"Associate Director, Student and Alumni Engagement"

Overview

The Associate Director of Student and Alumni Engagement supports the Director of Strategic Initiatives in developing, coordinating, and executing engagement programs that connect current students and alumni of the Yale School of Management (Yale SOM). The Associate Director plays a key role in strengthening engagement among alumni from MBA, MBA for Executives, Master of Advanced Management, Master’s in Management programs, The Broad Center at Yale SOM, select Executive Education programs, and other one-year or non-resident programs, as well as alumni communities organized around identities and professional interests.

The Associate Director manages the implementation of signature programs, including the Yale SOM Launch Program and the alumni-student mentorship program, and works closely with student leaders, alumni volunteers, and campus partners to deliver impactful experiences that foster lifelong engagement. The Associate Director collaborates with the Director to assess engagement patterns, coordinate communications and events, and ensure programs are aligned with the school’s alumni relations strategy.

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Initiatives, the Associate Director leads the strategy and implementation of affinity and professional interest alumni engagement programming across six alumni affinity groups and five Professional Alumni Groups (PAGs). The Associate Director is responsible for strengthening and growing existing groups, and identifying opportunities to expand the portfolio through the development of new communities aligned with alumni interests. The role cultivates strong cross-functional partnerships with colleagues in the Office of Community Engagement & Dialogue (OCED), Academic Affairs & Student Life (AASL) at Yale SOM, and with Yale Alumni Association (YAA) staff overseeing Shared Interest Groups (SIGs), student engagement, and mentorship.

In partnership with the Director of Strategic Initiatives and staff of The Broad Center, the Associate Director supports alumni programming and communications for Broad Center alumni, legacy Broad Center alumni, and Yale SOM alumni engaged in public education.

The Associate Director also partners with the Managing Director of Alumni Relations and Global Programs staff to execute initiatives that connect Yale SOM alumni with peers from Global Network for Advanced Management schools.

This position requires initiative, strong relationship with management, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Job Duties

1. Support the development and execution of engagement strategies that connect current students with the alumni community and strengthen alumni relationships across assigned populations and programs.
2. Manage the day-to-day operations of the Yale SOM Launch Program, including logistics, communication, and evaluation of programming designed to prepare students for lifelong alumni engagement.
3. Coordinate the alumni-student mentorship program, including participant outreach, matching process, training, communication, and data tracking.
4. Manage and strategically grow alumni-led affinity and professional interest groups, guiding volunteer leadership and coordinating high-impact programming.
5. Develop and execute a multi-year strategic plan for identity-based affinity groups and professional interest groups.
6. Recruit, onboard, train, and steward alumni volunteer leaders across identity-based and professional communities. Establish clear criteria, governance models, and performance metrics for group formation, sustainability, and impact.
7. Serve as the primary staff liaison to affinity and professional interest group leadership team
8. Partner with alumni volunteers to design and deliver inclusive, mission-aligned programs, both virtually and in person.
9. Identify opportunities for cross-group collaboration and intergenerational engagement.
10. Partner with The Broad Center staff to plan and promote alumni engagement opportunities, events, and communications for Broad Center alumni and those working in or passionate about public education.
11. Assist with the development and implementation of programming for alumni from one-year and non-resident programs that enhances their connection with MBA alumni and the broader SOM community.
12. Collaborate with Global Programs staff to execute joint programming and communications with Global Network for Advanced Management alumni.
13. Manage logistics, vendor relationships, and program budgets to ensure successful execution of events and initiatives.
14. Prepare communications and materials, including invitations, newsletters, web content, and post-event summaries.
15. Collect and analyze participation data and feedback to assess program effectiveness and support continuous improvement.
16. Cultivate relationships with student leaders, alumni volunteers, faculty, and administrative partners to advance engagement goals.
17. Represent Yale SOM Alumni Relations at events, meetings, and programs as assigned.
18. Support the Director of Strategic Initiatives with special projects and other duties as assigned.

Preferred Education and Experience

1. Advanced degree.
2. Five or more years of professional experience in alumni relations, higher education administration, program or event management, or a related field.
3. Experience designing and implementing engagement programs or volunteer initiatives.
4. Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders, including alumni, students, faculty, and staff.
5. Demonstrated experience working with identity-based communities and/or professional networks.
6. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust across diverse constituencies.
7. Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
8. Strong presentation and facilitation skills, with the ability to confidently engage diverse audiences.
9. Experience tracking engagement data and metrics to inform strategy and measure outcomes.
10. Familiarity with CRM systems, event management software, and digital communication tools.
11. Experience in business school or professional school environments preferred.
12. Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends and travel as needed.

Required Skills & Abilities

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills, with strong editing, analytical, and critical-thinking abilities.
2. Highly organized and proactive, with the ability to take initiative, work independently, and demonstrate consistent follow-through.
3. Proven ability to anticipate challenges, exercise sound judgment, and implement effective solutions.
4. Strong customer service orientation and interpersonal skills; ability to engage internal and external stakeholders in a professional, responsive, and positive manner. Demonstrated volunteer management experience.
5. Collaborative team player with the ability to work effectively across departments and functions.
6. Strong attention to detail and accuracy, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and follow established processes and schedules.
7. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)

Principal Responsibilities

1. Manages and leads research on various federal rules and regulations as well as University policies and procedures to resolve problems and determine the best course of action for the functional area.
2. Recommends course of action to higher authority for the handling and disposition of problems related to the functional area.
3. Counsels faculty, students and staff on issues related to administrative operations of the University function and areas of concern for the function.
4. Manages statistical and analytical information regarding office activities and areas of operational and administrative concern for the function.
5. Leads in long-range planning for the office activities of a specific functional area.
6. Interprets and administers various University and federal policies and regulations.
7. Disseminates accurate and up-to-date information regarding areas of concern.
8. Formulates and establishes policies regarding area’s function.
9. Manages a staff of exempt and non-exempt employees.
10. May perform other duties as assigned.