Executive Director of Engagement Strategy and Systems

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Executive Director of Engagement Strategy and Systems

Job Profile Title

Information Technology Director

Job Description Summary

The Executive Director of Engagement Strategy and Systems serves as Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) senior leader responsible for the digital engagement strategy, drawing on constituent research, behavioral insights, and collaboration across advancement functions to create coordinated experiences that deepen alumni relationships and donor participation. As the senior functional and strategic owner of Penn’s engagement technology ecosystem, this role serves as the critical bridge connecting DAR’s communications and engagement strategy to the technical expertise required to manage the systems involved in digital engagement. The position entails specialized understanding and skills in effective constituent engagement supported by strategic data and technology decisions. This role’s success depends on knowing how platforms should be used to advance alumni and donor relationships, supporting users and adoption, evaluating effectiveness, and continuously improving the constituent experience. In doing so, the role ensures that DAR’s engagement work, including the systems that support these, are well governed, and strategically applied to achieve communications, engagement, and fundraising goals.

The Executive Director leads digital transformation and innovation across DAR’s engagement systems and serves as a strategic liaison to University technology partners. Under the guidance of the Senior Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, , the role provides leadership across governance, operating standards, data stewardship, architecture, integrations, and vendor strategy, while establishing department-wide frameworks that support secure, scalable, and user-centered experiences across schools and centers. The position exercises significant influence over decisions that advance engagement outcomes, donor pipeline development, and the Penn alumni experience worldwide.

Embedded within DAR Communications and Marketing, the Executive Director serves as a strategic advisor to University and DAR leadership, partnering closely with colleagues across central DAR and the schools and centers to advance institutional engagement priorities. The position leads a specialized team responsible for improving communications and marketing strategy through platform administration, optimization, training, adoption, and continuous improvement.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

Digital Engagement Strategy

• Lead the development of an enterprise digital engagement strategy that aligns communications, alumni relations, annual giving, events, volunteer engagement, and development priorities across DAR.
• Partner with DAR Marketing and Communications, Alumni Relations, Annual Giving, development