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Assistant Director of Alumni Traditions

Full time Alumni Relations

Job Description

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Assistant Director of Alumni Traditions

About Eastern Washington University:
Eastern Washington University, a regional, comprehensive public university with an enrollment of over 10,000 students, is one of six state-funded four-year institutions of higher education in Washington, each governed by its own board of trustees. As the region’s polytechnic, we are recognized for our distinctive approach to hands-on learning that leads to in-demand careers. EWU’s 300-acre main campus is located in Cheney, a community of 12,000 residents 16 miles southwest of Washington’s second largest city, Spokane. Eastern also offers programs in downtown Spokane at the innovative, energy-efficient Catalyst building, the SIERR building which is a hub for research, development and advancement of health sciences, and at Riverpoint, a campus shared with Washington State University. In addition, EWU programs can be found at select locations throughout the state, aligned with the needs of the community. Eastern contributes to the vitality of the region and the state through its wide array of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in over 100 fields of study, as well as applied doctorates in physical therapy and educational leadership, offering accessible pathways to career success and personal development to students of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

Eastern Washington University has been recognized for its commitment to helping undergraduate students learn, grow and succeed by Colleges of Distinction, a nationally trusted resource guide for college-bound students. The honor recognizes Eastern as a ’24-’25 College of Distinction (CoD).

Tribal Land Acknowledgement
At Eastern Washington University, we are proud to recognize the land of the Spokane Tribe and other tribes that shared the land for fishing and trading. The Spokane Tribe, Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Kalispel Tribe, and the Nez Perce Tribe are integral to the cultural heritage and traditional ethnological knowledge of the land.

Native American heritage is woven into the fabric of our institution, enriching our community through tribal culture, historical teachings, and tribal language, and is embraced daily by students, staff, faculty, and the Eastern Washington community.

At EWU, we are committed to reflecting on and acknowledging the historical injustices of genocide and the forced removal of tribal peoples and all our relatives. EWU recognizes and honors tribal sovereignty and government to government relationships with tribes.

From here forward, EWU will remain committed to supporting, honoring, and recognizing the Native American community and the dynamic contributions that are shared with our university.


Job Summary:
The Assistant Director of Alumni Traditions leads the coordination, preservation, and evolution of Eastern Washington University’s most meaningful alumni and campus traditions. This role is responsible for designing and delivering inclusive, mission-driven programs that foster institutional pride, strengthen alumni identity, and build meaningful connections across generations of Eagles. Through these traditional events, the role supports the strategic goals of both the EWU Alumni Association and the university.

In partnership with campus stakeholders, volunteers, and student staff, the Assistant Director drives engagement through both digital and in-person platforms. This position oversees hallmark programs such as Pass Through the Pillars, Senior Send-Off, Homecoming, Alumni Awards, Legacy Groups (e.g., Past Presidents of the Alumni Board, Tawanka Service Organization), class reunions, and more.

This dynamic position is part of the fast-paced, collaborative Alumni Relations team within the University Advancement Division at Eastern Washington University. Standard office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; however, evening and weekend work is required, along with occasional travel outside the Spokane and Cheney areas. The Assistant Director of Alumni Traditions also plays a key role in supporting and coordinating the efforts of staff, students, and volunteers involved in planning and executing alumni events.

EWU is committed to supporting and promoting a workforce that is welcoming to all and encourages applicants of all backgrounds to apply for this position.

The salary for this position is $ 64,164 (minimum) up to $70,000. Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on education, experience, and skills. In addition to salary, the university offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance and disability insurance and retirement. In addition, EWU offers generous vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays per year and fringe benefits, such as tuition waiver for employees and eligible family members, discounted EWU sports tickets, full access to our campus workout facilities at a minimum fee and free transportation through STA buses. For additional information regarding insurance benefits please see our Benefits page: https://inside.ewu.edu/hr/benefits/insurance/ .

Eastern Washington University provides an inclusive, equitable, and transformative learning experience, driving the pursuit of knowledge with affordable academic excellence.

Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree in an even planning related field such as Hospitality, Event Management/Planning, Tourism & Recreation Management, Communications or Public Relations.
  • Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in event planning, event promotion and event execution.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. paired with strong organizational abilities and keen attention to detail.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and tasks simultaneously while consistently meeting deadlines and maintaining high-quality work.
  • Demonstrated success in building relationships with diverse stakeholders paired with a people-centered, enthusiastic approach to engagement.
  • Strong commitment to EWU’s mission and values, with familiarity – and a desire to deepen knowledge – of the EWU community.
  • Demonstrated ability to apply a responsive and flexible approach that is supportive of the needs including universal access of our students, faculty, staff and the public.


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Proud Eastern Washington University graduate preferred
  • Experience in higher education alumni relations, annual giving, or stewardship preferred.
  • Proficiency with tools such as Eventbrite, WordPress, MailChimp, and Salesforce


Other Skills and Abilities:

Job Duties:
Coordinate and Enhance Annual Alumni Traditions :
  • Lead and execute major annual alumni event traditions – including Pass Through the Pillars, Senior Send-Off, Homecoming, Reunions, Legacy Groups, and the Alumni Awards Gala.
  • Ensure all alumni events reflect EWU’s mission, values, and traditions, strengthening school spirit, institutional pride and fostering multi-generational engagement.
  • Develop and manage comprehensive event plans, including timelines, logistics, budgets, vendor coordination, task assignments, registration systems, and attendance tracking.
  • Coordinate with campus partners, external organizations, and vendors, to ensure seamless event preparation and exceptional on-site execution, including supervision of staff, students, and volunteers.
  • Conduct post-event assessments, facilitate team debriefs, and implement improvements, and manage event records, contracts and follow-up reporting.


Percent of Time: 40

Facilitate Alumni Engagement, Marketing, and Communications:
  • Support and implement a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy that aligns with alumni engagement goals and is informed by performance metrics.
  • Develop, manage, and analyze alumni communications – including email campaigns, social media, website content, print materials, and more – in collaboration with the Alumni Relations team.
  • Research, curate, and produce content for the alumni newsletter, Eastern Magazine, and digital platforms and other communication channels.
  • Uphold and reinforce the EWU Alumni Association brand, ensuring consistency across messaging, including stewardship of the Eagle4Life identity and partnership with campus departments.
  • Fulfill alumni data requests in partnership with Advancement Services and support broader marketing and communication efforts through additional duties as assigned.

Percent of Time: 40

Support the EWU Alumni Association and Board Initiatives:
  • Provide logistical and administrative support to the EWU Alumni Association Board of Directors and its working teams– including assistance with meetings, special projects, and all board functions.
  • Coordinate board member recruitment and selection processes.
  • Perform additional duties as assigned by the Director or Board President.





Percent of Time: 10

Support Office Operations and Serve in a Leadership Capacity:
  • Assist the Director with daily operations and office management.
  • Train and supervise student employees, ensuring a welcoming environment.
  • Maintain alumni records and support Salesforce-based donor communication.
  • Assist in drafting sponsorship proposals and funding narratives, and track sponsor benefits to ensure accurate fulfillment and stewardship.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of programs, events, benefits, and services, and recommend enhancements to improve impact and engagement.
  • Represent the Director in meetings or during their absence, as assigned.


Percent of Time: 10
Conditions of Employment:
This position, during the course of university employment will be involved in the receipt of, or accountability for, university funds or other items of value, as well as the unsupervised access with the developmentally disabled, vulnerable adults or children under the age of 16. The offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion and passing of a background check prior to beginning employment.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa currently. Sponsorship is not available for this position at this time.

All new employees must comply with EWU Immunization Policy 602-02 and provide proof of immunity or vaccination to MMR before beginning work at EWU. Waivers for the immunization requirements are available for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs.

This is an Administrative Exempt position and is covered by EWU Policy 406- 01, Exempt Employment https://inside.ewu.edu/policies/knowledge-base/ewu-406-01-exempt-employment/

After starting employment, employees will complete the required training via Canvas. The Office of Employee Belonging, Development, and Leadership will reach out to you concerning Workplace Belonging training.

Note: Interviews might be conducted via Zoom (camera must be enabled). If so, candidates must be able to demonstrate competence using Zoom and other technologies.
Salary Information:
The salary for this position is $ 64,164 (minimum) up to $70,000. Where the hired candidate will begin within this range is dependent on education, experience, and skills.

Posting Date: 01/28/2026
Open Until Further Notice: No
Closing Date: 2/28/2026
Screening to Begin: 3/1/2026

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Submit your application materials through our online applications portal provided below. If you are unable to submit through the applicant portal, please contact Human Resources Services at (509) 359-2381.

To apply, visit https://jobs.hr.ewu.edu/postings/14399









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Application Details (to apply use the Apply Now button below.)


To see additional information about our job opening(s) or to apply, click on the “Apply Now” button at the bottom of our job posting(s).

When inquiring or applying for jobs at Eastern Washington University, please also reference AcademicCareers.com

Applicants with dual-career considerations can find university jobs, such as professor jobs, dean jobs, and other faculty jobs and higher ed jobs with Eastern Washington University and with other colleges and universities in the region on AcademicCareers.com

To receive email alerts when new jobs at Eastern Washington University are posted, sign up for new job openings at Eastern Washington University.


 

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Eastern Washington University
About Eastern Washington University

Our Mission:

We inspire respect, inclusion, integrity and excellence in all we do.

 

People. We must respect all people by providing opportunity, empowerment, challenge and appropriate rewards.

Integrity. We must be truthful, trustworthy, and ethical.

Collaboration. We must work effectively with others involving all affected parties with the University in all processes to achieve meaningful and lasting results.

Customer Orientation. We must strive to set challenging goals which provide quality service to students and/or internal customers, focus on output, and assume responsibility.

 

Eastern Washington University, a regional, comprehensive public university with an enrollment of over 10,000 students, is one of six state-funded four-year institutions of higher education in Washington, each governed by its own board of trustees. EWU’s 300-acre main campus is located in Cheney, a community of 12,000 residents 16 miles southwest of Washington’s second largest city, Spokane. Eastern also offers programs in downtown Spokane at the innovative, energy-efficient Catalyst building and at Riverpoint, a campus shared with Washington State University. In addition, EWU programs can be found at select locations throughout the state, aligned with the needs of the community. Eastern contributes to the vitality of the region and the state through its wide array of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in over 100 fields of study, as well as applied doctorates in physical therapy and educational leadership, offering accessible pathways to career success and personal development to students of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

Tribal Land Acknowledgement
Eastern Washington University resides within the traditional homelands of the Spokane People and other tribes who are connected through their shared history of this region. This land holds their cultural DNA and it is their Ancestors who are here and bring forth the knowledge of this place—the knowledge that comes from the land.

 

EWU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, age, marital status, families with children, protected veteran or military status, HIV or hepatitis C, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, as provided for and to the extent required by state and federal laws.


To see additional information about our job opening(s) or to apply, click on the “Apply Now” button at the bottom of our job posting(s).

When inquiring or applying for jobs at Eastern Washington University, please also reference AcademicCareers.com

Applicants with dual-career considerations can find university jobs, such as professor jobs, dean jobs, and other faculty jobs and higher ed jobs with Eastern Washington University and with other colleges and universities in the region on AcademicCareers.com

To receive email alerts when new jobs at Eastern Washington University are posted, sign up for new job openings at Eastern Washington University.


 

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