Director, Alumni Affinity Program, Advancement

Boston University Advancement

Boston University Advancement is at a pivotal moment, guided by new leadership and a clear strategic framework for growth and impact. Our work centers on three core priorities: securing $500 million in philanthropy annually; deepening relationships with a strategically defined segment of alumni and donors; and strengthening the organizational foundation while launching focused priority areas across the University.

 

Advancement is evolving into a highly collaborative, matrixed model that integrates new University leadership, regional engagement, and the distinctive strengths of BU’s schools and colleges. With more than 250 advancement professionals, the organization is building the capacity, partnerships, and culture required to deliver sustained philanthropic momentum and institutional impact.

 

Director, Alumni Affinity Programs

 

The Director of Alumni Affinity Programs develops, implements, and maintains comprehensive engagement programs that build lifelong connections with Boston University alumni and students. This role reports to the Managing Director for Alumni Engagement and is responsible for executing strategy aligned with University priorities.

 

Key responsibilities include building and strengthening the alumni community through engagement opportunities organized by shared interests, identity, and life stage, from acceptance through lifetime affiliation; leading cultivation, stewardship, and volunteer management of high-profile Alumni Affinity Councils and initiatives, including: Boston University Alumni Council, Young Alumni Council, Black Alumni Leadership Council, Women's Leadership Council, First Generation programming, Scarlet Key programming, Golden Terriers reunion programming; supervising a team of alumni engagement officers; and developing consistent messaging and strategy across the global alumni community.

 

Position Responsibilities

 

Leadership and Management (40%)

• Manage a team of Alumni Affinity Programs staff, providing daily oversight, advice, and operational support.
• Work with the Managing Director to prioritize the goals of each Council, as well as assist, evaluate, and assess competing priorities. Determine viability and create strategy for potential new affinity programs as needed.
• Hire and train engagement officers in the work of volunteer management, programming strategy and content creation, and budgeting.
• Work closely with the Communications and Strategic Events teams to ensure that goals and resources required for overall Alumni Affinity Programs are aligned and available.
• Work with Managing Director to develop the team’s overall goals with measurable outcomes.
• Work closely with Annual Giving to encourage individual giving and pipeline development through the identification, engagement, and cultivation of annual gifts, and the development and support of targeted constituent giving programs, including Giving Day.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across campus including Student Life, Center for Career Development, Athletics, the Newbury Center, and other student-facing offices and programs.
• Work closely with all Advancement prospect managers to increase alumni participation, engagement, and communication by coordinating programming and outreach and providing front-line information for these colleagues.

 

Volunteer Engagement (30%)

• Initiate and maintain relationships with leading alumni volunteers, donors, and students.
• Working alongside the team, actively recruit alumni volunteers for volunteer leadership positions within affinity and life stage programs.
• In collaboration with the Managing Director, assess organizational need and capacity for volunteers; identify meaningful volunteer opportunities to engage alumni and students for the benefit of the University.
• Identify and develop volunteers and leaders who represent the full spectrum of the overall alumni body.
• Work with Alumni Networks and Career Programs teams to cultivate alumni interests regionally, as well as offering digital-first engagement through platforms managed by Career Programs.
• Work with Advancement Communications to create a communication strategy for volunteers that includes regular updates and impact reports to volunteers.
• Ensure all volunteers are stewarded and thanked appropriately for their level of service in a way that is consistent across the Advancement program. Conduct end-of-year program evaluations, including volunteer surveys, to ensure structure aligns with strategic priorities of the department.
• In partnership with database administrators and staff, ensure all volunteers and members are coded in the CRM with periodic contact reports, updates, and event activity, so that a robust pipeline of volunteers is established.

 

Program Development (30%)

• Collaborate with Managing Director to develop a comprehensive program for continued alumni engagement throughout the lifetime of a graduate.
• Determine clear and concise criteria for alumni affinity program creation requests.
• Create and define annual goals and objectives for each alumni affinity program.
• Work with Managing Director to review and re-envision current reunion offerings during Alumni Weekend.
• Provide oversight and guidance for annual roster of programming, in addition to planning and executing regular meetings for the volunteers of each affinity program.
• Evaluate each alumni affinity program on an annual basis.

 

 

Required Skills

QUALIFICATIONS

 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 7-9 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing engagement programs and managing relationships with volunteers, alumni, or other constituents.
• Experience leading volunteer groups, councils, committees, affinity programs, or similar constituent-facing initiatives.
• Strong strategic, organizational, and project management skills, with the ability to establish goals, manage competing priorities, and evaluate program effectiveness.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across an organization and with diverse audiences.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends and travel as needed.

 

Additional Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Experience in higher education advancement or alumni relations.
• Experience managing high-touch alumni councils, affinity groups, or senior volunteer leaders.
• Experience connecting alumni engagement with philanthropy, annual giving, or donor cultivation.
• Experience using CRM systems and engagement data to inform constituent engagement and program strategy.

But that’s not all we’re looking for; we want someone who embodies our values:

• Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect, because we value every member’s contributions and know that leadership can come from anywhere.
• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and a commitment to ensuring that each of us knows we belong here.
• Integrity in how we work and how we treat one another.
• Strategic thinking and curiosity in the relentless pursuit of fresh approaches and measurable result.
• Continuous growth and improvement, both as individuals and as a team.
• Joy and shared appreciation for working hard toward goals that matter.

To apply and learn more about Advancement at Boston University and other job opportunities, please stop by the Advancement Talent website: https://www.bu.edu/advancement-talent/.

We recognize that no candidate brings every experience or qualification to a role. If you're excited about this opportunity and believe your skills and experiences could contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply, even if your background doesn't align perfectly with every qualification listed. We value diverse perspectives, experiences, and ways of thinking, and we're committed to building a team where everyone can thrive.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural, protective, or culturally significant hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

If you require reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617-358-1796.

 

Required Experience