Assistant/Associate Director, Regional Engagement

About the job

The Assistant/Associate Director of Regional Engagement manages the strategy, design, implementation, and assessment of Denison’s regional alumni engagement efforts across key domestic markets. The position serves as the lead strategist for regional engagement, developing comprehensive regional plans that strengthen alumni connections, expand volunteer leadership, and increase meaningful participation among alumni communities.
Working collaboratively with alumni volunteers, advancement colleagues, and campus partners, the Assistant/Associate Director develops scalable engagement opportunities that reflect alumni interests, support institutional priorities, and foster lifelong affinity for Denison. The position is responsible for building and sustaining vibrant regional networks, cultivating volunteer leaders, and leveraging data and engagement metrics to identify growth opportunities in emerging markets.

The Assistant/Associate Director is a member of the Alumni Engagement Programs team and plays an important role in successfully executing the strategic priorities for alumni engagement. The position is a member of the Office of Alumni and Family Engagement within the Division of Institutional Advancement.

Department/Division Overview:

The Assistant/Associate Director is a member of the Alumni Engagement Programs team and plays an important role in successfully executing the strategic priorities for alumni engagement. The position is a member of the Office of Alumni and Family Engagement within the Division of Institutional Advancement.

Institutional Advancement plays a vital role in furthering Denison University’s mission by inspiring meaningful engagement and philanthropic support among alums, families, and friends. Our work is centered on building lasting relationships that strengthen the Denison community and create opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and alums to thrive. We connect Denisonians to one another and to the university, helping ensure that a Denison education — with all of its lifelong impacts — remains accessible to talented students regardless of their financial circumstances.

As a member of Institutional Advancement, you will join a collaborative, mission-driven team that values partnership, creativity, and shared success. Colleagues across the division work together to deepen constituent engagement and secure the resources that advance the university’s priorities. This is an especially exciting time to join the team as Denison continues the momentum of What We Can Be: The Denison Campaign , a bold effort to strengthen opportunities for students and fortify Denison’s position as a leading innovator among liberal arts colleges. Every role in the division contributes to building a stronger, more connected Denison community and a brighter future for generations of students and alums.

Essential Functions

• Strategy, Implementation, and Assessment (35%)
• Inform and advance the strategic direction of regional alumni engagement through innovative programming, proactive outreach, and responsive service to alumni communities.
• Develop and execute comprehensive regional engagement strategies for established, emerging, and priority markets aligned with institutional goals and advancement priorities.
• Analyze engagement data, participation trends, demographic shifts, and volunteer activity to identify opportunities for growth and expansion within regional networks.
• Establish annual goals, benchmarks, and performance indicators for regional engagement efforts and regularly assess outcomes
• Collaborate with Advancement and campus partners to align regional programming with institutional priorities, admissions efforts, career networking initiatives, family engagement opportunities, and fundraising strategies.
• Ensure a balanced portfolio of in-person, virtual, and hybrid engagement opportunities that meet alumni where they live and engage.
• Research and implement industry best practices related to regional engagement, volunteer management, and alumni participation.
• Identify, launch, and support new regional alumni communities, affinity groups, and engagement opportunities in strategic markets.

• Regional Volunteer Leadership and Network Management (35%)
• Recruit, train, support, recognize, and steward a network of regional volunteer leaders across key geographic markets.
• Oversee the management and communication of 100+ volunteers supporting Denison Everywhere and other regional initiatives.
• Serve as the primary advisor to regional volunteer leaders regarding annual planning, volunteer recruitment and succession, event execution, communication strategies, and university policies.
• Partner with Senior Associate Director of Volunteer Engagement to develop leadership pipelines that identify, cultivate, and transition volunteers into expanded engagement and leadership opportunities across the institution.
• Facilitate regular training, networking, and professional development opportunities for volunteer leaders.
• Create tools, resources, and best-practice guides that enable volunteers to successfully lead regional engagement activities.
• Foster collaboration among regional leaders to share successful programs, innovative ideas, and engagement strategies.
• Support volunteer involvement in presidential visits, campaign activities, admissions outreach, career networking initiatives, and other institutional priorities.

• Regional Program Development and Execution (20%)
• Design, implement, and evaluate a robust portfolio of regional programs that advance alumni engagement goals and strengthen alumni connections to Denison. These include: networking events, career-focused programs, service opportunities, cultural experiences, affinity gatherings, athletic events, presidential receptions, and signature university initiatives.
• Partner with volunteers, alumni leaders, faculty, and university partners to create regionally relevant programming that reflects alumni interests and institutional strengths.
• Leverage regional data and engagement trends to customize programming strategies for specific markets and alumni populations.
• Coordinate event logistics, volunteer support, vendor relationships, and budget management for regional programs.
• Evaluate program effectiveness through participation data, feedback, and engagement metrics to drive continuous improvement.

• Communications and Marketing (5%)
• Partner with Advancement Communications colleagues to ensure consistent, relevant, and timely communications supporting regional engagement efforts.
• Collaborate with volunteer leaders and campus partners to develop targeted outreach strategies that increase participation and awareness within regional markets.
• Support storytelling efforts that highlight alumni leadership, regional success stories, and opportunities for engagement.

• Additional Responsibilities (5%)
• Manage the day-to-day budget associated with regional engagement programs and initiatives.
• Prepare reports for Alumni & Family Engagement and Institutional Advancement leadership regarding regional engagement outcomes and trends.
• Assist with and attend major Alumni Engagement events including Big Red Weekend, Family Weekend, Reunion, Alumni Advisory Board meetings, volunteer leadership gatherings, and other institutional events.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Minimum Requirements:
• Bachelor's degree.
• Minimum of 1-3 years of professional experience in alumni engagement, volunteer management, advancement/development, constituent relations, event management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience building volunteer-led programs and managing geographically dispersed stakeholder groups.

• Preferred Requirements:
• three or more years of professional experience in alumni engagement, volunteer management, advancement/development, constituent relations, event management, or a related field.
• Experience developing regional engagement strategies and managing multi-market programming portfolios.

Why Choose Denison?

Denison University is a leading, fully residential liberal arts college in Granville, Ohio, located just outside the Columbus metro area. Established in 1831, Denison blends a rigorous academic foundation with an award-winning approach to student mentorship and career readiness. With a vibrant campus community of 2,400 students and around 2,000 employees, Denison offers employees a supportive, forward-thinking environment dedicated to educational excellence and professional growth.

• Denison provides a number of staff-focused benefits, with some highlights:
• 10% contribution to your retirement
• 22 vacation days
• 3 floating holidays
• Paid campus closure from Christmas to New Years
• Free parking and gym membership
• Free classes for employees
• Full tuition coverage for dependents

Want to learn more about us? Visit Denison.edu for more information.

Salary: Up to $ 77,000