Director of Alumni Relations
POSITION SUMMARY
Date application must be received for priority consideration by: October 9, 2026
Anticipated Appointment Begin Date: October 26, 2026
Closing Date or if blank, Open Until Filled
Job Family Group: Administrative and Professional
Division/Department: University Advancement
Compensation Range (commensurate with experience): $79,283.10-$84,504.83 annually
FLSA Status: Exempt
Appointment Basis: 12-month
Time Type: Full-time
Benefits Eligible: Yes
Renewable/Non-renewable/Grants/Limited Duration: Renewable
This position must possess and maintain a current, valid Driver License: Yes
This position is designated as a critical, security-sensitive or safety-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a Criminal Background Check: Yes
Remote Work Type: On Campus
Work Hours: M-F (8:00a – 5:00p) Hours are subject to change with notice.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT
- Each applicant is required to provide (as attachments to the online application) the following supplemental documents: (1) a letter providing some detail of the applicant’s qualifications and interest in the position; and (2) current resume/CV. - PLEASE NOTE - during the application process, you will be prompted to attach these documents in the area titled "Resume." Please either combine ALL documents into ONE attachment, OR upload each item separately in this section. Failure to upload ALL of the required documents may disqualify application from consideration.
- For inquiries and additional information, please contact Human Resource Services via email at [email protected] or by phone at (541)552-8553.
- To view SOU’s very generous benefits and pension programs available to eligible positions, please visit https://inside.sou.edu/assets/hrs/Benefits/Benefit_Flyer/2024_Prospective_Candidate_Benefit_Overview_012024.pdf
- Our benefits package is an important complement to the offered salary and our Total Compensation Calculator, https://inside.sou.edu/hrs/comp-calc.html, demonstrates our value and commitment to our employees.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Director of Alumni Relations provides strategic leadership for the design, implementation, and implementation of the university's comprehensive alumni engagement program. Operating with a small unit, this role balances high-level vision with direct, hands-on execution to connect a diverse alumni base with Southern Oregon University. Reporting to the Vice President of University Advancement and Director of the SOU Foundation, the Director is responsible for building lifelong affinity, increasing volunteerism, managing community traditions, and generating active support for the university.
This position requires a highly energetic, organized, and collaborative professional capable of working in tandem with the SOU Alumni Association and the Assistant Director of Engagement to integrate alumni engagement initiatives directly into broader university advancement and development goals.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- At least four years of progressive, professional experience in alumni relations, higher education administration, admissions, public relations, fundraising, or nonprofit management.
- Demonstrated ability to build programs, manage complex projects independently, and execute major public events with minimal administrative support.
- Exceptional public speaking, presentation, writing, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Flexibility and willingness to work evenings and weekends for campus events, regional programs, and professional travel.
- Must possess and maintain a current, valid Driver License.
- Proficiency in managing social media platforms as well as in standard Microsoft 365 software.
Preferred Requirements
- Master's degree in higher education administration, communications, business administration, or a related field.
- Supervisory experience.
- Direct experience working within a university environment.
- Proficient working knowledge of advancement databases and donor management software (such as Raiser's Edge or Salesforce).
Essential Functions
Duties - The following examples are typical work activities that are meant to illustrate the general range of work functions and are not meant to be all-inclusive or restrictive:
(35%) Strategic Leadership and Administration
- Plan and execute an annual strategic alumni engagement operating plan aligned with University Advancement objectives.
- Plan, develop, and exercise budget authority over the Alumni Relations operational budget to maximize program return on investment.
- Utilize data analytics and assessment tools to evaluate the effectiveness of programming, develop and maintain alumni tracking metrics, and report trends to leadership.
- Partner with development staff to align alumni activity with the university's ongoing major giving priorities and philanthropic pipeline.
- Provide executive staffing and logistical support to the SOUAA Board of Directors; partner directly with the Board Development & Nominating Committee to manage board recruitment, facilitate regular elections, coordinate the orientation program for newly elected board members, and maintain oversight of bylaws and governing policies
(35%) Event Planning and Program Management
- Serve as chair and logistical lead for major high-visibility campus milestones, working alongside the SOUAA Alumni Engagement & Programming Committee to coordinate Homecoming, reunions, and family weekends.
- Identify, recruit, and guide volunteer leadership to develop and approve official charters for regional alumni chapters and industry-specific affinity networks across the state and country.
- Establish engagement opportunities tailored specifically to diverse subgroups, such as first-generation graduates, young alumni, and athletic or academic affinity cohorts.
- Partner with the SOUAA Career Services & Mentorship Committee and the campus career center to expand internship pipelines, promote professional development webinars, and mobilize the digital Raider Network platform to support student-to-alumni mentoring channels.
- Oversee the selection and distribution of institutional alumni distinction awards in collaboration with the SOUAA Awards and Recognition Committee.
(25%) Communications, Marketing and Data Integrity
- Design and deploy demographic-driven communication strategies through newsletters, web portals, targeted email marketing, and editorial content for The Raider alumni magazine.
- Direct the university's official alumni social media platforms to promote alumni programs, manage digital content, boost event registrations, and elevate campaign visibility in collaboration with the university's marketing department.
- Partner with Advancement Services to regularly update contact info, business records, and biographical fields within the central database; execute trace strategies with the committee to enrich missing information for "lost" alumni.
- Serve as an official face, liaison, and informational spokesperson for the university's alumni base, publicizing outstanding professional, civic, and philanthropic milestones to boost institutional pride.
(5%) Supervisor responsibility and other duties as assigned
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
- Excellent communication skills; demonstrated ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner, both verbally and in writing.
- Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism to effectively handle a broad range of sensitive interpersonal situations.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret and consistently apply a wide variety of complex policies and procedures where specific guidelines may not always exist.
- Expressed ability to work with frequent changes in policies and procedures, under pressure of deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong analytical and research skills; demonstrated ability to gather, evaluate, and to develop well-reasoned conclusions and recommendations.
- Demonstrated ability to proactively assess work operations and anticipate potential problems; ability to develop and implement strategies for preventing/resolving problems.
- Great ability to effectively perform work of a highly sensitive and confidential nature that requires access to information. Must be able to exercise sound judgment and discretion, tact, and diplomacy.
- Takes initiative in independently planning, organizing, and performing work assignments within broadly defined parameters
- Demonstrated ability to work with a high level of productivity and accuracy/attention to detail.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills with the demonstrated ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.
- Expressed skill to independently analyze software functionality through technical documents, and design and document efficient/effective work processes; ability to independently analyze software problems, test probable causes, and recommend sound solutions.
- Excellent computer skills and proficiency with a variety of computer applications including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, online systems, social media platforms, Internet as well as online calendaring and email.
- Demonstrated ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in and outside the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
- Willingness to and work effectively in a heavily bureaucratic environment which requires regular interaction with a number of levels within the organization and multiple outside agencies.
- Working knowledge or ability to quickly learn, university infrastructure, policies, and...