Alumni Relations & Advancement Manager

About the role

The School of Pharmacy seeks a relationship-driven Alumni Relations & Advancement Manager to support the school’s Advancement Program. This role serves as a critical connector for program alumni & friends of the school who are deeply committed to the success of current students, as well as the teaching, research, and service mission of the School of Pharmacy.

The Alumni Relations & Advancement Manager will develop and evaluate creative, community-centered programming and robust donor stewardship practices to connect alumni across distinct career stages and professional disciplines with current students, faculty, and the campus community.

Responsibilities

• Leads in planning, implementation, marketing, and data-driven assessment of alumni engagement events and fundraising campaign strategies in collaboration with the School’s Advancement Team.
• Coordinates campaigns and solicitations in close partnership with the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) utilizing data and engagement trends to inform their strategic approach.
• Supports influential advisory and volunteer boards, such as the School’s Board of Visitors (BoV) and collaborates with organizations such as the Pharmacy Alumni Association (PAA) Executive Board.
• Monitors event budgets and ensures alignment with institutional policies.
• Optimizes internal workflows by structuring meeting agendas, logging key decisions, and tracking project action items.
• Ensures accurate and complete alumni database records.

Requirements

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including demonstrated ability to present information to diverse audiences.
• Effective interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Strong organizational abilities, including experience streamlining project workflows.
• Experience in creating and executing creative outreach strategies.
• Established understanding of advancement, donor stewardship, and fundraising best practices.
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and problem-solve effectively.
• Proven integrity in maintaining accurate data.
• Technical agility and comfort navigating large databases; experience with using data analytics to evaluate engagement trends, run reports, and make strategic decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree Required, Higher Degree Preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exceptional relationship-bridging experience, including a proven ability to identify intersections across diverse stakeholder groups, connect disparate networks, and foster meaningful collaborations.
• Extensive experience with event planning and management.
• Prior professional experience within a higher education or university foundation setting, with a demonstrated understanding of how to navigate institutional structures and build relationships within a campus ecosystem.

Benefits

• Generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off.
• Competitive insurances and savings accounts.
• Retirement benefits through the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS).

Pay

Qualified candidates can expect to earn between $75,000 and $85,000. Candidates who are highly qualified may earn between $85,000 and $95,000. Exceptionally qualified candidates with additional education, experience, and/or specialized skills may be considered at a higher salary.