Position Summary

San Diego State University is seeking an Alumni Engagement Specialist to create meaningful opportunities for alumni, students, and volunteers to stay connected with SDSU. In this role, you’ll coordinate alumni programs, events, volunteer opportunities, career and mentoring initiatives, and communications that strengthen lifelong connections to the university.

You’ll also manage the Aztec Proud student philanthropy program, collaborate with partners across campus, and help turn great ideas into engaging experiences for the SDSU community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Alumni Engagement & Relationship Building
  • Coordinate programs that connect alumni with SDSU as volunteers, mentors, speakers, panelists, industry experts, and community partners.
  • Build collaborative relationships with alumni, campus departments, Development colleagues, and university partners.
  • Support regional events, networking and career programs, alumni chapters, admitted student send-offs, and other engagement initiatives.
  • Develop outreach and email communications that increase awareness and participation in alumni opportunities.
• Programs, Events & Operations
  • Coordinate alumni programs and events from planning through execution and follow-up.
  • Manage timelines, registration, event communications, vendors, budgets, logistics, and participant experiences.
  • Maintain alumni and event information using CRM and engagement platforms, including Ellucian and Hivebrite.
  • Track participation and program outcomes and use data to identify opportunities to strengthen engagement.
• Aztec Proud & Student Engagement
  • Manage the Aztec Proud student philanthropy program, including outreach, education, stewardship, volunteer activities, and campus partnerships.
  • Develop communications and engagement strategies that build student awareness and participation.
  • Help create a strong transition from student involvement to lifelong alumni engagement and philanthropy.
• Student & Volunteer Leadership
  • Provide lead work direction, training, scheduling, and guidance to Student Engagement Assistants.
  • Coordinate student employees and volunteers supporting alumni programs and major university events.
  • Develop training materials and processes that help deliver welcoming, high-quality experiences.

What We're Looking For:

We’re looking for a relationship-builder and organized program professional who enjoys bringing people together and creating experiences that strengthen their connection to a community.

Experience in areas such as the following is especially valuable:

• Alumni relations, student engagement, community engagement, or volunteer management
• Event and program planning
• Relationship building and stewardship
• Email marketing, social media, and digital communications
• CRM or community engagement platforms
• Project management and event logistics
• Data tracking, reporting, and program evaluation
• Training or providing lead direction to student employees or volunteers
• Higher education or development environments

Why Join Us?

• Build lifelong connections – Create opportunities that keep Aztecs connected to SDSU long after graduation.
• Bring people together – Develop events, programs, and experiences that connect alumni, students, volunteers, and the university.
• Shape the student-to-alumni journey – Help students build a connection to SDSU that continues throughout their lives.
• Make every day a little different – Work across events, communications, volunteer engagement, campus partnerships, and special initiatives while collaborating with people throughout the SDSU community.

As part of the California State University (CSU) system, San Diego State University helps power one of the largest and most impactful public university systems in the nation. See what it’s like to work at the CSU—watch our video and imagine your future here: Working at the CSU.

Position Information

• Full-time, benefits eligible, permanent/probationary position.
• This position is designated as exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs. (May occasionally be required to work evenings and/or weekends to attend events or perform duties outside normal work hours. Must also be able to travel to and attend off-campus appointments and events.)
• This position is eligible for telecommuting up to 2 days per week, following a training period during which on-site presence is required.

Department Summary

University Relations and Development (URAD) shares the university’s vision and mission underscored in the SDSU strategic plan. Units of URAD work together to create enduring relationships with alumni, parents, donors, students and the community to generate private support for SDSU students, faculty and a diverse number of programs.

URAD handles a range of services encompassing stewardship, events, gift administration, communications and more.  The departments of Development, SDSU Alumni, Planned and Annual Giving, Special Events and Donor Relations, Marketing and Communications, Financial Management, Data Management, Prospect Research and Management and Operations are making a tangible difference in the lives of more than 40,000 students.

Our fundraising success can be credited to the university’s goal of building a world-class university campus, research center, and multi-use stadium in Mission Valley to serve higher education, the public good, and the community’s goals and aspirations.

SDSU has been recognized several times for its exceptional development program by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). With the support of loyal donors and in collaboration with SDSU’s visionary faculty and staff, the university cultivates lifelong relationships with more than 500,000 alumni, friends, and community members—advancing SDSU’s mission for generations to come.

For more information regarding the University Relations and Development department, click here.

For more information regarding the SDSU Alumni department, click here.

Education and Experience

Equivalent to a bachelor's degree in a related field and two years of relevant experience. Additional experience which demonstrates acquired and successfully applied knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. An advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Key Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to independently coordinate multiple programs and projects, manage competing priorities, and meet established deadlines.
• Experience planning, coordinating, and evaluating programs, events, or engagement initiatives.
• Ability to develop and coordinate communications using email, social media, digital platforms, and other communication tools.
• Ability to analyze program outcomes and participation data, identify trends, and recommend improvements to programs and participant experiences.
• Ability to interpret and apply organizational policies and established procedures while exercising sound judgment in resolving non-routine issues.
• Experience providing work direction, training, or mentorship to student employees, staff, or volunteers.
• Strong organizational, project management, interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse internal and external constituents.
• Preferred Qualifications:
• Knowledge of alumni engagement, volunteer management, student engagement, stewardship, and relationship-building practices within a higher education environment.
• Experience planning or supporting alumni engagement programs, volunteer initiatives, or campus partnership activities.
• Experience using constituent relationship management (CRM) systems or engagement platforms to maintain records, track participation, and prepare reports.
• Experience working in a higher education, alumni relations, development, or similar engagement-focused environment.

Licenses/Certifications Required

Valid California Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire.

Compensation and Benefits

San Diego State University offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth.

Compensation:
Step placement will be determined based on relevant qualifications and professional experience, in alignment with the department’s budget and equity guidelines.

• Initial step placement is not expected to exceed Step 4 ($5,597/month).
• Salary step placement for internal applicants will follow the CSUEU Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• CSU Classification Salary Range: $5,274-$7,684 per month (Step 1-Step 20).
• Future increases, including step advancements, are subject to contract negotiations.

Full Benefits Package Includes:

• Generous Time Off: 15 paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
• Retirement: CalPERS pension plan with retiree healthcare, and reciprocal agreements with other California public retirement systems, including the UC.
• Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision options at low or no cost.
• Education Support: CSU tuition fee waiver for employees and eligible dependents.
• Optional Offerings: FlexCash, life and disability insurance, legal and pet plans.
• Campus & Community: Access to the library, campus events, employee groups, and volunteer and social activities.

Our benefits are a significant part of total compensation. Learn more at the SDSU Benefits Overview.

SDSU Values

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community.  Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment.  We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university. 

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another. 

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. 

SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Apply by September 7, 2026, to ensure full consideration. Applications submitted after this date will be reviewed on an as-needed basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. 

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. 

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended.  Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Livia Peeples at lpeeples@sdsu.edu.