Associate Director of Alumni Relations

Position Summary

The Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Development office (VP&S OOD), a part of Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), facilitates relationships that support the mission of CUIMC and VP&S: advancing medical education, scientific discovery, and patient care.

The VP&S Alumni Relations office strengthens ties among alumni, students, faculty, and the college through educational programs, networking, volunteer opportunities, and student and alumni initiatives.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Alumni Relations, the Associate Director leads the communications strategy for VP&S alumni. The role develops communications for alumni across generations, career stages, specialties, locations, and interests. It identifies the needs of different audiences and creates stories, campaigns, and digital experiences across email, social media, web, video, and other channels. This work helps alumni connect with one another and with students, faculty, VP&S, CUIMC and Columbia University; participate in programs and volunteer opportunities; and understand the impact they can make through philanthropy.

The Associate Director owns alumni communications priorities and works closely with Alumni Relations, Annual Giving, Development, and institutional communications partners. The role translates complex work in medical education, research, and patient care into accessible, accurate content; coordinates creative partners and may supervise staff as the team grows; represents Alumni Relations at virtual and in-person programs; and uses audience and performance data to improve the strategy. In partnership with Annual Giving, the Associate Director develops communications that show the impact of alumni gifts, invites participation in giving opportunities, and thank alumni for their support.

Responsibilities

• Lead an annual alumni communications strategy and editorial calendar aligned with VP&S priorities and the alumni journey. Segment audiences by relevant interests, career stage, geography, specialty, and engagement history; identify communication gaps and opportunities. Interview alumni and partners, and write and edit compelling and accurate stories, profiles, and content for web, email, print, and other channels. Partner with the editor of Columbia Medicine, CUIMC communications teams, & the Office of Alumni & Development / Columbia Alumni Association to coordinate story pipelines, share alumni profiles, and amplify editorial pieces across institutional publications. Establish voice, templates, editorial standards, and accessible content practices adhering to strict alignment with CUIMC and VP&S visual identity and brand guidelines. Travel may be required for selected interviews and programs. – 30%
• Lead marketing and multichannel campaigns that drive awareness of, registration for, and participation in alumni programs and events. Utilize Salesforce to pull targeted constituent lists, execute segmented alumni communication journeys, and monitor campaign performance data. Develop audience-specific messages, promotional plans, and clear calls to action across email, social media, web, short-form video, and emerging channels. Work with program colleagues from concept through follow-up, using results to improve reach and participation. Create timely touchpoints from student milestones and graduation through residency, established careers, reunion, and lifelong engagement. – 25%
• Partner with Annual Giving and Development to integrate philanthropy into alumni communications. Develop donor and impact stories, annual giving campaign content, stewardship messages, and clear invitations to give where appropriate. Explore social media, digital campaigns, peer-to-peer outreach, and other emerging forms of digital philanthropy that fit alumni interests and an evolving annual giving program. Coordinate message timing and audience experience across engagement and giving communications. – 15%
• Lead communications for alumni programs and community milestones, including “Life After Vagelos,” event messaging, scripts, citations, briefings, class notes, obituaries, alumni awards, and volunteer contributions. Guide external writers, photographers, designers, and video editors to produce consistent and compelling work. – 15%
• Coordinate alumni communications across Alumni Relations, Annual Giving, Development, and VP&S and CUIMC communications. Gather story leads and program information; agree on audiences, calls to action, timing, reviews, and approvals. When timely opportunities or urgent needs arise, help develop and distribute alumni messages or annual giving appeals quickly in partnership with the appropriate teams. – 10%
• Set goals and assess communication performance using appropriate measures of reach, response, participation, repeat engagement, volunteer interest, and giving-related response. Share findings with the Senior Director and partners and adjust plans accordingly. Other duties and special projects as assigned. – 5%

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in education and experience, plus three years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, academic medicine, healthcare, advancement, alumni relations, nonprofit communications, or mission-driven digital publishing. Experience developing campaigns that connect audience engagement and philanthropy is desirable.

Other Requirements

• Exceptional writing, editing, interviewing, and editorial judgment; ability to translate complex medical, scientific, and institutional material into accurate, accessible language for varied audiences.
• Ability to develop an audience-centered communications strategy and execute high-quality content on deadlines across email, web, social, print, video, and emerging formats.
• Ability to lead projects independently, manage vendors, potentially supervise staff as the team grows, set priorities, and bring complex assignments to completion.
• Strong interpersonal skills and collaborative judgment in working with alumni, faculty, students, fundraisers, and communications colleagues in a fast-paced setting.
• Sound judgment, initiative, tact, and care with sensitive stories and relationships.
• Excellent organization and attention to detail; ability to manage concurrent deadlines and use audience insights and communications metrics to improve work.
• Experience handling confidential information, sensitive data, and protected health information in accordance with HIPAA and applicable university privacy policies.
• Proficiency with common office, content management, email marketing, social media, and analytics tools. Ability to evaluate and use appropriate, institutionally approved AI tools for research support, content development, production, and analysis while applying editorial judgment, protecting confidential information, and following university guidance.
• This position requires work beyond regular hours, including evenings and weekends, as projects and events require.
• Cover letter required.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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