Join Our Team as the Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement!

Are you passionate about building strong connections and fostering a vibrant community? San Diego State University (SDSU) is looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic individual to join us as the Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement. In this pivotal role, you will:

• Lead and Innovate: Develop and manage alumni engagement strategies across various chapters, affinity communities, and volunteer programs.
• Be the Bridge: Serve as the essential link between SDSU and its alumni network, enhancing communication and coordination of key alumni events.
• Promote Philanthropy: Drive philanthropic initiatives that strengthen bonds between alumni, the university, and each other.
• Champion Volunteerism: Collaborate with campus departments to identify and promote volunteer opportunities, fostering a culture of engagement and service.

As the Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement, you will play a crucial role in the success and growth of SDSU Alumni and the university. If you are ready to make a meaningful impact and be part of a dedicated team, we want to hear from you!

Position Information

• Full-time, at-will role, offering comprehensive benefits.
• Position is designated exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
• This position is approved for partial telecommuting with onsite work in San Diego.

Department Summary

SDSU Alumni

Mission Statement: To instill the principle of 'Aztec For Life' by celebrating the achievements of our alumni and inspiring a legacy of loyalty to the university.

Vision Statement:  To forge beneficial and measurable lifetime relations between all Aztecs and the University.

University Relations and Development (URAD) shares the university’s vision and mission underscored in the 2020 five-year strategic plan. The plan identifies five strategic priorities including: Becoming a Premier Public Research University: A New Kind of Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI); Resilience. Designed to Thrive; We Are SDSU; Equity and Inclusion in Everything We Do; and Students at Our Core.

Units of URAD work together to create enduring relationships with alumni, parents, donors, students and the community to generate private support for SDSU students, faculty and a diverse number of programs. URAD handles a range of services encompassing stewardship, events, gift administration, communications and more.

Within URAD, the departments of Development, SDSU Alumni, Planned Giving, Special Events, Donor Relations, Marketing and Communications, Financial Management, Data Management, Prospect Research and Management and Operations are making a difference in the lives of SDSU’s 39,000 students.  

URAD had another record-setting fundraising year in 2022-2023 with $136.9M total raised. Other superlatives in 2022-2023 include 16,534 total gifts, 2,254 scholarships awarded and 5,969 first-time donors. The latest fundraising success can be credited to the university’s goal of building a world-class university campus, research center, and multi-use stadium in Mission Valley to serve higher education, the public good, and the community’s goals and aspirations.

SDSU has been recognized several times for its exceptional development program by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). With the support of loyal donors and working alongside SDSU’s visionary faculty and staff leaders, SDSU builds lifelong relationships with 500,000 alumni, friends and the community that advance the mission of SDSU.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

University Relations and Development at San Diego State University is committed to upholding, as a foundational belief, a supportive working environment of inclusion that values, honors, and respects all members of our team and the University community. 

We strive to engage in and promote the fair and equitable recruitment and training of URAD staff members, develop meaningful relationships with all groups in our diverse campus community, and share philanthropic stories that highlight the impact of and opportunity for diverse giving by our SDSU community. 

University Relations and Development firmly believes that an inclusive environment facilitates critical and creative thinking, and that differences in identities, values, beliefs, and perspectives are fundamental to our mission of generating philanthropic support for the university and its student body.

Within University Relations and Development, the term diversity implies a respect for all and an understanding of individual differences and other characteristics protected by applicable state or federal law, so that all members of the community are treated at all times with dignity and respect.

We value diversity and inclusion in the working environment and believe it is vital to the fulfillment of the university’s mission.

For more information regarding SDSU Alumni, click here.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and experience
• 3-5 years’ experience in alumni relations, constituency management or related field
• 3-5 years’ experience in communicating to groups via traditional and emerging media
• 3-5 years’ experience in management in a complex organization

Key Qualifications

• Ability to interface with multitudinous and diverse populations
• Demonstrated ability to make independent, complex decisions, problem solve, and practice hands-on management and exercise sound judgement.
• Demonstrated high degree of interest in and commitment to higher education.
• Demonstrated ability to extract pertinent information from computerized databases and other sources, conduct analysis and prepare reports.
• Extraordinary interpersonal skills including superb listening, strong recall ability and engaging demeanor.
• Ability and availability to attend events and perform duties outside of normal work hours (may include evenings and weekends)

Licenses and Certifications

Valid California driver’s license or the ability to obtain one within 10 days of hire.

Compensation and Benefits

San Diego State University will offer a competitive salary based on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate. San Diego State University also offers a rich benefits package that includes:

• Extensive Leave benefits: 15 paid holidays, 24 vacation days, and 12 sick days per year;
• Retirement security through a CalPERS defined benefit pension (with CalPERS and UC Retirement Plan reciprocity) and retiree healthcare benefits;
• An array of health, dental, and vision coverage at no-cost or low-cost to the employee; and
• California State University system fee reduction program (fee waiver) for the employee or their qualified dependent

Anticipated hiring range:  $75,000 - $80,337 annually.

Diversity and Community at SDSU

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community. 

Through our commitment to equity and inclusion, we encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement.  For more information, click here.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university. 

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another. 

Supplemental Information

Initial review of the required application materials, including cover letters and resumes, will begin on September 26, 2024. To receive full consideration, apply by September 25, 2024. The position will remain open until filled.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. 

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. 

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here.

SDSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer that considers all qualified candidates for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered military and veteran status, or any other protected characteristic or status. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Rachael Stalmann at rstalmann@sdsu.edu.