Harvard Graduate School of Education · 7 hours ago
Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement
Cambridge, MA
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level
$83K/yr - $87K/yr
5+ years expHarvard Graduate School of Education is a vibrant community dedicated to changing the world through education. The Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement will design and implement a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy, fostering meaningful connections and lifelong relationships between alumni and the institution.
EducationHigher EducationUniversities
No H1B
Responsibilities
Lead the planning and execution of Alumni Day and other signature engagement moments, working closely with internal partners and alumni leaders to deliver high-impact, mission-aligned experiences
Develop, plan, and execute a portfolio of in-person, virtual, and hybrid programs that connect alumni to each other, to students, faculty, and to ongoing learning
Collaborate with internal partners (career services, academic programs, admissions, student affairs, advancement, and communications) to deliver integrated alumni experiences
Support signature moments such as reunions, regional events, student–alumni initiatives, mentoring programs, and impact-focused convenings as well as help coordinate alumni meetups and connection opportunities at national/regional conferences and convenings (e.g., SXSW EDU and other education conferences), in partnership with internal stakeholders
Oversee and serve as primary staff partner to the Alumni Council, including member recruitment, onboarding, governance, working groups, meeting planning, and ongoing engagement
Guide the Alumni Council’s work to ensure alignment with institutional priorities, inclusive representation, and meaningful impact
Cultivate strong relationships with alumni across career stages, geographies, and identities, with particular attention to inclusive and impact-oriented engagement
Recruit, support, and steward alumni volunteers, councils, and affinity or interest-based groups, ensuring clear purpose, strong partnership, and measurable outcomes
Serve as a trusted liaison to alumni leaders, supporting governance, working groups, and volunteer-driven initiatives
Partner with the Senior Director of Engagement & Insights to design and implement an integrated alumni engagement strategy with a clear social impact lens
Translate institutional priorities and alumni interests into scalable, meaningful engagement opportunities that foster belonging, service, and lifelong connection
Identify, pilot, and evaluate new engagement models (programs, convenings, digital platforms, and partnerships) that can grow over time and deepen alumni impact
Partner with the Communications team on social media and execution strategy, including managing LinkedIn networks
Partner with Communications, Engagement, and Development colleagues to elevate alumni stories of impact and purpose through digital content, events, and campaigns
Use data, feedback, and engagement metrics to assess effectiveness, inform strategy, and continuously improve alumni outreach
Maintain accurate alumni engagement records and contribute to reporting, analysis, and long-term planning
Develop and manage a regular cadence/mechanism for alumni to update their information (e.g., roles, organizations, geography, interests) and opt into specific engagement ‘benches’ that support HGSE’s strategic priorities
Act as a connector across School and University, aligning alumni engagement efforts with broader institutional goals
Represent the office in internal and university-wide committees, working groups, and alumni relations forums as needed
Contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and forward-thinking team culture within the Communications and Engagement office
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in alumni engagement, higher education, advancement, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations
This role is hybrid and on campus at minimum 3 days per week
Limited travel may be required to support Alumni events
Any candidate wishing to be considered must supply a cover letter and resume. Please upload as one document
Demonstrated success building relationships and managing multiple stakeholders
Strong project management skills with the ability to move ideas from concept to execution
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
Experience designing or managing programs with a social impact, community engagement, or equity lens
Familiarity with alumni relations, volunteer management, or advancement operations in a complex organization
Comfort using data and CRM systems to inform engagement strategies
Experience working cross-functionally and navigating matrixed organizations
Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort experimenting, iterating, and learning
Deep commitment to inclusive, values-driven, and impact-oriented engagement
Strategic thinker who is also highly execution-oriented
Relationship-centered, collaborative, and service-minded
Flexible and adaptable, with willingness to work occasional evenings, weekends, and travel as needed
Benefits
Generous paid time off including parental leave
Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
Retirement plans with university contributions
Wellbeing and mental health resources
Support for families and caregivers
Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks
Company
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education offers a range of courses with co curricular experiences with mentorship of faculty. It is a sub-organization of Harvard University.
5001-10000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$35.5M2016-05-20Grant· $35.5M
Leadership Team
Nadine Gaab
Associate Professor of Education
Recent News
2025-10-27
2025-09-30
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