Director, Alumni and Industry Engagement

Art Center College of Design is searching for an experienced Director, Alumni and Industry Engagement to join our team.

The salary range for this position: $80,000.

Final salary is based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.

Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, Art Center College of Design is a global leader in art and design education and has had an international reputation for its rigorous, transdisciplinary curriculum, faculty of professionals, strong ties to industry, and commitment to socially responsible design. Art Center is a private nonprofit fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Every position at Art Center plays an important part in carrying out the cultural values, goals, strategic vision, and mission of the College. This includes upholding and cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Advancement, the Director, Alumni and Industry Engagement is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to engage alumni and industry partners in meaningful ways that support the mission and goals of Art Center College of Design. This role fosters lifelong relationships between the College, its alumni, and industry stakeholders through events, communications, volunteer opportunities, and fundraising initiatives.

A well-defined understanding of data, engagement trends, and relationship management is necessary to ensure the growth of alumni and industry participation and philanthropic support. The incumbent serves as a key ambassador for the College, promoting pride, collaboration, and engagement across alumni and industry networks.

This position manages the Alumni and Industry Engagement team: the Associate Director, Alumni and Industry Engagement and the Coordinator, Alumni and Industry Engagement. Together they will work in close partnership with the Vice President, Strategic Partnerships to advance industry engagement initiatives, and with the Executive Director, Annual Giving and Development Communications to strengthen alumni engagement and philanthropic outreach.

This is a full-time position. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position is eligible for flexible scheduling and can be performed hybrid with the expectation of at least 3 days in the office or required as a condition of employment. The demands of this work may include weekends or evenings as well as travel.

The college reserves the right to modify schedules as needed to meet the business needs with appropriate notice.

Strategic Planning and Leadership – 30%

• Develop and execute a comprehensive multi-year engagement strategy for alumni and industry aligned with institutional priorities
• Segment and analyze CRM data to identify alumni and industry attributes (e.g., location, graduation year, company affiliation, affinity) and use this data to craft targeted programming and communication strategies
• Collaborate with departments across the College (fundraising, admissions, marketing, creative careers, deans, and academic programs) to integrate alumni and industry engagement into broader institutional goals
• Oversee recruitment, hiring, onboarding, learning and professional development, and fair and equitable compensation recommendations for grid placement of staff; oversee performance evaluation process, ensure consistent use of all applicable policies and procedures, including CBA; counsel, discipline and make recommendations in terminations
• Enforce all College policies, including safety protocols
• Partner with the Vice President, Strategic Partnerships to align industry engagement efforts with College-wide initiatives
• Partner with the Executive Director, Annual Giving and Development Communications to ensure alumni engagement strategies support fundraising and communication goals
• Implement metrics to track engagement and report progress to Senior Vice President, Advancement

Alumni and Industry Engagement – 30%

• Plan and manage events including reunions, regional gatherings,…