Director of Alumni Engagement

Program Management & Industry Alignment

• Design Value-Driven Engagement: Develop and own the end-to-end alumni engagement strategy.
• Ensure all activities (panels, awards ceremonies, networking events, reunions) are developed to offer professional value, moving beyond generic events to interconnected, high-impact programming.
• Industry & Institutional Literacy: Demonstrate fluency in KGI’s core domains (Biotech, Pharmacy, Genetics, etc.) to effectively engage alumni in industry-specific dialogue.
• Design panels and initiatives that reflect current market trends and the specific professional needs of KGI graduates.
• Systems-Thinking Approach: Move beyond a series of ad-hoc events to design a sustainable engagement pathways. Create coherent process where alumni engagement directly supports admissions, the student experience, academic excellence and corporate partnerships.

Philanthropic Pipeline & Advancement Integration

• Strategic Collaboration: Partner closely with the advancement colleagues to align engagement activities with fundraising priorities, ensuring that events and initiatives serve as effective cultivation vehicles for annual and major giving.
• Engagement-to-Investment Pipeline: Actively identify and qualify high-potential alumni through their participation and volunteerism, converting general engagement into a tangible pipeline of philanthropic support and leadership ambassadorship.

Leadership & Partnership

• Alumni Advisory Council Leadership: collaborate with the Council to ensure their time is spent on actionable initiatives rather than general updates. Guide the group’s efforts to make sure their industry expertise and professional networks are effectively used to support KGI’s growth.
• Class Ambassador Initiatives: Collaborate with campus colleagues to identify and cultivate alumni volunteers and donors, creating a pipeline for engagement opportunities and future philanthropic support.
• Student-to-Alumni Transition: Collaborate with Student Affairs and Program Directors to integrate alumni into the student lifecycle early, fostering a culture of philanthropy and "alumni-in-training" well before graduation.

Innovation, Data & AI Adoption

• AI-Forward Operations: Proactively leverage AI and emerging technologies to scale personal outreach, optimize mentorship matching, and analyze engagement data for continuous improvement.
• Data Integrity & Reporting: Manage alumni data strategies (utilizing Raiser’s Edge) to track engagement metrics, ensuring the database is a active tool that informs decision-making and forecasting.

Execution & Administration

• Budget & Operational Oversight: Manage the department budget, negotiate vendor costs for events, and supervise student workers as needed to ensure flawless execution of the annual operating plan.
• Design, Manage, and Evaluate: all aspects of the alumni engagement activities. This includes print and electronic communications, volunteer identification and management, student interaction, and programs across the Institute.

Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Industry Literacy: Ability to converse confidently with professionals in biotechnology, pharmacy, genetics, and healthcare; familiarity with the industry’s trends, career pathways, and terminology is highly desired.
• Systems Thinking: Ability to view alumni engagement not as isolated events, but as an interconnected ecosystem that supports admissions, student experience, and corporate partnerships.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Demonstrated ability to create "value propositions" for engagement—identifying why a busy professional should participate and structuring opportunities that benefit them as well as the Institute.
• AI & Digital Fluency: Aptitude for adopting and leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to scale outreach, draft communications, and improve operational efficiency.
• CRM Expertise: Advanced proficiency in donor database management (Raiser’s Edge/Blackbaud preferred) with the ability to use data to segment audiences, track metrics, and forecast engagement trends.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to interpret engagement data to assess program ROI and adjust strategies accordingly.
• Executive Presence: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with C-suite executives, faculty, potential donors, and recent graduates alike.
• Collaborative Leadership: Ability to manage the Alumni Advisory Council effectively, guiding high-level volunteers toward actionable goals rather than administrative details.
• Persuasive Messaging: Ability to clearly articulate the "value proposition" of engagement to busy industry professionals, aligning their personal interests with institutional needs to secure active participation.
• Advancement Knowledge: Understanding of the cycle of philanthropy and how alumni engagement serves as a pipeline for annual and major giving; ability to identify donor prospects during engagement activities.
• Project Management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage complex projects, budgets, and events simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.
• Agility: Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, managing competing priorities with a solution-oriented attitude.