Director of Marketing and Partnerships

About the Job The Director of Marketing and Partnerships is a lead strategist of UMAA's revenue-generation and serves as its marketing team leader.

This role is a high‑impact "player‑coach"—a modern marketing leader who translates the Association’s vision into an operational roadmap.

The Director’s work is the financial engine that allows the UMAA to foster a lifelong spirit of belonging and pride.

By growing diverse revenue streams, this role directly expands the Association’s capacity to advocate for the University and its global alumni community.

This position reports to the VP of Strategic Engagement at the Alumni Association.

Essential Functions Revenue Operations & High‑Level Business Development (60%) Revenue Portfolio

Directly responsible for achieving marketing team revenue goals through strategic partnerships, memberships, donations, and MN Alumni Market sales to ensure the long‑term financial sustainability of the Association’s mission.

Departmental Roadmap

Supervise and lead three members of the marketing team to deliver on annual goals to achieve the revenue targets.

IP Ownership

Serve as the business owner of UMAA intellectual property; creatively determine how to leverage UMAA marks to enhance brand value and deepen alumni pride through high‑quality merchandise and partnerships.

Cultivation

Personally manage the cultivation and negotiation of top‑tier "anchor" partnerships and royalty agreements.

Innovation

Continually assess the alumni landscape for opportunities—new entrepreneurial ideas that bring value to alumni while diversifying income to keep the Association relevant in a modern marketplace.

Strategic Implementation

Partner with the VP of Strategic Engagement to operationalize long‑term revenue goals, providing expert marketing guidance on how to maximize UMAA assets.

Active Partnership Stewardship

Represent the UMAA at select signature events to personally steward partners, identify prospective sponsors in the field, and ensure that partner activations enhance, rather than detract from, the alumni experience.

Departmental Leadership & Modern Integration (25%) Vision Alignment

Ensure the marketing team’s work is aligned with the overarching direction set by the VP of Strategic Engagement, fostering a culture where every campaign serves the broader goal of alumni engagement.

Modern Marketing Integration

Integrate the talents of the marketing and sales staff with communications and engagement to ensure a seamless, modern experience for alumni across all channels.

Revenue Results Leadership

Drive department‑wide results by ensuring the MN Alumni Market, Membership, and Donation functions are optimized, cross‑promoted, and aligned with the overarching 12‑month roadmap.

Strategic Advisory

Partner with the VP of Strategic Engagement to identify, create, and monitor long‑term revenue goals, providing expert guidance on growth strategies within revenue programs in portfolio.

Business Ownership & IP Strategy (10%) Budgetary Oversight

Take full accountability for departmental budgets, including revenue forecasting and P&L performance to ensure responsible stewardship of Association resources.

Contractual Integrity

Oversee the management and fulfillment of all organizational obligations within revenue contracts to safeguard the Association’s reputation and the trust of our partners and alumni.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%) Market Insight & Ambassadorship

Serve as an informed ambassador for the alumni community, utilizing event presence to gather real‑time "audience‑centric" insights that inform future strategies.

Cross‑Functional Impact

Contribute leadership to special projects that improve internal operations and the overall alumni value proposition.

Qualifications Required Qualifications BA/BS degree plus at least 6 years of full‑time relevant work experience.

Revenue Expertise

Proven track record of managing a diverse revenue portfolio and leading the full sales cycle from prospecting to contract execution.

Leadership

Experience supervising professional staff and leading cross‑functional teams to achieve unified goals.

Technical Proficiency

Advanced knowledge of Google Suite (Gmail, Calendar, Drive), MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Zoom.

Operational Agility

Proven experience thriving in fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environments, delivering structured work with high accuracy and timeliness.

Creative Strategy

Experience applying modern, creative marketing approaches to non‑traditional or mission‑driven sectors (e.g., Higher Ed, Non‑profits, or Membership organizations).

Preferred Qualifications Retail & E‑commerce Acumen

Prior experience in retail management or e‑commerce operations, with a deep understanding of product margins, inventory complexities, and the financial mechanics of a retail P&L.

Project Management

Proficient user of Trello or similar platforms, with the ability to build workspaces that coordinate complex communication across multiple teams.

Mission Connection

A natural affinity for the University of Minnesota and a sophisticated understanding of how to translate institutional value into corporate partnerships.

About the Department The University of Minnesota Alumni Association fosters a lifelong spirit of belonging and pride by connecting alumni, students, and friends to the University of Minnesota and each other.

The Association advocates for the University and its alumni with a credible, independent, and collaborative voice.

Pay and Benefits Pay Range

$85,000–$95,000 annually; based on qualifications and years of experience.

Priority Application Deadline

April 22, 2026 Time Appointment

100% time appointment Position Type

Faculty and P&A Staff The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes

Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree‑seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program Low‑cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts University HSA contributions Disability and employer‑paid life insurance Employee wellbeing program Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity Financial counseling services Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area How to Apply Applications must be submitted online.

To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions.

To ensure full consideration of your application for this position, please be sure to upload the following documents with your application

A cover letter which expresses your interest in and qualifications for the position Your updated resume This position will remain open until filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e‑mail or call (612) 624‑8647.

Diversity The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission.

The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

To learn more about diversity at U

Employment Requirements Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here.

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