"Associate Director, Alumni Programs (Undergraduate Reunions and Graduate Alumni Engagement)"

Special Instructions to Applicants:

All interested applicants should attach a cover letter and resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Position Summary:

Rice University is seeking an innovative, collaborative, and relationship-driven professional to join the Alumni Relations team within the Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) division as Associate Director, Alumni Relations (Undergraduate Reunions and Graduate Alumni Engagement). This pivotal role focuses on deepening alumni connections by overseeing the development, planning, and execution of milestone undergraduate reunion programming, and building a comprehensive graduate alumni engagement program.

Reporting to the Senior Director, Alumni Programs, the Associate Director will play a key role in fostering lifelong relationships between Rice and its alumni through dynamic programming and volunteer engagement. In collaboration with the Annual Giving team, this position will lead a comprehensive annual undergraduate reunion engagement plan, including overseeing milestone class year events. This role will also collaborate with university partners and academic schools to build, grow, and enrich the graduate alumni experience through developing distinctive engagement pathways and industry affinity. The Associate Director will be instrumental in strengthening the lifelong bond between Rice and its alumni through creative event programming, volunteer cultivation, and collaboration with the Annual Giving team and academic schools.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, self-motivated professional with a positive attitude and strong relationship-building skills. They should have the ability to manage multiple priorities, demonstrate innovation in programming, and work collaboratively across campus and with external partners to create impactful experiences for Rice alumni.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.*

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Two or more (2+) years of professional experience in alumni relations, development, or a related field

Skills:

• Proven track record of creative program implementation
• Proven track record building relationships and developing strategic partnerships
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet expected deadlines and schedule
• Adept at problem-solving, creating contingency plans, and handling issues when necessary
• Ability to develop and initiate new strategies
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills, with a focus on strategy and relationship building
• Strong attention to detail
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office suite
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent relationship skills and client service orientation
• Ability to quickly understand and remember details about alumni/donors and projects to which they are assigned

Preferences:

• Advanced degree preferred
• 3+ years of professional experience in alumni relations, development, or a related field
• Experience working in nonprofit/higher education settings
• Experience using Blackbaud CRM or similar alumni/donor database system

Essential Functions:

• Lead the strategic planning and execution of annual milestone undergraduate reunion class programming, including outreach strategies, volunteer coordination, and creative event delivery
• Develop, implement, and execute a comprehensive graduate alumni engagement strategy that reflects the unique interests and needs of the Rice University graduate alumni community
• Recruit, manage, and support volunteer leaders and alumni committees to encourage participation and increase engagement
• Collaborate with the Annual Giving team, academic schools, and campus partners to deliver events and experiences that align with institutional goals and alumni needs
• Contribute to cross-functional Development and Alumni Relations initiatives and foster a culture of deeper alumni engagement around class year affinity and graduate programs
• Manage an Assistant Director, Alumni Programs
• Perform all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions:

• Prepare special analyses or ad-hoc reports as requested

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