Position Details

Position Information

Title of Position
Executive Director of Alumni Engagement

Position Number
A11255

FLSA
Exempt

Scheduled Hours Per Week
35

Department
Dev Investment Fund Initiative

Campus
Lincoln Center

Work Arrangement
Hybrid

Hybrid Policy:
Please review the Hybrid Policy at www.fordham.edu/hybridpolicy.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Alumni Relations, the Executive Director strategically oversees three core pillars of alumni engagement: New York City programming (with a dotted line to the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives), regional outreach, and the critical continuum of young alumni and student engagement.

Grounded in cura personalis and supporting our alumni through every stage of their lives, the incumbent will partner with staff and volunteers to cultivate an inclusive global network, deepening alumni connections to each other and the University. Using data-driven insights and reflective discernment, the Executive Director will rigorously evaluate program effectiveness and measure success to shape forward-looking, innovative engagement strategies.

This position serves as a member of the alumni leadership team and requires significant travel, evening, and weekend work to actively unite and champion the global Fordham community.

Essential Functions

Orchestrates all aspects of regional alumni receptions with and without the President (approximately 12-15 events per year), identifying ways to innovate events through a lens of curiosity and acting as a catalyst to animate Fordham's mission across regional networks.

Empowers a global network of alumni chapters, partnering with local leadership to execute strategic activities, strengthen lifelong University relationships, and reflect the values of compassion and the common good.

Designs and implements innovative strategies to optimize chapter effectiveness, igniting volunteer involvement, and developing creative, data-informed approaches to measurably and sustainably increase event and program attendance.

Directs the planning and execution of marquee New York City traditions, including the St. Patrick's Day Brunch and Parade and the annual Memorial Mass, anchoring alumni engagement in Fordham's unique historical legacy of reflection and celebration.

Collaborates with the Fordham University Alumni Association (FUAA) board to maximize the reach and impact of signature large-scale gatherings, including the annual reception and New York Yankees outing, reinforcing a culture of lifelong connection.

Curates 8-10 bespoke events annually that leverage Fordham's identity as the "Jesuit University of New York," utilizing the city's world-class arts, cultural, and entertainment offerings to inspire intellectual curiosity and provide inclusive, connection-driven access for alumni.

Formulates the strategic vision for the student-to-young alumni journey, managing Commencement traditions and growing the Fordham Mentoring Program guided by the principle of cura personalis to foster deep institutional affinity and transformative, intergenerational support.

Empowers the Young Alumni Committee and partners with the Career Center to drive cohort-specific engagement and professional programming, ensuring recent graduates transition into a culture of lifelong connection as ethical leaders in a global society.

Identifies, recommends, and stewards alumni to channel their unique talents back into the University by aligning their expertise with opportunities to enhance the Fordham network through undergraduate admission, academic engagement, mentorship, community service, and philanthropic advocacy.

Essential Functions Note
This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list.
The University may assign additional related duties as necessary.

Management Responsibilities
Provides strategic leadership and contributes to higher-level direction. Typically oversees managers via direct and indirect reports. Responsible for hiring, developing leaders, managing performance, corrective action, and compensation decisions.

Additional Functions

Emcees various events as required.

Generates compelling social media posts and shares them with appropriate staff members for execution.

Serves as alumni relations liaison to the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Required Qualifications: Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree.

Minimum of 7 years of experience in alumni relations or advancement.

Minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience.

Required Qualifications: Knowledge and Skills

Proven capability to lead the full lifecycle of event production, paired with the analytical rigor to evaluate success through quantitative and qualitative metrics, translating those insights into forward-looking strategic planning.

Exceptional communication and public speaking skills, with a proven ability to portray a highly professional image and articulate Fordham's distinct Jesuit identity to ignite confidence and enthusiasm grounded in inclusion and respect across all internal and external constituents.

Meticulous attention to detail with the ability to successfully manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.

Ability to foster professional growth and retain top talent, while holding teams mutually accountable to high standards and measurable results, successfully balancing supportive mentorship with the pursuit of excellence.

Demonstrated interpersonal skills to establish and maintain good working relationships with colleagues, faculty, donors, volunteers, and university officials, emphasizing tact, diplomacy, flexibility, collaboration, professionalism, and discretion.

Ability to navigate complex, fast-paced situations with integrity and a foundation of ethical discernment.

Demonstrated proficiency in leveraging relational databases (e.g., Ellucian CRM Advance, Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, etc.) and business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, etc.) to synthesize data into actionable, mission-aligned strategies.

Proven ability to successfully develop, forecast, and manage budgets, ensuring the responsible stewardship of institutional resources, creatively maximizing funds to achieve strategic engagement goals.

Preferred Qualifications

Volunteer management experience.

Experience negotiating vendor contracts and managing large-scale venue event logistics.

Minimum Starting Salary
$160,000

Maximum Starting Salary
$180,000

Note
Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and skills.

Is this a Union position?
No

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number
A1151P

Number of Vacancies
1

Start Date

Posting Date
09/25/2026

Special Instructions