Assistant Director of Regional Engagement
Chattanooga, TN, USA
The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc (UTFI) invites applications and nominations to fill the position of Assistant Director of Regional Engagement for the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. Reporting to the Director of Alumni Affairs, the Assistant Director of Regional Engagement is responsible for planning and staffing alumni events, building and maintaining relationships with alumni and community constituents, and identifying opportunities for meaningful engagement with the university.
This role will travel to plan, coordinate, and execute alumni engagement, conduct relationship-building meetings, and strengthen alumni connections in priority markets.
The Assistant Director of Regional Engagement is responsible for planning and staffing alumni events, building and maintaining relationships with alumni and community constituents, and identifying opportunities for meaningful engagement with the university.
Required Education and Experience
The candidate who fills the Assistant Director of Regional Engagement position is required to have:
Bachelor’s degree
3+ years of experience in alumni relations, event planning, volunteer management, student engagement, communications, admissions, advancement, or related field
Demonstrated ability to plan and execute events, manage multiple projects simultaneously and build effective relationships with a wide range of constituents
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement, and coordinate effectively with campus and community partners
Must be able to travel regularly and work occasional evenings and weekends
A valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record is required due to travel responsibilities of the position. UTFI reserves the right to consider all appropriate circumstances. In general, any significant driving offense less than 12 months old will eliminate the application from consideration for the position.
Note - Candidates holding a graduate degree must have at least 1 years of experience.
Preferred Education and Experience
In addition to meeting the required qualifications, the preferred candidate will have:
Master’s degree
Experience in higher education, nonprofit engagement, alumni relations, admissions programming, or regional outreach work
Experience working with volunteers, affinity groups, and cross-functional campus teams
Familiarity with recruitment-related events and relationship-based constituent engagement
Experience with CRM systems, Microsoft Office Suite and event coordination processes
Application Process: Priority will be given to applications received on or before July 31st via our DASH application system. Applications must include a completed candidate profile, cover letter, and resume. Candidates selected to move forward in the evaluation process will be asked to provide contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without explicit permission of the candidate.
When determining minimum qualifications, only information entered into the candidate profile can be considered. Please ensure your candidate profile is completed in its entirety as it relates to qualifying education/work experience.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.
Questions about the search may be directed to hr@utfi.org.
Target Start Date: September 2026
Benefits: The Foundation’s greatest asset is our team. Foundation employees are eligible for a comprehensive suite of benefits that includes:
Generous paid leave, accruing up to 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave annually, plus 14 paid holidays and administrative closing days
Education benefits for employees and their dependents at UT System campuses
Retirement and deferred compensation plans, including 401(k), 403(b), etc.
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
Employee discounts to attractions, services, and goods
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The Foundation: The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that serves as the preferred channel for private contributions benefiting students and faculty within the UT System. With a vision of being one of the top-performing advancement organizations in higher education, UTFI is committed to enhancing the educational landscape across the University of Tennessee campuses.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a national model for metropolitan universities. In collaboration with our many regional partners, we offer an experiential learning environment with outstanding teaching scholars in bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs. UTC is the campus of choice for over 11,350 students. Our four colleges offer over 55 bachelor's programs with 128 program concentrations. Our graduate school offers over 50 master's programs with 45 program concentrations and five doctoral degrees with six program concentrations. UTC educates our students for success in a global society at a reasonable rate.
The UT System: The University of Tennessee System is comprised of campuses at Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and the Health Science Center at Memphis; the Institute of Agriculture; and the Institute for Public Service.
The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Regional Alumni Engagement and Event Planning: Plans, coordinates, and executes alumni events across assigned regions, managing all logistics from venue selection and registration to staffing, materials, and post-event follow-up. Develops and supports regional programming designed to increase alumni participation, strengthen university visibility, and foster long-term engagement with the institution. Tracks participation data, assesses event outcomes, and recommends adjustments to ensure continuous improvement in future programming efforts.
Travel- Based Relationship Building and Market Support: Conducts relationship-building meetings with alumni, volunteers, and friends of the university across assigned markets, maintaining a consistent and strategic presence in key regions. Identifies, cultivates, and sustains meaningful relationships with alumni to increase engagement and strengthen regional networks in alignment with institutional priorities. Maintains timely and accurate records of all outreach, meetings, and follow-up activities within the appropriate CRM or reporting system to ensure accountability and informed decision-making.
Admissions, Recruitment, and Affinity Group Collaboration: Partners with admissions and recruitment staff to coordinate alumni participation in student recruitment and yield events, identifying volunteers, speakers, and hosts who can serve as effective ambassadors in support of enrollment goals. Works with local affinity groups to develop engagement strategies for shared-interest, identity-based, industry-based, and geographically connected alumni communities, identifying volunteer leaders and emerging advocates who can strengthen programming and outreach. Serves as a liaison between alumni engagement, admissions partners, and affinity-based constituencies to support a coordinated regional presence and broaden pathways for alumni involvement.