Director of Alumni Engagement

Category:

Administrative, Professional & Staff Positions Department:

ALUMNI RELATIONS

Locations:

Macomb, IL Posted:

Mar 19, 2026

Closes:

Open Until Filled Type:

FT -

Continuous Position ID:

198314

About Western Illinois University:

Recognized as a "Best Midwestern College" by the Princeton Review. Western Illinois University, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, serves nearly 5,500 students at its traditional, residential campus in Macomb, IL and its metropolitan, non-residential branch campus in Moline, IL.

Job Description:

APPOINTMENT

May 1, 2026

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Director of Alumni Engagement is responsible for creating and implementing a national comprehensive alumni relations program designed to foster lifelong relationships between the University and its alumni.

Responsibilities include:

Promote the mission of the University through the Alumni Association and its committees and foster a broad engagement between alumni and the University. Develop new and innovative ways to engage Western alumni in support of the University's academic, athletics, technology, career development, student recruitment, marketing, advocacy and development programs. Work to create relationships and engagement that will increase the donor base of alumni. Serve as one of the University's principal ambassadors to alumni during a comprehensive campaign. Design and develop strategies for fund development in association with alumni groups when in a comprehensive campaign. Direct the Leatherneck Legacy fundraising program to secure annual private support for alumni programs. Lead alumni relations staff in a team-oriented environment to manage the University's alumni outreach programs. Set ambitious, clear, and achievable goals, and inspire the Alumni Relations staff to meet and exceed expectations. Administer a 25-member Alumni Council, including meetings with executive board members; develop meeting agendas and identify and orient new members. Create programs to engage alumni in meaningful activities. Manage all alumni-directed marketing programs to engage alumni and connect them back to the University. Manage alumni-directed social media outreach efforts. Monitor and develop alumni communications such as the quarterly magazine, e-newsletter, and alumni webpages, including general alumni information pages. Continue to market and develop the online community to keep pace with advances in communication technology and media relations to enhance alumni involvement and donation rates. Work with the Director of Advancement and Foundation Services to manage Foundation Alumni Database, including responsibility for all data protection in conjunction with the University Data policy. Manage Western's alumni affinity programs, including contract negotiations and overall administration of credit card, debit card, insurance, travel, class ring, diploma frame, and license plate programs. Develop and maintain programs for currently enrolled Western students, such as the Student Alumni Association, and other programs designed to engage students as alumni and foster love and loyalty to the University. Manage and administer overall Alumni Program budget. Coordinate the development of new programs.

SALARY:

12-month; 100% appointment. $77,732 - $105,000 annually; negotiable, commensurate with experience. Western Illinois University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS).

These benefits include:

Health Insurance plans, (HMO's, OAP's, QCHP, and CDHP), Dental Insurance, Vision Plan, Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Supplemental Long-Term Disability (LTD), Flex Spending Accounts (HAS, MCAP, and DCAP), 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plans and 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plans. Eligible employees are required to participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). SURS is the retirement administrator for employees in public higher education in the State of Illinois. Other benefits available to eligible employees include: paid time-off, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Waiver programs, and discounts to the local YMCA. For a full list of benefits as a WIU employee, please visit our

Benefits Homepage:

https://www.wiu.edu/human_resources/benefits/. For questions on benefits, or eligibility, contact our benefits team at HR-Benefits@wiu.edu or by calling 309-298-1971.

Requirements:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree. A thorough understanding of best practices in alumni relations and advancement services, and fundraising. A track record in planning and executing successful alumni relations programs and fund development, including goal setting, implementation of strategies, and identification of new alumni donors. Proficiency in database management, Windows software and Google Suite or similar products. Strong interpersonal skills and exceptional oral, written, and presentational skills. Ability to interact professionally and efficiently with alumni, current students, donors, and other constituents. A collaborative approach to working with others.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Master's degree. Supervision experience. Direct experience in alumni engagement. For a degree to be considered, it must be conferred from a regionally accredited degree-granting institution of higher education (or equivalent from an international accrediting body). Unless otherwise stated, the degree must be conferred at the time of appointment.

Additional Information:

THE UNIVERSITY

About WIU Since 1899, Western Illinois University has provided outstanding educational opportunities to individuals in west central Illinois and well beyond our region and state. WIU's traditional residential campus in Macomb, Illinois, is the educational, cultural and athletic center of the region, while the WIU-Quad Cities non-residential branch campus in Moline, Illinois, is the only public university in the immediate Quad Cities region.

WIU-Macomb, IL:

Western's traditional, residential main campus offers a comprehensive slate of undergraduate and graduate programs, including a doctorate in education, and post-baccalaureate certificates. A diverse community in west central Illinois, Macomb features a unique blend of agriculture, industry, service, retail, education, and culture. Macomb serves as the county seat, with connections across the state with Amtrak providing twice-daily service from Macomb to Chicago (and point in between). Macomb is located approximately 75 miles from the Quad Cities International Airport (Moline, IL) and 70 miles from the Greater Peoria Regional Airport (Peoria, IL).

WIU-Quad Cities:

Located on the banks of the Mississippi River in Moline, Illinois, the WIU-Quad Cities campus is the only public four-year regional university that serves the Quad Cities region. Designed as a metropolitan commuter campus, WIU-Quad Cities offers select undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Moline is located just 80 miles north of the Macomb campus and is centered within a diverse, bi-state community of 383,000 that offers a broad range of cultural, social, and entertainment amenities and experiences, as well as varied businesses and industries. Academics More than 61 undergraduate degree programs, 41 graduate programs, two doctoral programs and 16 post-baccaulaureate certificate programs prepare students for a successful career after graduation. Student Resources More than 200 student organizations at Western provide social, academic, recreation, athletics, service, academic, and many other opportunities for students to grow and learn, develop leadership skills, and much more. Numerous concerts, lectures, films, dance performances, cultural events and more are presented and performed each year, along with numerous major theatrical and dance productions and studio shows, and a variety of service-oriented projects and activities. WIU Intercollegiate Athletics The University's athletics program, based on the Macomb campus, sponsors 17 NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's and women's varsity sports. All varsity sports compete at the Division I level through The Ohio Valley Conference.

Application Instructions:

Complete applications include: 1) a letter of application 2) current curriculum vita or resume 3) copies of unofficial or official academic transcripts; official copies will be requested of selected candidate 4) the names, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three current professional references Please upload the requested documents by clicking APPLY NOW or by navigating to the WIU Employment page at the following URL http://www.wiu.edu/employment/ •Note•In order to upload Individual documents must be under 2 MB in size. Screening will begin on April 6, 2026. Western Illinois University endeavors to provide a safe environment for its employees and students and requires candidates to submit to a background investigation upon offer of employment. Employment is contingent upon compliance with University policies and procedures relating to the receipt and evaluation of information contained in the background investigation. Western Illinois University is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity employer. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people, including, but not limited to, minorities, veterans, women and individuals with disabilities. WIU has a non-discrimination policy that includes discrimination based on an individual's membership in the following classes: sex, race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and any other classes protected by state or federal law. Questions regarding the search may be directed to: Amy Crosby at AL-Crosby@wiu.edu For assistance with the online application system contact the Office of Human Resources at (309) 298-1971 or via email at hr-recruitment@wiu.edu.