Director, Alumni Relations

Director, Alumni Relations Reporting directly to the Associate Dean of Development and Alumni Relations, the Director of Alumni Relations designs, executes, and manages a comprehensive, contemporary, and data-driven alumni engagement strategy for the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine (CDM). The Director serves as the primary strategist for cultivating lifelong relationships with CDM's diverse alumni, turning engagement into a robust pipeline for volunteer leadership and philanthropic support.
The Director will take an innovative, results-oriented approach to modern alumni relations, moving beyond traditional event planning to focus on measurable, high-impact programming, digital engagement, and strategic partnerships. As a key leader within the advancement team, the Director will work closely with alumni leadership, organize signature events, and work to align alumni engagement initiatives with the school's overarching fundraising priorities.
Strategic Program Management & Innovation
Develop and execute an annual strategic alumni relations plan with clear metrics, benchmarks, and goals to track and increase qualitative and quantitative alumni engagement.
Serve as the primary operational liaison and advisor to the Association of Dental Alumni and its relevant committee; manage a variety of virtual and in-person events; guide volunteer leadership in aligning their initiatives with the School's overall goals.
Partner closely with CDM's communications team to design targeted alumni newsletters, event invitations, digital content, and social media campaigns that articulate the school's impact.
Alumni Interaction
Serve as a key point of contact for CDM alumni.
Interact, demonstrating professionalism and integrity, with alumni, students, donors and prospects on behalf of CDM.
Pipeline Development & Philanthropic Collaboration
Work collaboratively with the Associate Dean to identify, cultivate, and hand off highly engaged alumni prospects for major and principal gift consideration or volunteer leadership roles.
Integrate annual giving milestones smoothly into the fabric of the alumni experience, ensuring milestones like class reunions double as key philanthropic opportunities.
Establish strong internal relationships with CDM academic units and student affairs to facilitate student-alumni interaction and create a seamless transition from "student" to "active alum."
Develop strategic mentorship and career networking programs that bring alumni back to campus to interact with the current student body.
Event Production & Financial Oversight
Direct all operational phases of signature CDM alumni events, including annual Reunions, high-end regional receptions, graduation-related alumni events, and professional dental conference showcases.
Monitor annual operating budgets for all related programs; stay on budget while ensuring good return on investment and maximizing the alumni experience.
Oversee the data integrity of the alumni program, ensuring that biographical information, event attendance, tracking, and contact reports are accurately maintained in the university's central advancement database in collaboration with team support.
Team Leadership & University Alignment
Represent CDM actively across the broader University's development and alumni relations office, ensuring strategies complement and amplify Columbia University's central alumni initiatives.
Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned by the Associate Dean or Dean's Cabinet.
Minimum Qualifications
Requires a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in education and experience plus five years of related experience.
Strong tech literacy with experience utilizing modern enterprise advancement databases (e.g., Athena, Uproar), email marketing platforms (Salesforce/Marketing Cloud), and event management software (Eventbrite).
Exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills; the ability to speak passionately and compellingly about the clinical, research, and educational mission of dental medicine.
Proven capacity for diplomacy, tact, and discretion when handling highly sensitive or complex alumni and donor relationships.
Ability to work independently and manage and prioritize multiple projects.
Flexibility to travel and work occasional evenings or weekends for major alumni events and regional receptions.
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree preferred.
Prior experience working within an academic medical center or a professional health sciences school.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.