Alumni Engagement Manager

Overview

The University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Posted on : 20 August 2025

Closing date : 1 October, 2025

Well-established university ranked in the top 200 internationally

Would suit candidates from education, non-profit or corporate backgrounds

Permanent role | Dunedin, New Zealand

The Organisation

The University of Otago is New Zealand's oldest university with a proud record of delivering high quality teaching and research.

Established in Dunedin with campuses elsewhere in New Zealand, the university currently educates 19,000 students with plans to grow this number over the next 5 years.

With a strong commitment to excellence, the university ranks first among New Zealand universities for the quality of its teaching.

The university is proud of its local and international alumni who are strong supporters of the university, its traditions and its aspirations.

Donor support is vital for the university enabling it to develop its teaching and research capacities along with the ability to offer scholarships and maintain facilities.

Over the past several years the university has broadened alumni engagement and development capabilities establishing a clear link between engagement and advancement fundraising.

The enhanced structure and resourcing of the Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO) demonstrates the commitment of the university to this strategy.

The Role

The Alumni Engagement Manager will create a highly professional and engaged network of alumni and designated friends which encourages loyalty, affinity and life-long learning to build sustained support for the University of Otago.

Reporting to the Director, Development and Alumni Relations, and fully contributing as a key member of the DARO management team, you will lead the development, implementation and evaluation of alumni relations strategies aligned with the University of Otago's strategic objectives.

You will collaborate and build relationships with key colleagues within divisions and departments and provide advice and support for them to engage effectively with their alumni.

Skills Required

You will be a proven leader with experience gained in developing and delivering client-centric programmes, ideally but not essentially in alumni relations or other advancement disciplines including fundraising, marketing or communications in higher education, non-profit or corporate environments.

You have strong leadership and management skills, including the ability to direct and implement policy, develop and execute strategic plans, manage a budget and lead a team of specialist staff.

You Will Also

Demonstrate the ability to interact effectively and quickly gain credibility with a wide variety of alumni, individuals, groups and organisations along with the skills to engage confidently and diplomatically with distinguished alumni and high-profile public figures.

Be capable of developing networks and the ability to manage stakeholders to maintain collaborative and productive working relationships, across all sectors, domestically and internationally.

Possess project management skills with a proven track record of delivering projects on time and within budget within a complex organisational structure.

Be available to undertake domestic and international travel.

Please note the application instructions :

• quoting ref 1367924.

Alternatively phone Mike Hurdle on +61 (0) 3 8080 8978 to have a candidate information pack emailed to you.

Please note there is no formal closing date for this role; if you are interested, you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

NGO Recruitment values equitable recruitment practices and is committed to representing candidates reflective of the diverse organisations and communities we work with.

We welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds, ages, and identities, and are happy to adjust our recruitment process to support accessibility needs.

If you are interested in this position and have most of the skills or experience we are looking for, please go ahead and apply.

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