As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

University Advancement has an outstanding opportunity for a Senior Director, Engagement Strategy to join their team.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Senior Director of Engagement Strategy leads the University Advancement (UA) Alumni & Stakeholder Engagement (ASE) unit’s comprehensive and integrated approach to stakeholder engagement. The Senior Director is responsible for leading and developing engagement strategy and programming in partnership with ASE, UA, and UW leadership. This position oversees integrated engagement strategies with UW’s colleges, units, and programs (Constituent Relations – CR), including alumni-student engagement and career programs (Alumni Student Programs – ASP), outreach to BIPOC and other underrepresented alumni audiences (Community Centered Engagement – CCE), and engagement analytics and assessment.

The Senior Director reports to the Assistant Vice President, ASE, and is a member of the ASE Senior Leadership Team (SLT), and oversees collaborative and integrated initiatives that advance the mission of UW and UWAA. The Senior Director leads the Constituent Relations (CR) and Alumni Student Programs (ASP) teams, and oversees the strategy, execution and evaluation of ASE events, programs, and services intended to authentically engage diverse audiences of UW alumni, students and friends in profound, meaningful, and inclusive ways. This position provides direct operational leadership for strategic engagement priorities and outcomes and supervises four (4) full-time professional exempt staff and student employees, including ten (10) UWAA Student Ambassadors. The Senior Director exercises independent budget authority and is responsible for overall program assessment and evaluation.

This position activates ASE/UWAA/UWRA’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and contributes to advancing understanding and actions that are actively anti-racist. It is responsible for developing and supporting inclusive, equity-focused and co-created programs and services with historically underrepresented or marginalized UW audiences in support of the institution’s public mission.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Leadership, Strategy, and Collaboration (50%)

The Senior Director of Engagement Strategy oversees a broad, diverse, and integrated portfolio of programs, services, and events, including but not limited to the comprehensive administration of collaborative internal and external institutional and community-based partnerships; oversight of the UWAA’s alumni-student programs unit and overall program assessment and evaluation.

The Senior Director ensures programs and services within their portfolio align with and advance UWAA/ASE, University Advancement, and UW racial equity priorities and values, including centering UW’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in program content and format development, administration, and evaluation.

This position is responsible for extensive internal and external campus and community engagement, communications and collaboration, including UWAA/ASE, University Advancement, and UW stakeholders, UWAA and UWRA members, students, donors, retirees, and the general public. The Senior Director develops and maintains professional, emotionally intelligent, and kind relationships with broad constituencies that advance the UW’s public mission. The Senior Director demonstrates a high degree of executive resilience and has excellent interpersonal and organizational communications.

Constituent Relations (CR) and Alumni Student Programs (ASP)

Oversee the Constituent Relations program, including supervision of the Director for Constituent Relations and coordination and support of twenty-eight (28) college or unit-based Constituent Relations Officers (CROs) to develop profound engagement opportunities for alumni and friends.

Oversee the Alumni Student Programs unit, including long-term strategic planning, integrated fiscal strategy, and program evaluation and assessment and supervision of the Associate Director for ASP and support of two (2) Assistant Directors and ten (10) UWAA Student Ambassadors.

In collaboration with ASE leadership and Director for CR, oversee strategy and implementation of Engagement Summer Session (ESS), ASE’s annual summer conference for UA and UW staff, focused on broad-based engagement strategies and practices.

Set strategic objectives and annual and long-range plans, including fiscal management of CR and ASP operations (non-salary) budgets ($350,000+ combined)

Collaborate with UWAA/ASE, UA, and UW leaders to:

Integrate and advance DEIB and anti-racism goals and objectives into program strategy and implementation, including audience engagement and retention, program and content co-creation, and community-centric assessment and evaluation.

Develop and implement integrated strategies to engage, acquire, and retain UW alumni and friends who identify with underrepresented or marginalized groups or identities.

Develop and implement shared qualitative and quantitative membership goals, objectives, and revenue targets, including program assessment and evaluation.

Community-Centered Engagement

In collaboration with Assistant Vice President, ASE, in support of strategy, administration, and stewardship of community-based advisory group(s) to co-create community outreach strategies.

Lead, facilitate and implement integration of community-based engagement strategies with ASE staff and program areas.

Communicate and partner with key UW/UA partners in strategic implementation and communication of CCE efforts.

Collaborate with ASE leadership in fulfillment of philanthropic and resource generating programs, services, and initiatives related to UWAA.

Engagement Analytics and Assessment

In collaboration with ASE leadership, develop and implement strategies for engagement analytics and assessment.

In collaboration with ASE leadership, develop and implement reporting tools, including dashboards, annual assessments, and predictive models.

Ensure industry-specific best practices and remain current on national trends and thought leadership.

Personnel and Program Management (40%)

The Senior Director centers DEIB and anti-racism at the core of their executive leadership decision-making and oversight of the administration, management, and operations of the CR and ASP teams and CCE and Engagement Analytics programs.

The Senior Director is responsible for the recruitment, development, retention and evaluation of full- and part-time professional, classified, and student employees. This position exercises significant independent fiscal and budget authority and responsibility. This position collaborates with internal ASE/UWAA leadership, UA Finance & Administration, and UWAA partners as needed to ensure comprehensive administration, fulfillment, and compliance.

The Senior Director is responsible for:

Fostering an inclusive and productive team environment that embraces dynamic in-person, remote, and hybrid work environments.

Management and oversight of ASE budget allocations tied to the portfolio program areas.

Coordinated implementation of organizational fiscal, budget, and resource management policies, practices, and procedures, including local program or event budget tracking.

Representing ASE/UWAA on interdepartmental committees and working groups designed to support complex and integrated institutional goals and objectives.

Hiring, onboarding, supervising, evaluating, and supporting the professional development of staff.

Miscellaneous duties as assigned (10%)

REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's degree and 6-7 years of experience in non-profit management, higher education and/or related fields or communities of practice.  Advanced degree may substitute for some or part of years of experience.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Demonstrated ability and experience in program administration, building and leading teams, staff supervision, program integration and assessment. 

Demonstrated commitment to racial equity and familiarity and comfort with the skills needed to manage and lead in an organization that strives to be anti-racist.

Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate objectives, energize and inspire staff to achieve results and meet goals while creating a culture of collaboration within direct teams and across organizational units and build and maintain positive relationships. Demonstrated ability to move relationships to purposeful and measurable actions and outcomes.

Ability to work independently, problem solve, take initiative, set priorities and handle multiple projects efficiently and effectively. Demonstrated creativity, organizational ability, and strong attention to detail. Ability to make decisions in ambiguous situations, exercise good judgment based on information and analysis in a fast-paced, dynamic, deadline-driven environment in an organized and professional manner.

Proficiency using PC computers and prevailing office management technology; familiarity and comfort with industry-standard CRM, social media and/or other broad-based engagement software and tools.  Demonstrated computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for correspondence, special reports, spreadsheets, databases, forms, etc.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Ability to express oneself clearly and empathetically in interactions with others in all forms of communications, verbal and written, one-on-one and group, etc.

Knowledge and experience in public higher education leadership, constituent relations, development and/or marketing and communications.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Reasonable accommodations are available in order to meet these conditions of employment.

Ability to work evening and weekend hours, as necessary, on short or limited notice.

Access to reliable transportation for local travel and willingness to travel when necessary.

Ability to travel in and out-of-state up to 10 times per year for events and meetings.

A valid Washington State driver’s license is required to operate the UW Alumni Association van.

Ability to obtain passport and travel internationally.

Ability to lift 20 pounds regularly and up to 40 pounds occasionally for event setup and tear down.

During Events (from setup to tear down) or on Event days:

Ability to work continuously 4+ hours for events.

Ability to work greater than a 10 hour day.

Application Process:  

The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.