The Director of Alumni Engagement plays a crucial role in fostering enduring relationships with alumni, students, faculty, and staff at the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School (PGBS). This position is responsible for executing strategic initiatives to enhance alumni engagement, contributing to the development of a vibrant alumni community, and supporting the strategic goals of the Alumni Affairs Strategic Plan, the Advancement Strategic Plan, the Ascend Together University Strategic Plan, the PGBS Dean, and future strategic directives. Reporting directly to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Affairs, the Director oversees various events, programs, initiatives, and resources in support of alumni engagement primarily for the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, but at times also for all six schools of Pepperdine University.

This position manages affinity groups and online communities, actively working to promote the mission of Pepperdine and PGBS to develop value-centered leaders, advance responsible business practices, and elevate, celebrate, and honor our alumni.

Duties

• STRATEGIC ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT: Execute strategies outlined in formal strategic plans current and future adopted at all levels (Pepperdine, Advancement, and Alumni Affairs) to enhance alumni engagement through targeted programming and initiatives primarily within the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School (PGBS), but at times collaboratively in service to all six schools of Pepperdine University. Collaborate closely with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni Engagement to assess, refine, and align the alumni engagement strategy with organizational strategic objectives. 
• EVENT / PROGRAM MANAGEMENT: Work with appropriate parties to ensure effective planning, budgeting, and execution of events to engage alumni, strengthen their connection with PGBS, and advance the reputation and visibility of PGBS and Pepperdine University. This position is responsible for events and programs including (but not limited to) alumni reunions, networking mixers, alumni speaker events, community service projects, lifelong learning events/programs, and the selection of recipients for annual alumni awards. The audience for these events includes PGBS alumni and may also include executives, faculty, staff, donors, students, prospective students, members of the business community, and alumni of other Pepperdine schools. Employ multiple strategies to engage alumni across a variety of interests, needs, and locations, including virtual events and in-person events (with live-streaming when possible/appropriate). Manage the full cycle of an event from start to finish including: event/timeline planning, budgeting, logistics, event registration setup/management, marketing and communications, executive summary and event briefing, event execution, post-event survey and communications/engagement with attendees, and event metrics/reporting.
• ALUMNI RELATIONSHIPS: Develop, nurture, and initiate relationships with alumni through regular meetings and engagement activities at individual, local, and national levels. Help plan, attend, and facilitate or otherwise support high-level meetings of select alumni for PGBS both on an individual basis as well as key alumni boards, councils, committees, and affinity groups including but not limited to the MSOD Alumni Council, PKE Planning Committee, the Black Alumni Association, and various student clubs/groups. 
• COMMUNICATIONS: Orchestrate all communication (verbal, printed, electronic) directed toward PGBS alumni in collaboration with the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) team, Dean's Office, and Advancement (e.g., email newsletters, various social media groups/pages/channels, PeppConnect, websites, etc.). Develop effective online alumni communities, programs, and strategies that will actively engage and provide value to alumni online. Research and develop new strategies, and collaborate with appropriate internal stakeholders on how to utilize online community platforms in new, innovative, effective, and efficient ways. Recommend alumni features for publications and for daily highlights, while promoting alumni benefits such as career resources, networking opportunities, continuing education programs, and other events/programs to increase attendance, engagement, and the School's visibility. 
• CAMPUS PARTNERSHIPS: Support and collaborate with internal School stakeholders (PGBS Career and Professional Development Office, Office of Admissions/Recruitment, and student organizations) in advancing their strategic initiatives via events and programming involving alumni in activities on and off-campus (e.g., panel discussion events, mentorship/coaching programs, alumni referral initiatives, and networking events with students). Connect alumni with PGBS Career and Professional Development Office who desire to hire PGBS students and/or alumni. Partner with the the Dean of Students (PGBS) in supporting the PGBS Dean's vision and initiatives outlined in the School's strategic plan.
• PARTNERSHIP WITH ADVANCEMENT: Partner with Advancement/Development to identify new alumni prospects and leverage opportunities for financial cultivation and community building. Promote a culture of philanthropy within PGBS and engage with internal and external stakeholders to advance fundraising goals. 
• DATA: Update and maintain alumni engagement data using The Raiser's Edge, Google Workspace, University-approved event management platforms, and other tools as needed. Analyze data to derive insights and develop strategies for enhancing alumni engagement and participation. 
• MEETING INVOLVEMENT: Attend monthly in-person Alumni Engagement staff meetings to present updates to strategic plan progress and efforts to align strategies with the Deans' vision toward exceeding alumni engagement targets, and to discuss collaborative opportunities with departmental colleagues toward engagement of the broader Pepperdine alumni and family community. 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 
• Uphold University mission through work performed

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree
• 5+ years related work experience, preferably in higher education
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills (including public speaking)
• Exceptional attention to detail and follow-through, organization, and time management skills
• Experience in event planning or related work: comfortable leading volunteers and a team of interns, student employees, and full-time staff as necessary to coach and lead them to success as they support various alumni engagement efforts; ability to negotiate with vendors and venues to obtain best pricing/deals;
• Experience working with social media, webinars, and other online community platforms/environments/strategies.
• Experience in advertising, marketing, and external relations
• Should also be a self-starter who takes initiative to further the goals of the department by continually conceptualizing, coordinating, and implementing new and innovative offerings for our students and alumni
• Ability to anticipate needs and foresee challenges
• Exceptional networking skills and professional demeanor
• Ability to work with the public in a professional manner
• Understanding of how alumni engagement contributes to or correlates with donor cultivation and successful fundraising for the University. The individual should have full awareness of the positive impact that good public relations has on the cultivation process of current and prospective donors for Pepperdine University. The future financial stability and growth of Pepperdine lies in the hands of our generous donors, many of whom are alumni.
• Ability to articulate the Pepperdine mission and incorporate it into daily work
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends (sometimes 6 days/week)
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace/Apps, event management systems, online social media/community platforms, and constituency management (CRM) software
• Ability to articulate a strong commitment to diversity, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds

Preferred:

• Pepperdine graduate
• Master’s degree, preferably from the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School
• Experience in working with executives and recruiting C-level speakers
• Ability to use various forms of technology and online platforms for promotion of events to the Pepperdine community
• Experience working with student and alumni volunteers on behalf of a college or university
• Knowledge of Pepperdine University software/tools such as The Raiser's Edge, OmniUpdate (website editing/management), Trumba, Salesforce, Qualtrics, WaveNet, and Simpler.

Qualified individuals should be able to articulate a strong commitment to diversity, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.

This is a Regular, Exempt, 40 hour per week position.

Expected Pay Range: $87,550 - $103,000 per year

The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.