Alumni Relations Manager

£38,285 to £45,738 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £52,605 per annum)

This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better. The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

The External Relations department brings together student recruitment, marketing, PR, social media, profile and reputation management, development and fundraising, alumni relations and stakeholder engagement into one dynamic, expert function. The team is responsible for telling the University’s story in the UK and internationally – shaping how we are seen, understood and experienced by our audiences.

From creating compelling messaging and content across campaigns, digital channels and events, to building influential partnerships and driving sustainable income, External Relations delivers complex, high‑impact work that is central to the University’s success. Our work supports growth, strengthens trust and reputation, and makes a significant contribution to the University’s long‑term ambitions.

Alumni, Business and Development

Our focus is on building strong relationships, development and growing our alumni community. We encourage alumni to stay engaged with the University and give back to support our students, while also assisting colleagues with Graduate Outcomes, student recruitment, and enhancing the overall student experience.

The Development team secures philanthropic support for the University’s work from individuals (including alumni), corporates, grant‑making organisations (trusts and foundations) and legacies (gifts in wills).

The Alumni Relations Manager will provide strategic leadership and direct delivery for the University of Derby’s alumni engagement activity, developing and implementing a compelling, inclusive and impactful alumni strategy while also playing a leading role in creating and delivering key activity.

Working with a diverse international alumni community of approximately 150,000 graduates, you will plan, produce and deliver high‑quality communications, events and initiatives that enhance alumni affinity, advocacy and participation. Alumni activity will directly support the University’s strategic priorities, including student recruitment, global profile, employability, philanthropy and reputation.

This is a senior, hands‑on role for an experienced practitioner who is comfortable operating strategically while also “rolling up their sleeves” to deliver effectively in a dynamic environment, working both independently and within a team. You will work collaboratively with colleagues across academic and professional services to embed alumni engagement throughout the University and will play a key role in preparing current students for lifelong membership of the alumni community.

A particular focus of the role will be the development and practical delivery of international alumni hubs and ambassador networks, enabling alumni to act as advocates for the University in key global markets and to support recruitment, partnerships and reputation‑building activity.

Through creative digital, virtual and in‑person engagement, the Alumni Relations Manager will clearly articulate and demonstrate the value of the alumni community, inspiring graduates to remain connected to the University and to give back in meaningful ways that benefit current and future students.

We are looking for an experienced and self‑sufficient alumni engagement professional who can combine strategic leadership with hands‑on delivery. You will be confident developing an ambitious, university‑wide alumni strategy while personally planning and executing a broad programme of communications, events and initiatives. Comfortable working at pace and often independently, you will bring strong digital, content and CRM skills, alongside the ability to represent the University professionally to a global community of graduates and stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will excel at building relationships - internally with academic and professional services colleagues, and externally with diverse international alumni networks. You will have a track record of creating and managing overseas hubs and ambassador programmes, and of inspiring alumni to give back through mentoring, advocacy, employability support, recruitment activity and philanthropy. Creative, collaborative and influential, you will embed alumni engagement across the institution and play a key role in strengthening Derby’s global profile and long‑term graduate community.

• Develop, lead and deliver a university‑wide alumni engagement strategy aligned with institutional priorities, enhancing alumni relationships while supporting student recruitment, global reach and brand profile.
• Establish, grow and manage international alumni hubs and networks, identifying, recruiting and supporting alumni ambassadors in priority markets to strengthen in‑country engagement and recruitment activity.
• Lead the planning and delivery of alumni communications and campaigns, producing high‑quality, targeted and engaging content across digital and print channels for a global alumni audience.
• Design and deliver a varied programme of alumni events and initiatives, including on‑campus, international, virtual and hybrid activity, to deepen alumni connection and participation without supervision and support.
• Build strong, effective working relationships with academic and professional services colleagues to ensure alumni engagement is embedded across the University and aligned with wider objectives.
• Champion alumni engagement internally, providing practical guidance and examples to colleagues and supporting them to work effectively with alumni.
• Manage alumni web pages and digital platforms, updating content directly and working with central digital teams where technical input is required.
• Increase alumni advocacy and ‘give back’ activity, encouraging participation through mentoring, ambassadorial activity, recruitment support, employability initiatives, events, volunteering and philanthropy.
• Work closely with colleagues responsible for fundraising/advancement to ensure alumni activity supports future philanthropic ambitions.
• Use CRM systems, digital platforms and data insight tools to segment alumni audiences, manage contact data and track engagement.
• Act as a professional, credible and inclusive point of contact for alumni and external stakeholders, representing the University positively at all times.

Experience

• Significant experience of developing and delivering alumni relations, stakeholder engagement or community engagement activity, ideally within higher education or a comparable membership based, public or not‑for‑profit environment.
• Proven experience of creating and implementing engagement strategies that deliver clear, measurable outcomes.
• Demonstrable experience of delivering engaging communications, campaigns or content across multiple channels.
• Experience of planning and delivering events or engagement initiatives, both in person and virtual.
• Experience of using data, insight and evaluation to inform decision‑making and demonstrate impact.

Skills, knowledge and abilities

• Proven ability to build and manage effective relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of alumni engagement, advocacy and the role alumni play in student recruitment, employability, philanthropy and institutional reputation.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build credibility and influence at all levels.
• Confidence in presenting strategies, plans and outcomes to a range of audiences, including senior leaders.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, engaging and audience focused content.
• Creative, innovative and solutions focused approach, with strong attention to detail and quality.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively and manage multiple competing demands.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to translate strategic objectives into practical, deliverable activity.
• Confidence in using CRM systems, digital platforms and data insight tools to support engagement, reporting and evaluation.

Business requirements

• Ability to work outside of normal working hours (including some evenings and weekends), to support the business during key University events, such as Graduation, Clearing and Open Days.
• Willingness and flexibility to travel and work between University and external sites in a cost effective and timely manner.

Generous annual leave entitlement

38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata).

Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family‑friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.

Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers.

Discounted onsite gym.

Holiday purchase.

Cycle to Work scheme.

A flexible working environment.

A commitment to personal and professional development.

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Rosie Marshalsay, Associate Director - External Relations via r.marshalsay@derby.ac.uk.

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk.

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.

We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.

Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non‑binary‑inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training.

When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender‑neutral title 'Mx'. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns. This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non‑binary candidates.

Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system.

The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.

However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

Don’t miss your chance – join the team and make a difference today!

How to apply

You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.

The University reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team at recruitment@derby.ac.uk.

Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.