THE SEARCH

At the intersection of Stanford's past, present, and future lies one of the university's most consequential leadership opportunities: the Vice President for Alumni Affairs (VP) and President of the Stanford Alumni Association (SAA). This is a visionary role that reimagines and shapes how one of the world's most renowned institutions of higher learning connects with its nearly 250,000 alumni who form a global network of influence, innovation, and impact. Reporting directly to President Jonathan Levin '94 and serving as a member of his senior staff and cabinet, the VP/SAA President leads one of higher education's largest and most influential alumni organizations. The SAA uniquely operates as a university division with a distinct mandate to serve as both bridge and conduit between Stanford and its alumni community. In this capacity, the VP/SAA President works closely with the SAA Board of Directors, which provides strategic guidance on alumni programs and serves as the principal representative body connecting alumni to the university's Board of Trustees.

This role requires a seasoned general manager capable of leading a large, complex, and high-impact organization with responsibility for personnel, business development, budgets, systems, and performance. The successful candidate must demonstrate the operational rigor required to lead a division of this scope, including setting vision and direction, ensuring organizational effectiveness, and navigating a broad range of functional complexities from long-term strategy to the day-to-day demands of a dynamic organization. Equally important, this leader must bring a demonstrated capacity to lead through change--guiding the SAA through evolution with clarity, purpose, and an ability to bring others along.

Stanford seeks a forward-thinking leader to guide alumni engagement into its next chapter of excellence. This is not a role defined by continuity alone but rather presents a compelling opportunity to build on a strong foundation while reimagining how the university connects with, serves, and activates its alumni in an ever-evolving landscape. The next leader will assess and refine longstanding structures and practices, including opportunities for further integration across the university and the more intentional deployment of shared services to continuously enhance effectiveness and promote alignment, particularly with the Office of External Relations. The role requires a leader who is energized by complexity and ambiguity and who thrives in environments where change is both necessary and expected. This work will include leveraging data, technology, and emerging capabilities--including artificial intelligence--to better understand, segment, and engage Stanford's diverse global alumni community, while ensuring that programs and experiences remain relevant, personal, and resonant across generations.

The VP/SAA President serves as a principal university ambassador, responsible for authentically, clearly, and thoughtfully representing Stanford to its alumni. This individual will maintain a deep and current understanding of the university's priorities and challenges and will translate complex institutional issues into thoughtful, audience-appropriate engagement. Equally important, they will foster a strong and trusted channel for the exchange of perspectives, ensuring that alumni viewpoints across generations are conveyed to university leadership with credibility and insight. The role requires a proficient communicator comfortable with extemporaneous engagement who can convey both confidence and approachability while building trust through transparency and genuine connection.

As a member of the President's senior staff and cabinet, the VP/SAA President will also serve as a trusted advisor on matters that extend beyond, yet materially impact, alumni affairs. This individual must be prepared to engage in substantive and wide-ranging institutional deliberations and to contribute thoughtfully, candidly, and with sound judgment. In this capacity, the role calls for intellectual curiosity and the confidence to speak with clarity and honesty, including when offering difficult or dissenting perspectives. At the same time, the successful candidate will demonstrate a deep commitment to and adoration for Stanford and an ability to represent and advance the university's interests with credibility and conviction.

Stanford seeks an exceptional and multifaceted leader who brings a rare combination of operational excellence, strategic acuity, and interpersonal effectiveness. The successful candidate will be a proven organizational leader with experience managing complex teams and functions; an outstanding communicator with a compelling public presence; and a highly relational individual who builds trust readily and cultivates meaningful, lasting connections. A change agent, the next leader will also embrace bold thinking and inspire others to pursue a shared vision for the future. They will demonstrate strong analytical instincts with the ability to balance long-term strategy with near-term execution. This individual will bring tireless enthusiasm, optimism, resilience, and stamina to the role, along with a sense of humor and perspective--approaching the work with both seriousness of purpose and humility.

A deep connection to Stanford University, ideally in the form of an undergraduate and/or graduate degree from the institution, is preferred. The successful candidate will bring deep respect for Stanford's unique traditions and a clear vision to discover its future, embracing the distinctive spirit of the SAA while working collaboratively across the university to cultivate and mobilize alumni as engaged ambassadors. Above all, Stanford seeks a leader who is motivated by the scale of the opportunity and inspired to expand the impact of and possibilities for alumni engagement.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Strategic Vision and Innovation

• Develop and execute a multi-year strategy that aligns alumni engagement with Stanford's broader academic and fundraising goals.
• Develop and direct SAA's strategic approach to alumni relations by overseeing programs, services, marketing, communications, and revenue generation, ensuring that resources are effectively aligned with organizational goals to advance Stanford and SAA's mission.
• Establish and manage performance targets and financial goals for alumni programs and services, analyzing outcomes to ensure effectiveness, promote continuous improvement, and allocate resources efficiently in alignment with agreed-upon objectives and the annual operating budget.

Alumni Voice and University Advocacy

• Represent Stanford to its global alumni community of nearly 250,000, sharing the university's vision, priorities, and achievements, while fostering engagement and lifelong connections through outreach such as direct interactions, presentations, town halls, tours, educational programming, and correspondence.
• Elevate the voice of alumni within the university, ensuring their perspectives help inform institutional strategies and decisions.
• Strengthen alumni engagement and loyalty through impactful programs and services that connect alumni to one another and to Stanford and provide goodwill and support.
• Strategically mobilize alumni as global ambassadors and institutional partners, leveraging their expertise and influence to drive measurable support for Stanford's mission.
• Represent Stanford and SAA to external constituencies and partners, actively strengthening the university's reputation and visibility by cultivating productive relationships that advance institutional goals.

University Leadership and Collaboration

• Actively contribute to senior university management discussions; advise university leadership on alumni affairs and engagement strategies.
• Ensure that timely, accurate, and relevant information is provided to Stanford's President and the SAA Board of Directors to support informed decision-making.
• Collaborate across the Office of External Relations - including Development, Government Relations, University Communications, and Community Engagement - as well as with alumni relations development in the schools and academic units, to ensure alignment and coordination.
• Integrate alumni engagement priorities into broader institutional planning, supporting Stanford's long-term vision and impact.

Dynamic Leadership and Team Development

• Inspire, mentor, and develop a diverse team, instilling a shared vision for innovation and excellence in alumni engagement while fostering a commitment to inclusion and belonging within the SAA staff.
• Encourage a culture of creativity and experimentation, empowering team members to explore new ideas and approaches in their work.