Alumni Engagement Specialist

Oregon Health & Science University Foundation
Portland, OR
HybridCareer-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Best suited to candidates with administrative experience and a collaborative mindset working in non-profit or university settings.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with administrative experience and a passion for donor and alumni relations in non-profit or university settings
    — “non-profit, foundation, and/or university experience preferred”
  • Individuals who excel in managing multiple projects and thrive in fast-paced, event-driven environments
    — “strong project management and organizational skills give you the ability to independently manage and prioritize multiple projects and tasks”
  • Professionals who are culturally responsive and can engage stakeholders from diverse backgrounds
    — “compassionate and culturally-responsive, with the ability to partner and communicate with internal and external stakeholders from diverse backgrounds”

Things to consider

  • The role requires physical involvement in event setup and the ability to lift up to 40lbs
    — “Physical setup and take down of events with prolonged periods of standing: ability to move up to 40lbs”
  • Candidates may need to work outside of normal hours for events or programs
    — “Occasional hours outside of normal work hours for meetings, events or programs”
  • Travel within the Portland metropolitan area is necessary for this position
    — “Travel within the Portland metropolitan area will be necessary”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience managing donor or alumni communication and event logistics in your resume and interview responses
    — “staffing alumni and donor events, engaging with alumni, prospective donors, and other guests”
  • Showcase your experience with Salesforce Affinaquest or similar donor databases in your resume and cover letter
    — “Experience with Salesforce Affinaquest or another donor database preferred”
  • Demonstrate your ability to manage administrative tasks and support senior staff through relevant examples
    — “Experience supporting a senior staff member or executive preferred”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • successful events
  • positive donor feedback
  • accurate alumni data
Typical background
non-profitfoundationuniversity

Skills & requirements

Required

Project ManagementEvent CoordinationCommunicationCustomer ServiceDatabase Management

Preferred

Non-profit ExperienceDonor Database Proficiency

Stack & domain

Project ManagementDonor DatabaseEvent LogisticsCommunicationTeamworkLeadershipNon-profitFoundationUniversity

About the role

Original posting from Oregon Health & Science University Foundation via Greenhouse

Salary is determined based on experience and the Foundation’s structured pay bands, which include steps for growth and performance. Please see the “Pay” section for more details.

Priority Application Deadline: November 30, 2026

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Starting Salary: $50,993 - $59,492

Work Location: Hybrid

About the Position

As the Alumni Engagement Specialist, you will play a key role in advancing our mission by supporting a comprehensive Alumni Engagement program (AEP) that engages alumni and students of the schools, units and institutes at OHSU. You will be collaborating closely with AEP colleagues and Special Events colleagues.

What You'll Be Doing

Administrative Support for Alumni Engagement Program

You will ensure alumni data is as accurate as possible and reflects timely updates captured through events and AE staff visits.

You will convene regular meetings with individual alumni engagement staff to discuss collateral and strategy needs for short/long term alumni activity.

You will manage communications with individual or small groups of alumni, including drafting and editing correspondence, preparing letters and cards of appreciation or sympathy and other personal communication.

Project & Event Support

You will staff alumni and donor events, engaging with alumni, prospective donors, and other guests and to ensure a welcoming, thoughtful experience.

You will coordinate event and program logistics, including meeting space and electronic equipment reservations, catering requests, and preparation of event briefs, in partnership with Special Events colleagues as appropriate.

You will coordinate across departments and with third-party vendors to ensure events are well-executed and support engagement and stewardship goals.

Who You Are

You're able to take initiative and be self-directed, with a high level of accountability.

Your strong project management and organizational skills give you the ability to independently manage and prioritize multiple projects and tasks, meet deadlines, and adjust as necessary.

You're able to collaborate professionally, diplomatically and productively with contacts at all levels, including OHSUF colleagues, University staff, alumni, donors, volunteers and vendors.

You're hospitality-minded and eager to understand and meet the needs of stakeholders.

You're compassionate and culturally-responsive, with the ability to partner and communicate with internal and external stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences, including students, faculty and alumni.

You should have

3+ years’ experience in an administrative support role

Experience supporting a senior staff member or executive preferred

Non-profit, foundation, and/or university experience preferred

Experience with Salesforce Affinaquest or another donor database preferred

Experience with Asana or similar project management platform preferred

We want to emphasize that there is no such thing as the perfect candidate; candidates who do not have all of the required experience are encouraged to apply.

Working Conditions

Fast-paced office and external event environment with frequent interruptions of work flow

Physical setup and take down of events with prolonged periods of standing: ability to move up to 40lbs

Occasional hours outside of normal work hours for meetings, events or programs

Travel within the Portland metropolitan area will be necessary

Salary$50,993—$59,492 USDPay

Salary is dependent on experience. Each salary band is broken into three "steps," which correspond with an employee’s experience/tenure, proficiency and performance in that specific role. New employees will typically start at step I of our pay band to allow for later growth, although more experienced candidates may be eligible to start at step II or III. The OHSU Foundation has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity.

Benefits

The OHSU Foundation also offers an exceptional benefits package including:

Comprehensive medical and dental insurance.

Pension program (The Foundation contributes 12% of your annual salary to a pension);

22 days of paid vacation, 11 paid holidays, 1 float holiday and 2 days of volunteer time off;

Professional development dollars for each employee;

Hybrid work allowance and much more!

Plus, we have a flexible work environment for those who prefer a hybrid work schedule, and we close early on Fridays during the summer. Want to learn more about our other amazing benefits? Check out our benefits page to learn more about our benefits.

Please note that benefits may vary for employees residing outside of Oregon, Washington, Arkansas, Alaska, Arizona, and Nevada due to state-specific regulations and coverage differences. Employees located outside of these states may be required to work through a Professional Employer Organization (PEO).

Our Core Values

Every relationship we cultivate, every gift we secure, every action we take advances OHSU’s mission for excellence in education, research and scholarship, clinical practice and community service.

Alignment

Compassion

Equity

Integrity

Collaboration

Impact

If you require support or reasonable accommodation during the application or recruitment process, please submit a request through our Accommodation Request Form.

The OHSU Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The OHSU Foundation is committed to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization. In keeping with our beliefs and values, no applicant will face discrimination or harassment on the basis of any protected class status, including color, age, current or future military status, disability (physical or mental), gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

The OHSU Foundation, as required by law, is making available a copy of Employee Rights and Responsibilities under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

The OHSU Foundation participates in E-Verify. By law we are required to make available the Notice of E-Verify Participation and the Right to Work.

Source: Oregon Health & Science University Foundation careers (Greenhouse)

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