Director of Engagement

The Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with the and the University of Washington Alumni Association (UWAA) and the University of Washington (UW) in the search for a Director of Engagement.

Reporting to to the Assistant Vice President of Alumni and Stakeholder Engagement, the Director of Engagement will develop and lead core UWAA engagement programs and services that are planned and implemented by the Broad Based Programs, the Alumni Student Programs, and the Volunteer Engagement teams.  With a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as expertise in engagement and scalable events, the Director will lead substantive change within local and regional engagement for alumni and friends of the UW.  In particular, the Director will work collaboratively with UWAA and UW leaders to develop and sustain authentic and effective relationships with alumni of color, young alumni, and historically underrepresented audiences through virtual and in-person programming.

The Association seeks an experienced, visionary, and purpose-driven individual to serve in this role. The Director will join the UWAA team as a leader, collaborative partner, and strategic thinker, committed to reimagining 21st century alumni engagement that is grounded in the public mission of a university with regional, national, and global impact. This work will be viewed and achieved through a racial equity lens and yield programming at-scale that spans geographic boundaries and focuses on alumni-student engagement, career-development, and community service.

The UWAA is a non-profit organization established in 1889, committed to advancing higher education, supporting the University of Washington and furthering the mission and vision of University Advancement.  As part of University Advancement’s Alumni and Stakeholder Engagement unit, the UWAA team is closely aligned with the UW and University Advancement and shares many of the same values and priorities.  The UWAA employs over 40 individuals and has an annual operating budget of over $8 Million.  Through engagement, services and communications, the UWAA serves a community of over 500,000 University alumni and 60,000 dues paying members and seeks to instill a lifetime of sustained, loyal, and purposeful connections with the UW and one another.

The UW Alumni Association is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to advancing understanding and actions that are actively anti-racist. The Association's objective is to lead substantive racial equity change through purposeful and relevant engagement with marginalized alumni communities and amplification of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) voices and stories.  In recognition of the significance of the current dual racial and medical pandemics, the Director will work with executive leadership to build upon the reputation and community base of the UWAA to extend and evolve programming with the objective of drawing in new, more diverse audiences through inclusive, relevant, and meaningful experiences.

A bachelor's degree and at least six years of experience in human and social services, non-profit management, higher education and/or related social fields or communities of practice is required for this position. Subject matter expertise and experience in serving communities of color, young adults, and historically underrepresented audiences is preferred. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of University of Washington Alumni Association and present a clear position with regard to racial equity.  Preference will be given to candidates that apply before February 12, 2021.