• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $100,000 - $125,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director of Alumni Relations and Special events, the Director of Alumni Relations is responsible for overseeing the planning and execution of multiple events and projects that strategically advance the goals and mission of the school. The incumbent will supervise a team of direct reports, currently consisting of 2 Associate Directors, 1 Assistant Director, and 1 Alumni Relations Coordinator. They will also assist the Executive Director in overseeing the alumni relations budget and ROI against goals.

With the support of the Associate Director of Alumni Relations, the incumbent oversees and leads the planning of the Law School's annual 2-day Reunion Weekend for 1000+ alumni and guests. In addition to Reunion Weekend events, the Director also plays an integral role in the planning and strategy around a variety of other events, including, but not limited to, the annual Winter Luncheon and Medal for Excellence, Women of Columbia Law, and one-time large-scale events.

The Director will also oversee the strategy and management of the Columbia Law School Association board. Being the main point of contact for the board?s leadership, the Director will help steward and engage the board and work to help the members to move the goals of the Law School forward. 

Responsibilities

Working closely with the Executive Director of Alumni Relations, the Director will be a key thought and strategy partner to develop, plan and execute engagement opportunities and events for all Columbia Law School alumni and friends that look to advance the institution's mission and goals.

Event Strategy and Management 

• Managing a team of 4 direct reports, helps to oversee alumni events, both locally and regionally.
• In partnership with the Executive Director, set the strategy for key annual Law School events and programs.
• Oversee all aspects of the planning process for signature school events, including identifying hosts and venues, contract negotiations, speaker management, run of show, briefing creation, and more.

Reunion Weekend

• Responsible for developing and executing all aspects of the Law School?s annual Reunion Weekend.
• In partnership with the Executive Director, create detailed staffing and logistical briefings for development and alumni relations staff, as well as the Dean.
• Create detailed budget analysis for all reunion related expenses.

Board Management

• Oversee the strategy and development of the Columbia Law School Association board.
• In partnership with the board president, set agendas and develop content for the 3 yearly meetings.
• Oversee the progress and expansion of the board?s sub-committees.
• Serve as the point of contact for the alumni board leadership.
• Continue to steward existing board members to deepen their engagement with the Law School.

Budget

• Partner with the Executive Director to monitor the Alumni Relations budget lines and account for and project quarterly and annual expenses.
• Liaise with the business office when budget adjustments / reports are needed.
• Manage team expenditures in keeping with departmental allocations.

University and Law School Collaboration

• Be an active partner with the University?s Alumni Association (CAA) to represent the Law School and its constituency.
• Partner with University wide alumni relations colleagues and peer schools.
• Working with Student Services, oversee and lead the alumni relations portion of Class Day and Graduation.

Strategic Student Group Partnership

• In collaboration with the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, liaise with the student leadership of Law School student groups to ensure continuity of leadership and alumni communications.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor?s degree required.
• Minimum of 5 -7 years experience in alumni relations or external relations & prior experience working in higher education required.
• Must be organized, dedicated, capable of managing multiple tasks under deadline, mature, and have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to work effectively with many different constituencies, including law school staff, faculty, and alumni population. Must be able to support an inclusive work environment.
• Early, evening and weekend work required during peak times. Ability to travel domestically and internationally if needed
• Must have familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite, Canva, Adobe, Airtable, Cvent, Mailchimp, Raiser?s Edge/Salesforce, and Zoom.
• Experience supervising a team, preferred.
• Must be able to work with diverse constituencies and support an inclusive work environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

Connections working at Columbia University