Position Details
Position Information
Budget Title
Director of Alumni Affairs
Campus Title
Director of Alumni Engagement
School/Division
Institutional Advancement, Division of
Department
Institutional Advancement Office
Staff Sub-Type
Staff & Administration
Salary Level
SL4
Salary Range
$100,000 + depending on experience (DOE)
Salary Determination
Starting salary rates are based on multiples factors which may
include the position’s major responsibilities, the applicant’s
background including education, work experience, and key
competencies, the university’s strategic priorities, internal peer
equity and external market analyses, applicable federal, state, and
local laws and negotiated labor contracts.
Position Effort
Full-Time
If Part-Time, enter FTE:
Is this a temporary position?
If Temporary, enter End Date:
Position Summary
The Director of Alumni Engagement provides strategic leadership for
alumni engagement initiatives that strengthen lifelong
relationships between SUNY Cortland and its alumni while advancing
institutional priorities and generating philanthropic support.
Serving as the Executive Director of the Cortland Alumni
Association, the Director develops and implements a comprehensive
alumni engagement strategy that fosters pride, volunteerism,
advocacy, mentorship, networking, and meaningful connections among
alumni, students, parents, and friends of the university. The
Director leads programs and partnerships that increase alumni
participation, engagement, and support while enhancing the
university’s mission, reputation, and long-term advancement
goals.
What makes SUNY Cortland a great place to work?
• Our positions provide predictable salary progressions, and many
offer permanency.
• Generous benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance,
various retirement program options, paid family leave and/or
parental leaves, flexible spending and dependent care accounts,
long term disability and tuition reimbursement.
• SUNY Cortland prioritizes work-life balance and well-being in all
forms. The university’s state-of-the-art Student Life Center is
free for employees to use, with membership options for families.
Alternate work schedules are available with a supervisor’s
approval.
• Professional development opportunities exist through training,
continuing education programs, tuition reimbursement and conference
travel, based on funding.
• Cortland County and surrounding areas offer easy access to arts,
entertainment, outdoor recreation and much more.
Experience
Cortland dives deep into the region’s offerings
Major Responsibilities
Alumni Engagement Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and execute a strategic alumni engagement plan aligned
with the university’s mission and institutional advancement
priorities and goals. Articulate a clear vision for alumni
engagement operations, establish departmental objectives and
performance goals, and foster a shared sense of purpose among
staff.
Analyze alumni participation data, engagement trends, and
performance metrics to assess program effectiveness, measure
progress toward goals, identify opportunities for growth, and
inform strategic decision making.
Provide leadership and day-to-day management of the Alumni
Engagement team by assigning and adjusting responsibilities based
on staff roles, priorities, and organizational needs. Plan,
organize, and monitor work progress to ensure successful
achievement of departmental goals and initiatives.
Hire, onboard, train, supervise, and evaluate staff. Establish
clear performance expectations, provide ongoing coaching and
feedback, complete performance programs and evaluations in a timely
manner, and support employee growth through training and
professional development opportunities.
Create innovative programs and initiatives that increase alumni
participation, affinity, regional and volunteer involvement.
Strengthening alumni connections through regional programming,
reunions, affinity groups, career networking, mentorship
opportunities, and digital engagement.
Ensure staff compliance with university policies, procedures,
and applicable state and federal regulations by monitoring and
confirming completion of required training and professional
obligations.
Serve as a liaison between staff and senior university
leadership by communicating departmental priorities, initiatives,
and institutional updates. Foster a collaborative and inclusive
work environment, facilitate effective communication, and address
workplace concerns to support employee engagement and team
effectiveness.
Alumni Association Management
- Serve as Executive Director and primary liaison to the Alumni
Association Board and its committees.
- Support board development, governance, strategic planning,
meeting management, and volunteer leadership cultivation.
- Ensure alignment between the Alumni Association, Institutional
Advancement and university priorities.
- Oversee implementation of Alumni Association initiatives,
awards, communications, and flagship events.
- Recruit, engage, and steward Alumni Association Board members
and volunteers to advance alumni engagement, advocacy, and
philanthropic goals.
- Develop and monitor goals, outcomes, and performance measures
for Alumni Association programs and initiatives to assess
effectiveness and inform future planning.
Advancement & Fundraising Collaboration
- Partner closely with development staff to strengthen the alumni
donor pipeline and increase philanthropic engagement.
- Identify, cultivate, and steward alumni volunteers and
prospective donors.
- Support advancement campaigns and fundraising initiatives
through alumni outreach and engagement efforts.
- Provide alumni engagement data, participation trends, and
relationship insights to support donor cultivation and stewardship
strategies.
Communications & Marketing
- Collaborate with marketing and communications to develop
compelling alumni communications across print (Columns),
digital (Red Dragon Tales), and social platforms.
- Promote alumni achievements, campus updates, and engagement
opportunities.
- Enhance alumni storytelling and brand affinity.
- Collaborate with marketing and communications staff on
strategies that increase alumni participation, strengthen affinity,
and support engagement and fundraising objectives.
Student & Campus Engagement
- Develop programs that connect current students with alumni
through mentorship, career readiness, networking, and
traditions.
- Partner with Enrollment Management to engage alumni in
prospective student and family outreach efforts, including
admissions events, student panels, and ambassador programs that
strengthen recruitment and enhance the SUNY Cortland experience for
future students and their families.
- Collaborate with campus partners to expand meaningful
opportunities for alumni and student engagement.
Budget & Operations
- Establish, monitor, and evaluate key performance indicators for
alumni engagement programs and initiatives, utilizing data and
analytics to inform strategy, improve effectiveness, and
demonstrate outcomes.
- Manage departmental budgets and resources responsibly and
effectively.
- Maintain fiscal responsibility of the Lynne Parks ’68 SUNY
Cortland Alumni House.
- Ensure effective use of alumni database and engagement
technologies.
Functional and Supervisory Relationships
- Reports to the Vice President for Institutional
Advancement.
- Supervises three direct reports and provides oversight of
alumni engagement staff members.
- Works closely with the Associate Director of Campus Event
Management in overseeing the operations of the Lynne Parks ’68 SUNY
Cortland Alumni House.
- Works closely with Advancement Information Services,
Advancement Financial Services, Annual Giving, Development, Career
Services and the President’s Office.
- Works closely with the executive team (volunteers) of the
Cortland College Alumni Association Board.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Five years of progressively responsible experience in alumni
relations, advancement, higher education, nonprofit leadership,
constituent engagement, or related field.
- Experience leading, supervising, developing, and evaluating
staff.
- Demonstrated experience in volunteer management, board
relations, stakeholder engagement, and event or program
leadership.
- Experience developing and implementing strategic initiatives,
programs, or engagement activities that support organizational
goals.
- Experience building and maintaining effective relationships
with diverse internal and external constituents.
- Willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends as
needed.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree.
- Experience working with alumni associations, advisory boards,
or volunteer governing boards.
- Experience in higher education advancement, alumni relations,
or fundraising environments.
- Experience utilizing alumni engagement platforms, constituent
relationship management ( CRM ) systems, and data analytics to
inform engagement strategies and decision-making.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and
belonging.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Ability to develop and implement strategic alumni engagement
initiatives aligned with institutional and advancement
priorities.
- Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to engage
alumni, volunteers, donors, students, and campus partners.
- Demonstrated leadership, staff supervision, coaching, and team
development skills.
- Strong project management, organizational, and event planning
abilities.
- Effective written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation
communication skills.
- Ability to analyze engagement data and metrics to evaluate
outcomes and inform decision-making.
- Knowledge of alumni relations, volunteer management, and
advancement best practices.
- Ability to collaborate across diverse constituencies while
exercising sound judgment and professionalism.
About the University
A top public university of approximately 6,600 students located in
the geographic center of New York State, SUNY Cortland provides
accessible, affordable education to students from across the U.S.
body. One of 13 comprehensive universities in the State University
of New York system, SUNY Cortland prides itself on its rigorous
undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts, sciences,
education, and professional studies. For more than 150 years, SUNY
Cortland has provided unmistakable value for students seeking a
well-rounded academic, athletic, and social experience. The
University ranks among the top campuses in the nation on Money
magazine’s “Best Colleges for Your Money List,” fields a powerhouse
Division III athletics program and boasts an impressive network of
alumni making a difference in education, business, government,
fitness, medicine and many other fields.
EEO Statement
The State University of New York at Cortland is an Affirmative
Action/Equal Employment Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act
(AA/ EEO / ADA ) employer. The university actively seeks
applications from women, veterans, individuals with a disability,
members of underrepresented groups or anyone that would enrich the
diversity of the university.
Job Close Date
Posting Detail Information
Posting Number
S26035
Review Start Date
10/01/2026
Open Until Filled
Yes
Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting
https://jobs.cortland.edu/postings/11693
Special Instructions
Special Instructions to Applicant
Special Instructions to Applicant
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * Do you have a bachelor's degree?
- * Are you currently authorized to work in the United States on
a full-time basis as visa sponsorship is not available for this
position?
- * Do you or will you need visa sponsorship?
- Are you currently employed by SUNY Cortland? If so, please
indicate what type of employee.
- UUP Professional
- UUP Faculty
- Management Confidential
- Research Foundation
- Represented by CSEA, PBANYS or PEF
- Full Time Lecturer
Documents Needed to Apply
Required Documents
- Curriculum Vitae or Resume
- Cover Letter
Optional Documents
