Date Posted: 02/06/2026
Req ID: 46853
Faculty/Division: VP – Division of University Advancement
Department: Alumni Relations
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00053109
Existing Vacancy: Yes

About us:

The Division of University Advancement (DUA) aims to sustain and enhance the University’s academic mission, leadership, and worldwide impact, by engaging alumni and private sector constituents meaningfully in the mission of the University, building mutually beneficial relationships of increasing value and satisfaction over time.

DUA at the University of Toronto is engaged in a transformative agenda deeply rooted in the University’s vision for growth and innovation. We are focused on growing fundraising efforts; enhancing the effectiveness and satisfaction of alumni engagement and programs; building advancement talent capacity within and across divisions and creating an organization and culture that fosters diversity and inclusiveness.

Your opportunity:

The Community Network Strategist contributes to and supports a broad range of activities that foster the engagement of alumni volunteers from diverse backgrounds, geographies, shared interests and experiences through affinity groups and networks, incorporating principles of equity, diversity and inclusion into their work.

Reporting jointly to the Executive Director, Alumni Engagement Strategy and Volunteer Leadership and the Director, Global Alumni Engagement and Inter-portfolio Initiatives, this role is accountable for:

• serving as a senior level strategist responsible for developing and implementing governance and accountability frameworks for volunteer affinity groups, and networks including those representing diverse communities using best practice theories of governance;

• recommending and analyzing funding models, programs, systems and services that will lever the mutual value of volunteer affinity groups and networks both locally and around the world;

• ensuring that regionally based alumni volunteer representatives are consistently supported by optimizing resources, building capacity, and continuing to align their efforts with key university objectives in each region, in consultation with the Director, Global Alumni Engagement & Interportfolio Initiatives;

• ongoing identification, tracking and dissemination of information about broadly representative, high potential alumni for volunteer and leadership roles across Advancement and the broader university with a specific focus on sourcing alumni volunteers for central mentorship programs and global volunteer leadership roles.

• supporting alumni-student mentorship programs divisionally with resources, toolkits, consultations and collaboratively evaluating student and alumni outcomes;

• facilitating the creation and execution of culturally appropriate strategies for engaging Indigenous and Black alumni in Alumni Relations programming incorporating principles of equity, diversity and inclusion to advance those principles in alumni engagement and keeping well informed about theories related to equity, diversity and inclusion;

• serving as an advisor to alumni volunteer groups, networks and program managers on program co-creation and a source of best practice guidance for optimal program conceptualization and execution;

• researching the attitudes, views, preferences and insights of alumni. In collaboration with the Director Alumni Engagement Metrics and Recognition determines key areas of research inquiry and recommends research design and methodological approaches such as quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, community-based research or panel tools. Recommending approaches to data analysis and preparing initial analysis and interpretations. Recommending the optimal way to disseminate findings.

The role collaborates with Alumni Relations’ colleagues, relevant university portfolios, affinity group and alumni networks volunteers (both individually and as groups) in program planning and supports efforts to engage and integrate alumni network and group volunteers into existing programming, where appropriate and desired. The Strategist is an accomplished relationship builder and able to forge strong connections with alumni and colleagues, both within DUA and the broader university. They must be able to anticipate future opportunities and be able to align alumni engagement with institutional priorities.

The Strategist creates project schedules, tracks and records project progress and prepares meeting minutes, briefing materials and reports for senior management. They must keep well informed of theories of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging as well as Indigenous issues, particularly as they relate to alumni engagement. They must demonstrate an understanding of DUA’s equity, diversity, and inclusion of commitments in engaging diverse alumni. The Strategist is highly collaborative, and all efforts will be informed by internal consultations with Alumni Relations program managers, Alumni Relations colleagues and the Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Advancement.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing strategic plans to determine the unit’s programs and activities

• Developing and implementing plans to support areas of research relevant to partnership needs that are consistent with the University’s academic mission

• Leading the development and making recommendations for policy, procedures and best practices for the unit

• Liaising with various stakeholders to foster collaboration

• Building and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and partners of strategic importance

• Assessing and determining benchmarks and metrics for alumni programming and advancement activities

• Handling complex and/or sensitive information

• Keeping well-informed on theories related to equity, diversity and inclusion

Essential Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience.

• Minimum six to seven years of experience developing programs, services, resources toolkits and strategies to engage diverse communities, volunteers or alumni

• Demonstrated knowledge and practice of volunteer group governance principles. Experience managing volunteer groups.

• Strong understanding and awareness of theories of equity, diversity and inclusion as well as current trends and literature regarding EDI and demonstrated ability to apply them in program development, execution and in volunteer management.

• Relationship management along with the strategies for developing effective structures for governance.

• Able to advise and influence volunteers on effective event planning strategies.

• Experience with conceptualizing events to achieve specific engagement objectives.

• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to research, learn and utilize theoretical approaches and best-practices for mentorship programming and engaging diverse alumni in programming.

• Knowledge of Indigenous issues, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Final Report and other resources pertaining to Indigenous contexts (e.g., Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples [RCAP])

• High level of comfort and facility with data. Demonstrated experience with analyzing qualitative and qualitative data, research methodology, survey and research design, and making recommendations based on data, market, and audience insights that both inform and serve strategic priorities

• Ability to work in a highly diverse University community and to work constructively and cooperatively with wide range of constituencies to foster and support an environment of trust, respect and collaboration.

• Must be able to develop strong collaborative relationships with a wide variety of individuals and groups across the University, including alumni.

• Proven experience of working with diplomacy, empathy and tact and influencing without authority

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team environment in a busy workplace.

• Ability to exercise initiative, creativity, and attention to detail.

• Advanced proﬁciency with MS Ofﬁce Suite (i.e. Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint), and well-developed technology skills including locating and evaluating relevant material using the Internet and database searches.

• Excellent oral, written communication, presentation and public speaking skills.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Approachable

• Communicator

• Courteous

• Diplomatic

• Organized

• Perceptive

• Team player

Closing Date: 02/23/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget – Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 17 — $109,761. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $140,365. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial
Recruiter: Fiona Chan

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

A job description is available upon request

University of Toronto

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