Representation Non-Union Union Code N/A Unit/Department Alumni Services College/Unit Alumni Services Division University Advancement Location BARSM ALUM Link to Department Website or Custom Search Page https://foundation.myniu.com/

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Overview

Are you a detail-oriented professional with a passion for creating meaningful alumni experiences? The Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving plays a key role in advancing engagement and annual giving efforts through program execution, operational leadership, and cross-functional coordination.

Working within the Division of University Advancement and reporting to the Director of Foundation and Alumni Events and the Director of Annual Giving, this role serves as a central connector across teams, ensuring programs, campaigns, and initiatives are executed effectively and aligned with institutional goals.

Key Areas of Impact

• Program & Operational Leadership: Assist in coordination and execution of alumni engagement programs, events, and annual giving initiatives, ensuring alignment with budget, timeline, and participation goals.
• Strategic Coordination: Partner with leadership and cross-functional teams to advance priorities, support financial and operational processes, and ensure effective collaboration, including engagement with key volunteer groups.
• Constituent Experience: Serve as a primary point of contact for alumni programs, experiences, benefits, and opportunities, delivering a high-quality and consistent experience across engagement touchpoints.
• Engagement & Mission Advancement: Build and strengthen connections with alumni, donors, and prospects by supporting initiatives that increase participation, deepen relationships, and advance the mission of NIU and the Foundation.

Position Summary

This role is integral to the success of alumni engagement and annual giving efforts, serving as a hub for coordination, execution, and continuous improvement across programs and initiatives.

The Assistant Director leads and implements key components of alumni engagement and annual giving work, contributing to the development of new initiatives while ensuring existing programs run effectively. Through managing operations, coordinating across teams, and monitoring engagement trends, this role helps deliver high-impact experiences and strengthen alumni connection to NIU, the Foundation and Alumni Association.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Program & Experience Management

• Support planning and execution of alumni programs, events, and experiences including some international and domestic travel programs, ensuring alignment with budget, timeline, and participation goals.
• Manage program infrastructure, including systems setup, reporting, and participant tracking to support informed decision-making.
• Oversee logistics and vendor coordination, including venues, contracts, pricing, and deliverables.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for participants, managing inquiries, registration support, and pre-program communications to ensure a high-quality experience.
• Maintain accurate participant data and support targeted marketing and outreach efforts.
• Ensure timely promotion and accurate posting of programs across platforms.
• Support on-site execution and oversee post-program reconciliation, including attendance and payments.
• Manage billing processes and track contracts, ensuring deadlines, approvals, and renewals are met.

Annual Giving Operations

• Support execution of annual giving efforts through coordination of campaigns, communications, and engagement activities across channels (direct mail, social, email, texting, crowdfunding, etc.).
• Manage and implement key annual giving initiatives, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with overall goals.
• Contribute to the development and execution of engagement strategies that support donor lifecycle progression, particularly for emerging and young alumni audiences.
• Coordinate content and production needs for annual giving outreach, ensuring consistency and effectiveness across platforms.
• Support targeted giving efforts and special campaign initiatives by coordinating logistics, tracking progress, and assisting with implementation.
• Contribute to stewardship and follow-up efforts that strengthen donor relationships and encourage continued engagement.
• Monitor participation and engagement trends, providing insights to inform future outreach and campaign strategies.

Strategic Initiatives & Program Support

• Contribute to cross-functional initiatives and process improvements that enhance program effectiveness and efficiency
• Monitor participation and engagement across alumni programs and benefits, identifying trends and recommending improvements to strengthen lifecycle engagement
• Lead and coordinate select operational programs, including the Mission Mascot Program, managing scheduling, logistics, accounting, and campus partnerships
• Manage promotional inventory and oversee distribution to support engagement and annual giving efforts
• Take ownership of special projects and emerging priorities, ensuring effective execution and alignment with team goals

Volunteer & Board Engagement

• Coordinate alumni board operations, including meeting planning, materials, and scheduling
• Support key alumni association board functions processes such as onboarding, nominations, and awards
• Maintain and manage board records to ensure accuracy and continuity

Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)

N/A

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)

N/A

Specialty Factors (Civil Service)

N/A

Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)

N/A

Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)

• Bachelor's degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university.
• Two (2) years of professional experience in development, program or project management, communications, marketing, sales or other related fields.
• Experience working with constituent or marketing management software.
• Valid driver's license and use of personal transportation.

Additional Requirements (SPS)

• Demonstrable commitment to the highest standard of ethical and professional conduct in accordance with the CASE Statement of Ethics, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Principles and Standards, and The Donor Bill of Rights. (Membership not required.)
• Deep, personal commitment to diversity in all forms, the recognition of all individuals to mutual respect, and the acceptance of others without biases. Demonstrable commitment to leading by example, modeling diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the university.
• Demonstrated knowledge of data collection best practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to present and deliver information effectively.
• Familiarity with electronic registration tools.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize competing projects and project-manage multiple projects at a time.
• Ability to exercise discretion and confidentiality.
• Ability to keep accurate records and complete timely reports.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, co-workers and constituents.
• The ability to work effectively with system administrators or programmers.
• Skill and ability in applying use of Microsoft Office suite.
• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to use common sense approaches, work autonomously, and make reliable, prudent and sound decisions.
• Ability to provide high quality services in a cost-effective manner and to recommend improved methods of performing the work.

Preferred Qualifications (SPS)

• Non-profit event experience, specifically related to Foundations or Alumni.
• Work with board of directors or C-suite level individuals.

Physical demands/requirements

• Some travel is required for this position. Use of a personal vehicle is required.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The employee frequently is required to stand for long periods of time; walk; use fingers and hands to feel, grasp, operate or handle objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
• Must be able to lift and carry 20 lbs regularly.

Appointment and Compensation Details

Appointment and Compensation Details

Anticipated Appointment Start Date 9/15/2026 Anticipated Appointment End Date Percent of Staff Year 1.00 Standard Hours Per Week 37.50 Working Hours Mon - Fri, 8:00am - 4:30pm; Some evenings and weekends may be required; Some overnight and out-of-state travel is required. Salary $55,000.08/Annually; NIU offers a robust benefits package. Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range $2,291.67/Semi-monthly Earn Type Salary

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

For full consideration, please visit https://employment.niu.edu/postings/93800 to submit the following materials by August 9th, 2026.

Required Documents:

• Cover Letter - Please include your interest in employment with the NIU Foundation and how your previous experience positions you for success in the role for which you are applying.
• Current Resume.
• List of Three current Professional References, including name, email address, and phone number.
• Transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable for initial review of application; official copies required to confirm appointment).

Applications submitted after August 9th, 2026 are welcomed, but will be considered as needed.

Special Instructions Quick Link to Applicant https://employment.niu.edu/postings/93800 Is Background Check Required? Yes EEO Statement Summary

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator

Health Services Building Room 230

TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu

815-753-5560

Visa Policy

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

ADA Accommodation

NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person's disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form. For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (AAEO) at ada@niu.edu.

Safety Information

NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety.

Read the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-9364 for a hard copy.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
• List of at least 3 Professional References

Optional Documents

• Military Discharge Documents ONLY (DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256)
• Other

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).