VP of Strategic Advocacy

About the Job

The Vice President of Strategic Advocacy mobilizes the talent and influence of 641,000 alumni, transforming their passion and loyalty into institutional impact across the entire state and beyond. Reporting to the UMAA CEO, this leader crafts the organization’s influence and advocacy voice and shapes the leadership narrative through high-level executive communications and UMAA Board governance oversight.

Leading a Team

Leading a team of five, the VP oversees the “One Alumni Community” strategy, leveraging the full talent of alumni and staff to elevate engagement and outcomes. By establishing deep partnerships with colleagues across all five campuses, the VP ensures that this unified strategy serves as a transformative milestone, positioning alumni as premier champions of the University.

Direct Reports

• The Associate Vice President for Advocacy and Public Affairs
• The Senior Director of Executive Operations

Executive Communications & Positioning

- Shape the UMAA leadership narrative, CEO, and Board communications across all platforms, including speeches, written communications, briefings, etc. - Oversee the Senior Director of Executive Operations to provide comprehensive strategic support for the CEO and UMAA Board of Directors. - Develop high-level presentations and briefing materials for the CEO’s engagements with internal and external audiences.

Strategic Advocacy

- Develop and empower the long-term strategy for alumni mobilization and influence as champions of the University. - Direct the high-level alignment between UMAA legislative advocacy and University Government Relations, focusing on federal and broad state policy priorities. - Lead the overarching communications strategy with alumni when high-stakes, time-sensitive issues arise. - Establish executive-level partnerships with University Marketing & Communications to position the alumni voice as “loud and proud” ambassadors of the University.

One Alumni Community & Greater Minnesota Integration

- Ignite "One Alumni Community" and cascade University priorities across the entire alumni population, with a focus on Greater Minnesota. - Leverage the strength and talent of alumni relations professionals across the five campuses to elevate the opportunities for engagement and University impact. - Ensure the "One Alumni Community" vision is realized through growth in the outcomes for each campus over time.

Team Leadership & Performance

• Develop and lead a high-performing team. - As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, collaborate with UMAA colleagues to support the long-term success of the UMAA. - Establish and report on key engagement metrics to ensure effectiveness and ROI of advocacy efforts and leadership influence.

Qualifications

• Required Qualifications:
• Experience: BA/BS degree plus at least 10 years of full-time work experience in executive communications, public affairs, or institutional strategy, preferably within a complex university system or high-profile non-profit.
• Communication Mastery: Exceptional ability to craft executive-level remarks, columns, and strategic presentations.
• Collaborative Leadership: Proven ability to build formal partnerships across large-scale departments like Marketing Communications and Government Relations.
• Preferred Qualifications:
• Advocacy & Governance: Familiarity with legislative advocacy and preferred experience advising a CEO and Board of Directors.

About the Department

Founded in 1904, the University of Minnesota Alumni Association® (UMAA) connects alumni with each other, supports student success, and advances the University of Minnesota. The Alumni Association advocates for the University and its alumni with a credible, independent, and collaborative voice. Members make Alumni Association programs strong and ensure that the more than half a million alumni of the Twin Cities and Rochester campuses share a sense of belonging to our vibrant global community of learners, makers, and doers.

Through the U of M Alumni Association's programs and services, we strive to create impact and enrichment to our alumni no matter who or where they are.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $125,000-$160,000, depending on education/qualifications/experience Priority Application Deadline: Monday, May 18 Time Appointment: 100%-time Appointment Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

How To Apply

To apply, please visit the Office of Human Resources website and follow the instructions. Please upload a cover letter and resume with your application.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.