Assistant Director of Academic Community & Alumni Engagement
- Institutional Advancement
Allendale, MI
Full Time
R104928
The Assistant Director of Academic Community & Alumni
Engagement leads the strategy and coordination that strengthen
connections between alumni and the university's academic colleges.
The role partners closely with deans, faculty, and academic staff
to understand each college's unique goals and to develop approaches
that make alumni involvement accessible, meaningful, and
sustainable. This position supports academic advisory boards,
builds shared tools and practices, and helps connect colleges with
alumni and community contributors in ways that enhance academic
programs and student learning. The Assistant Director also guides
strategic initiatives that increase visibility, reduce siloed
efforts, and create consistent opportunities for alumni to stay
engaged with their disciplines. The role collaborates closely with
divisional and campus colleagues to ensure academic engagement
efforts align with institutional priorities and elevate
philanthropic interests.
Salary & Benefits:
Minimum starting salary of $61,500, commensurate with
experience
Comprehensive benefits
package including medical, vision, dental, life insurance,
generous employer retirement contributions, wellness resources and
tuition waiver effective on date of hire.
Primary Duties
- Lead academic community and alumni engagement strategies that
reflect university priorities and align with the unique needs and
goals of each college.
Build strong relationships with deans, faculty, and academic
staff to deepen alumni involvement in curricular and discipline
specific initiatives.
Create shared tools, templates, and processes that help faculty
and staff involve alumni in classroom engagement, experiential
learning, and other discipline‑aligned academic volunteer
opportunities.
Support academic advisory boards through guidance on
recruitment, onboarding, member expectations, volunteer
cultivation, and sustainable approaches to engagement and
succession, ensuring alignment with college‑specific
priorities.
Collaborate with colleges to identify opportunities for alumni
involvement in mentoring related to academic programs and connect
faculty and staff to campus‑wide mentoring resources and
systems.
Coordinate with campus colleagues to track academic engagement
activity, emerging needs, and opportunities, and align
academic‑based engagement events with the broader alumni engagement
calendar to support cohesive planning across colleges.
Collaborate with divisional colleagues and university partners
to support experiential learning involving alumni.
Lead and support strategic initiatives that strengthen academic
and community engagement across colleges and departments, including
virtual opportunities that support college‑based teaching,
learning, and alumni involvement.
Identify new ideas and opportunities that deepen alumni
involvement in academic priorities and advance the Laker for a
Lifetime philosophy, including collaboration with divisional
colleagues to enhance philanthropic engagement.
Other duties as assigned.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Minimum of 2 to 3 years of full-time, post‑graduate experience
in academic program support, alumni engagement, community
partnership development, or related higher education roles.
- Bachelor's degree.
- Strong ability to build collaborative relationships with deans,
faculty, staff, alumni, and external partners.
- Skill in organizing complex work, managing multiple priorities,
and adapting to the unique needs and expectations of different
colleges and disciplines.
- Ability to design and maintain clear processes, tools, and
shared resources that support consistent engagement across academic
units.
- Ability to interpret alumni and engagement‑related data to
inform planning, outreach, and strategy.
- Strong communication skills, including presenting,
facilitating, and writing for academic and professional
audiences.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Master's degree, or a bachelor's degree from Grand Valley State
University.
- Experience advising, supporting, or coordinating academic
advisory boards, college-based committees, or volunteer leadership
groups.
- Experience collaborating with faculty or academic units to
support classroom engagement, discipline‑specific alumni
involvement, and experiential learning activities involving alumni
or community contributors.
- Experience developing partnerships with academic departments,
external organizations, or industry partners that support academic
programs or student learning.
- Familiarity with engagement systems, CRM tools, or list
management processes that support academic outreach and volunteer
coordination.
- Experience with virtual engagement, workshops, or professional
learning opportunities connected to academic programs.
Working Conditions:
Normal office environment. Some travel may be required
How to Apply:
Attach your cover letter and resume, these documents are required.
The system will allow you to attach these documents electronically.
If you have questions about the position or the posting, please
contact Institutional Advancement at advancement@gvsu.edu. If you
need technical assistance, please contact Human Resources at
hro@gvsu.edu.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States
and must not require sponsorship now or in the future.
Application Deadline:
Application closes September 7, 2026. This posting may be closed at
any time at the discretion of the University.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to
perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Must have the physical
stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week. The
requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill
and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to
enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential
functions. The information contained in this job description is for
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by
the ADA Amendment Act (2008), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit
discrimination on the basis of disability. GVSU will provide
reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with
disabilities upon request. See
www.gvsu.edu/equalopportunity/. TDD
Callers: Call Michigan Relay Center at 711 (in State) or
1-800-833-7833 (out of State).
Grand Valley State University is an Antidiscrimination/Equal
Opportunity Employer, which includes providing equal opportunity
for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
University policy extends protections to additional
identities.
To apply, visit https://gvsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/careers/job/Allendale-MI/Assistant-Director-of-Academic-Community---Alumni-Engagement---Institutional-Advancement_R104928
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