The Alumni Relations Coordinator (ARC) plays a pivotal role in fostering lifelong connections between NOLS and its alumni, families, and supporters. As a key member of the Advancement team, the ARC is responsible for creating meaningful engagement opportunities through events, communications, and volunteer initiatives that strengthen alumni ties to the NOLS community. By cultivating relationships and providing tailored experiences, the ARC helps inspire alumni involvement, deepen their connection to the school's mission, and enhance philanthropic support.

This role is ideal for a dynamic and relationship-driven professional who thrives on building networks and facilitating engagement. The ARC will coordinate in-person and virtual events, support alumni benefits and partnerships, and collaborate across departments to recognize and amplify the shared experiences of NOLS alumni. This position ensures alumni remain connected, valued, and engaged long after their NOLS course has ended.

Key Logistical Information:

• Please upload your cover letter and resume as one PDF document.

• Target Start Date: May 1, 2025.

• Benefits: This position is eligible for Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Flexible Spending account, Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Long Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program, Paid Time off, 403(b), 403(b) contribution, and more.

• Questions: Please contact peopleteam@nols.edu

What does an Alumni Coordinator do?

• Plan and Execute Alumni Events – Organize and oversee in-person and virtual gatherings, including logistics, marketing, and vendor coordination.

• Foster Alumni Networks & Relationships – Build and maintain meaningful connections with alumni, families, and supporters to strengthen engagement.

• Coordinate Alumni Outreach – Organize new grad lists to share with key partners, share upcoming events with alumni network, and provide customer service.

• Support Alumni Benefits & Partnerships – Develop and maintain partnerships with organizations to offer exclusive benefits for NOLS alumni.

• Oversee Alumni Database & Mailings – Manage alumni contact lists, process mailings, and maintain accurate records for outreach efforts.

• Serve as an Alumni Representative – Speak at alumni events and act as a key point of contact for alumni inquiries.

• Assist with Fundraising & Volunteer Engagement – Encourage alumni giving and participation in NOLS initiatives through strategic outreach.

• Coordinate Cross-Departmental Collaboration – Work with various NOLS departments to align alumni engagement efforts with broader organizational goals.

In your first 6 months, you will: 

Build Relationships Across NOLS

• Meet with key members of the Advancement team, other departments, and campuses through 1:1 meetings to understand cross-functional collaboration and alignment on alumni engagement.

• Gain insight into NOLS' mission, values, and strategic priorities to effectively represent the organization to alumni and external partners.

Coordinate Alumni Engagement for NOLS' 60th Anniversary

• Support planning and execution of events celebrating NOLS' 60th anniversary, ensuring alumni participation and engagement.

• Assist with event logistics, outreach, and communications to maximize alumni involvement.

Plan and Execute Events

• Organize and host both virtual and in-person alumni and donor events, managing logistics, budget, marketing, and post-event follow-up.

• Establish event frameworks that can be replicated and refined for future engagement opportunities.

Enhance New Grad Outreach & Alumni Networks

• Implement strategies to engage recent NOLS graduates, including coordinating grad packets, info sessions, and follow-up communications.

• Foster relationships with alumni volunteers to build stronger regional networks and mentorship opportunities.

• Explore new ideas and updates to the grad packet

What makes a great Alumni Relations Coordinator at NOLS? 

We are looking for people who share our values and are keen to learn and develop their expertise. While our ideal candidate comes with the skills listed below, we expect to provide training and development support in some of the areas.

A great Alumni Relations Coordinator at NOLS demonstrates:

• Passion for the NOLS Mission – Shares a deep appreciation for outdoor education, wilderness medicine, and the NOLS community, with enthusiasm for engaging alumni in meaningful ways.

• Strong Relationship-Building Skills – Naturally connects with alumni, families, and supporters, fostering long-term engagement and a sense of community.

• Excellent Communication & Storytelling Abilities – Writes compelling content, speaks confidently, and tailors messaging to inspire and engage diverse audiences.

• Event Planning & Execution Expertise – Organizes and manages logistics for in-person and virtual alumni events, ensuring smooth operations and meaningful experiences.

• Adaptability & Problem-Solving – Thrives in a dynamic environment, navigating challenges with creativity and resourcefulness.

• Collaboration & Cross-Departmental Coordination – Works effectively with multiple teams, aligning alumni initiatives with broader organizational goals.

• Digital & Social Media Proficiency – Understands how to leverage social media, email marketing, and alumni engagement platforms to build connections.

• Organizational & Project Management Skills – Balances multiple projects, meets deadlines, manages budgets, and maintains attention to detail while working independently.

How to Apply

Just enter your email and click the “start your application” button at the top of the screen and answer a few simple questions for the hiring committee to get a better idea of what you could bring to this role and upload your cover letter and resume as one PDF document when you are prompted to upload your CV/resume.

At NOLS we use the Applied platform for our recruitment. The Applied platform will ask you some demographic questions before you start your application. We at NOLS never see the responses to these demographic questions with your application. We only see summary statistics to help us check if our candidate pool is balanced and if everyone has an equal chance to get hired irrespective of their background. If you prefer, you can easily opt out of answering these questions.

Who is NOLS?

NOLS is a nonprofit global wilderness school that strives to be the leading source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment. Our community—staff, students, trustees, and alumni—shares a commitment to wilderness, education, leadership, safety, community, and excellence. 

We believe that anyone can be a leader; it is our role to provide the environment and training to help people discover their full potential. We do that in classrooms close to home and in remote wilderness areas around the world. We are an organization with heart, expertise, and wildness, and these qualities help us support powerful, authentic experiences.

Why is NOLS a great place to work?

• We have locations in seven U.S. states, and six countries; and courses in all 50 U.S. states and over 10 countries.

• We have fantastic employee discounts on top outdoor gear brands

• We offer discounts on NOLS Courses for you and your family

• All employees can benefit of free outdoor equipment rental" at our various locations

• Insurance Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits are available at a special NOLS rate to seasonal employees. Full-time employees are eligible for benefits package. 

• Wellness Time: Accrued leave that may be used for many HR-approved reasons throughout the season.

• Employee Assistance Program: Access to counselors that are available 24/7 to assist employees with work-life balance concerns.

Additional Information

Please note in order to ensure pay transparency and pay equity the range posted is non-negotiable. If you are unwilling to accept an offer within the posted range, please review our other opportunities to see if one better aligns with your salary expectations.

NOLS currently can support remote employees with legal working rights in the following locations: Canada; Chile; India; Mexico; New Zealand; the US, states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

• A criminal background check is required from all NOLS employees.

• NOLS participates in e-verify for U.S. employees, Certificado de Antecedentes for Chilean or Mexican employees, and other relevant employment verification systems based on location.

• Current NOLS employees please note it is NOLS policy to conduct an internal reference check with People Team and/or your current supervisor as part of the reference check process. If you have any questions or concerns about this process please contact peopleteam@nols.edu.

NOLS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetics information, disability unrelated to job or admission requirements, or status as a protected veteran. The school’s nondiscrimination policy applies to all phases of its employment process.

Reasonable accommodations may be requested for disability; limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; religion; and domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or harassment by emailing peopleteam@nols.edu with your request.