University of New Hampshire

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Reporting directly to the Vice President for Advancement, the Senior Executive Director of Alumni Relations is responsible for architecting and implementing a sophisticated, comprehensive alumni engagement ecosystem that inspires UNH's graduates to invest meaningfully in the university's future. This executive leadership position will create distinctive engagement pathways that strengthen the UNH community, accelerate philanthropic growth, and advance the university's strategic priorities through alumni advocacy, participation, and support.

Duties/Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Institutional Impact (45%)

• Partner with the VP for Advancement to design and execute an innovative, research-based alumni engagement strategy that directly supports UNH's institutional vision and long-term advancement goals
• Drive alumni participation and philanthropy through sophisticated segmentation, targeted programming, and strategic relationship management
• Develop a comprehensive metrics framework to measure engagement efficacy, demonstrate ROI, and inform strategic decision-making
• Serve as the primary liaison between advancement leadership and the UNHAA Board of Directors, ensuring strategic alignment and maximizing board impact
• Function as a senior leader within the advancement division, contributing to overall strategy.
• Ensure UNH Alumni Relations is represented at high-profile alumni events, establishing meaningful relationships with influential graduates and key stakeholders

Advancement Team Leadership (25%)

• Lead, mentor, and empower a high-performing alumni relations team, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and strategic thinking
• Establish clear performance expectations, provide regular coaching, and conduct comprehensive evaluations that drive professional growth
• Recruit, develop, and retain exceptional talent that reflects the diversity of UNH's alumni community
• Manage departmental resources with fiscal responsibility, ensuring maximum return on investment while pursuing growth opportunities
• Create pathways for staff advancement and professional development that strengthen the entire advancement operation
• Collaborate seamlessly with colleagues across development, communications, and advancement services to ensure integrated approaches to alumni engagement

Board Governance & Volunteer Engagement (15%)

• Partner with the VP for Advancement to provide executive-level support to the UNHAA Board, enhancing their effectiveness and strategic impact
• Design and implement a sophisticated volunteer engagement system that leverages alumni expertise and networks to advance university priorities
• Develop board leadership through targeted recruitment, thoughtful onboarding, and ongoing education
• Facilitate high-impact board meetings and committee initiatives that drive meaningful outcomes
• Build a sustainable leadership pipeline that identifies and cultivates future volunteer leaders from diverse backgrounds and experiences

Strategic Partnership Development (10%)

• Establish collaborative relationships with deans and academic leaders, to create college-specific engagement strategies that support both unit-level and university-wide objectives
• Identify and secure resources, sponsorships, and in-kind support to enhance alumni programming and extend operational capacity

Innovation & Future-Focused Leadership (5%)

• Champion digital transformation initiatives that leverage emerging technologies to expand alumni reach and deepen engagement
• Lead industry benchmarking and best practice adoption that positions UNH as a leader in alumni relations
• Develop progressive strategies to engage diverse alumni populations across generations, geographies, and affinities
• Create data-informed experimental initiatives that test new approaches to alumni engagement with clear assessment methodologies

Minimum Acceptable Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree with 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in alumni relations, advancement, or comparable field required
• Minimum 7 years of experience leading and developing high-performing teams
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning, program innovation, and organizational transformation
• Proven track record of measuring and significantly improving alumni engagement outcomes
• Experience collaborating with volunteer boards and senior university leadership

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Visionary leadership capabilities with proven ability to inspire diverse stakeholders toward shared objectives
• Sophisticated understanding of advancement principles, philanthropic cultivation, and donor stewardship
• Exceptional strategic thinking skills with the ability to translate concepts into actionable plans with measurable outcomes
• Superior relationship-building abilities across all constituencies, including senior administrators, major donors, and diverse alumni populations
• Deep fluency with CRM systems (Trax), digital engagement platforms, and data analytics tools
• Outstanding communication skills with the ability to craft compelling narratives about institutional value and impact
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in both team leadership and program development
• Exceptional project management capabilities with the ability to lead multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in higher education administration, business, public administration, or related field preferred
• Experience at a public research university or similar complex academic environment
• Advanced knowledge of philanthropic best practices and donor pipeline development
• Record of innovation in virtual and digital alumni engagement strategies
• Experience managing significant budgets and diverse revenue streams
• Background in campaign planning and execution
• Active involvement in CASE or similar professional advancement organizations

Applicant instructions:

Applicants should be prepared to upload the following documents when applying online within the Resume/Cover Letter section of your application:

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter
• Contact Information for 3 Professional References

The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

EEO Statement

The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

Location:

Durham

Salary Grade:

Exempt Staff 33