Program Director for Student-Alumni Mentorship at the UOAA or UCC

Department: University of Oregon Alumni Association and University Career Center

Appointment Type and Duration: Regular, Ongoing

Salary: $67,000 - $75,000 per year

Compensation Band: OS-OA06-Fiscal Year 2025-2026

FTE: 1.0

2 positions available; hybrid-eligible

The University Career Center position is based in Eugene, Oregon. The University Alumni Association position may be based in either Eugene or Portland, Oregon.

Application Review Begins

July 14, 2026; position open until filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

To be considered for this position, applicants must submit a complete application. Complete applications must include a cover letter and a resume. In your cover letter, please address your preference between the two positions, and share how your skills and experience meet the minimum and preferred qualifications.

We are interested in finding the best candidate for this position. We encourage you to apply, even if you don''''t think you meet every one of our preferred qualifications - use your application to let us know what is meaningful to you about the role and what transferable skills or other qualities you would bring to the position.

If you have questions about the application process or the position, please reach out to fass@uoregon.edu.

Department Summary

University Advancement (UA) supports the University of Oregon's (UO) mission of providing exceptional teaching, discovery, and service by strategically positioning the university to create awareness, build long-term relationships, and secure resources that increase understanding and further its aims. The division consists of approximately 150 employees primarily working out of Eugene, with a satellite office in Portland. We are committed to fostering equity and inclusion in a welcoming, safe, and respectful environment that recognizes the value of all members of our community.

The University of Oregon Alumni Association (UOAA) fosters lifelong relationships, deepens engagement, and advocates on behalf of the university and Duck alumni around the world. Launched in 1879, the UOAA is proud of its long history of keeping alumni connected to the university and to one another, offering a wide array of opportunities for service and engagement. With a membership of over 20,000, the UOAA serves as an important connection to the university for more than 280,000 alumni worldwide. Our vision is to be among the very best alumni relations programs in the world, uniting and engaging Ducks in all stages of flight.

The University Career Center (UCC) serves as the central hub for career development at the University of Oregon, supporting students and recent alumni in building the knowledge, skills, and connections needed for lifelong career success. Through a student-centered and holistic approach, the Career Center empowers individuals to explore their interests, clarify career goals, and gain meaningful experiences that prepare them for an evolving world of work. We provide comprehensive career services, including career coaching, job and internship search support, experiential learning opportunities, and connections to a robust network of employers and alumni. Our programs are designed to meet students where they are, whether they are just beginning to explore career possibilities or preparing to launch into their chosen field.

Collaboration is at the core of our work. We partner with faculty, staff, employers, alumni, and campus and community organizations to create inclusive, high-impact opportunities that enhance student career readiness. These partnerships allow us to extend our reach and ensure that all students, including those from historically underrepresented backgrounds, have access to the tools, networks, and support necessary to achieve their professional goals. At the University Career Center, we are committed to fostering equitable access to career development resources and empowering every student to confidently navigate their career journey, both at UO and beyond.

Position Summary

The UO is currently hiring two Director level roles in order to establish and cultivate lifelong relationships among alumni and students, while at the same time, working to enhance the career readiness of current students. Both Directors, one in the UOAA and one in the UCC, will advance a coordinated, university-wide approach that integrates alumni engagement and student mentorship into engaging experiences and expands professional networks for all involved.

The UOAA Program Director works in consultation and collaboration with the Director of Alumni Career Networking and the UCC Program Director to do the following:

• Encourage alumni, parents, and industry contacts to engage in the career guidance and mentoring of current UO students and recent graduates, while also stewarding their participation.
• Promote the use of available tools (particularly PeopleGrove-but also other tools like Linkedln, UO alumni groups and networks) to help alumni find Ducks who are seeking career support from experienced alumni, tracking participation whenever possible.
• Train potential volunteers on effective mentoring, including expectation-setting, and provide front-end customer service, especially regarding the effective use of our online mentoring/engagement platform.
• Communicate successes and tell the stories of effective mentoring (advice giving) and advice seeking.
• Establish relationships with faculty and departments to 1) promote students'''' engagement with alumni and the PeopleGrove platform, and 2) find ways to plug alumni directly into the classroom and departments'''' academic programming.

The University Career Center Program Director for Student-Alumni Mentorship works in consultation and collaboration with campus partners, academic units, and the UOAA Program Director to:

• Lead campus integration and partnerships by collaborating with deans, faculty, staff, and Career Communities to embed alumni mentoring into curricular and co-curricular experiences and align engagement strategies across the institution.
• Drive student engagement and equitable access by promoting mentoring opportunities through multiple channels, partnering with student organizations and outreach teams, and ensuring inclusive participation for diverse student populations.
• Design and deliver student networking education by developing training, resources, and programming that prepare students to effectively engage with alumni, in partnership with the Career Readiness Coaching team.
• Oversee PeopleGrove student experience and operations by serving as the campus expert, providing support and training, establishing usage guidelines and risk management practices, and contributing to platform governance, metrics, and continuous improvement.
• Assess impact and advance innovation by evaluating program effectiveness, sharing success stories, and exploring new models of student-alumni engagement such as micro-mentoring, project-based learning, and affinity-based networks.

These positions require occasional night and/or weekend work to support special projects and events.

While both positions share the same minimum qualifications, they vary slightly in professional competencies and preferred qualifications. These distinctions are outlined below.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor''''s degree, or equivalent combination of skills, experience, and education; and
• Five years of full-time (or equivalent) experience in program management related to any of the following: training, teaching, career advising, alumni relations, advancement in a higher education setting, sales, or a related field.

Professional Competencies

Both Program Directors:

• Program Management: Skilled at leading complex programs, managing multiple priorities, and meeting deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Communication: Strong facilitation, training, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to teach and inspire a wide range of audiences.
• Technology and Data: Comfort with digital platforms (e.g., PeopleGrove) and ability to use data to monitor participation, improve processes, and assess outcomes.
• Strategy and Innovation: Ability to make informed decisions about program direction and explore new approaches to student-alumni connection.
• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, and alumni partners across a decentralized campus.
• Equity: Commitment to promoting equity and inclusion through effective communication and collaboration with diverse individuals-including alumni, staff, faculty, students, and other constituents-while supporting diverse student populations and developing mentoring opportunities that expand equitable access to career networks.

UOAA Program Director:

• Storytelling: Ability to effectively communicate stories of effective mentoring and professional connections.
• Alumni Mentoring: Possess an understanding of mentoring best practices and general career development; possess the ability to motivate alumni to engage in networking and mentoring.

UCC Program Director:

• Student Mentoring: Understanding of mentoring best practices and student career development; ability to prepare students for professional networking.

Preferred Qualifications

Both Program Directors:

• Experience navigating technology platforms, especially student-alumni mentoring platforms.
• Knowledge of or ability to quickly understand and navigate the University of Oregon.

UOAA Program Director:

• Two to three years of marketing and/or communications experience, with demonstrated results.

UCC Program Director:

• Experience in training university students or developing training materials for students.

FLSA Exempt: Yes

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit our website.

The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please email us or call 541-346-5112.

UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy (including pregnancy-related conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including family medical history), ancestry, familial status, citizenship, service in the uniformed services (as defined in federal and state law), veteran status, expunged juvenile record, and/or the use of leave protected by state or federal law in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed here.

In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online.