Program Director for Student-Alumni Mentorship at the UOAA or UCC

Department Summary

University Advancement (UA) supports the University of Oregon’s (UO) mission of providing exceptional teaching, discovery, and service by strategically positioning the university to create awareness, build long-term relationships, and secure resources that increase understanding and further its aims. The division consists of approximately 150 employees primarily working out of Eugene, with a satellite office in Portland. We are committed to fostering equity and inclusion in a welcoming, safe, and respectful environment that recognizes the value of all members of our community.

The University of Oregon Alumni Association (UOAA) fosters lifelong relationships, deepens engagement, and advocates on behalf of the university and Duck alumni around the world. Launched in 1879, the UOAA is proud of its long history of keeping alumni connected to the university and to one another, offering a wide array of opportunities for service and engagement. With a membership of over 20,000, the UOAA serves as an important connection to the university for more than 280,000 alumni worldwide. Our vision is to be among the very best alumni relations programs in the world, uniting and engaging Ducks in all stages of flight.

The University Career Center (UCC) serves as the central hub for career development at the University of Oregon, supporting students and recent alumni in building the knowledge, skills, and connections needed for lifelong career success. Through a student-centered and holistic approach, the Career Center empowers individuals to explore their interests, clarify career goals, and gain meaningful experiences that prepare them for an evolving world of work. We provide comprehensive career services, including career coaching, job and internship search support, experiential learning opportunities, and connections to a robust network of employers and alumni. Our programs are designed to meet students where they are, whether they are just beginning to explore career possibilities or preparing to launch into their chosen field.

Collaboration is at the core of our work. We partner with faculty, staff, employers, alumni, and campus and community organizations to create inclusive, high-impact opportunities that enhance student career readiness. These partnerships allow us to extend our reach and ensure that all students, including those from historically underrepresented backgrounds, have access to the tools, networks, and support necessary to achieve their professional goals. At the University Career Center, we are committed to fostering equitable access to career development resources and empowering every student to confidently navigate their career journey, both at UO and beyond.

Position Summary

The UO is currently hiring two Director level roles in order to establish and cultivate lifelong relationships among alumni and students, while at the same time, working to enhance the career readiness of current students. Both Directors, one in the UOAA and one in the UCC, will advance a coordinated, university-wide approach that integrates alumni engagement and student mentorship into engaging experiences and expands professional networks for all involved.

The UOAA Program Director works in consultation and collaboration with the Director of Alumni Career Networking and the UCC Program Director to do the following:
• Encourage alumni, parents, and industry contacts to engage in the career guidance and mentoring of current UO students and recent graduates, while also stewarding their participation.
• Promote the use of available tools (particularly PeopleGrove-but also other tools like Linkedln, UO alumni groups and networks) to help alumni find Ducks who are seeking career support from experienced alumni, tracking participation whenever possible.
• Train potential volunteers on effective mentoring, including expectation-setting, and provide front-end customer service, especially regarding the effective use of our online mentoring/engagement platform.
• Communicate successes and tell the stories of effective mentoring (advice giving) and advice seeking.
• Establish relationships with faculty and departments to 1) promote students' engagement with alumni and the PeopleGrove platform, and 2) find ways to plug alumni directly into the classroom and departments' academic programming.

The University Career Center Program Director for Student-Alumni Mentorship works in consultation and collaboration with campus partners, academic units, and the UOAA Program Director to:
• Lead campus integration and partnerships by collaborating with deans, faculty, staff, and Career Communities to embed alumni mentoring into curricular and co-curricular experiences and align engagement strategies across the institution.
• Drive student engagement and equitable access by promoting mentoring opportunities through multiple channels, partnering with student organizations and outreach teams, and ensuring inclusive participation for diverse student populations.
• Design and deliver student networking education by developing training, resources, and programming that prepare students to effectively engage with alumni, in partnership with the Career Readiness Coaching team.
• Oversee PeopleGrove student experience and operations by serving as the campus expert, providing support and training, establishing usage guidelines and risk management practices, and contributing to platform governance, metrics, and continuous improvement.
• Assess impact and advance innovation by evaluating program effectiveness, sharing success stories, and exploring new models of student-alumni engagement such as micro-mentoring, project-based learning, and affinity-based networks.

These positions require occasional night and/or weekend work to support special projects and events.

While both positions share the same minimum qualifications, they vary slightly in professional competencies and preferred qualifications. These distinctions are outlined below.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent combination of skills, experience, and education; and
• Five years of full-time (or equivalent) experience in program management related to any of the following: training, teaching, career advising, alumni relations, advancement in a higher education setting, sales, or a related field.