Executive Summary

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) seeks an experienced, strategic, and collaborative alumni relations professional to ​serve in the role of Assistant Vice President of Alumni Relations and Chief Executive Officer of the Caltech Alumni Association.

The Assistant Vice President will lead a team of alumni relations professionals and work in collaboration with the distinguished ​Caltech Alumni Association (CAA) 501(c)(3), which counts among its membership some of the world’s most noteworthy minds in ​science, technology, and business. The Institute’s alumni co-invented the transistor; invented synthetic human insulin, photocopying, ​credit card security codes, and designs for better telescopes, microscopes, and markets; helped develop the AIDS drug “cocktail;” ​and lead universities and federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation.

THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (CALTECH)

Founded as Throop University in 1891, the institution was renamed the California Institute of Technology in 1920. Caltech is a world-​renowned science and engineering Institute that marshals some of the world’s brightest minds and most innovative tools to address ​fundamental scientific questions and pressing societal challenges. Caltech’s extraordinary faculty and students are expanding our ​understanding of the universe and inventing the technologies of the future, with research interests from quantum science and ​engineering to bioinformatics and the nature of life itself, from human behavior and economics to energy and sustainability.

The unparalleled contributions of Caltech’s faculty and alumni have earned national and international recognition, including 47 ​Nobel Prizes. The Institute manages the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for NASA, sending probes to explore the planets of our solar ​system and quantify changes on our home planet; owns and operates large-scale research facilities such as the Seismological ​Laboratory and a global network of astronomical observatories, including the Palomar and W. M. Keck Observatories; and ​cofounded and co-manages LIGO, which, in 2016, observed gravitational waves for the first time.

The Institute has one of the nation’s lowest student-to-faculty ratios, with 340+ professorial faculty members offering a rigorous ​curriculum and access to varied learning opportunities and hands-on research to approximately 1,000 undergraduates and 1,400 ​graduate students.

CALTECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

An alumni association was formed in 1897, one year after the first BA degrees were awarded to graduates of Throop Polytechnic ​Institute. The history of this association carried forward to June 7, 1915, when thirteen graduates of what had become Throop ​College of Technology banded together to form an alumni association for the purpose of creating a perpetual bond of friendship ​between all alumni. The name of the college was changed to the California Institute of Technology in 1920.

In 1935 the Caltech Alumni Association was formally incorporated in the State of California, and its purposes were expanded to ​assist the Institute by supporting and advancing the cause of higher education. The Articles of Incorporation were amended in 1968 ​to expand the purposes of the Association and to increase the number of directors. In 2001, the corporation was converted from a ​"mutual benefit corporation" to a "public benefit corporation" under California law, and it was determined by the Internal Revenue ​Service to qualify as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

Mission & Vision

• To ensure the success and well-being of every member of the Caltech alumni community.
• To advance humanity through active alumni participation in the Caltech community and in the communities in which we live, ​work, and play.
• Everyone is a global citizen and champion of education, science, and technology.

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF ALUMNI RELATIONS & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

OF THE CALTECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Like all great institutions of higher education, the Caltech alumni relations program emphasizes lifelong, mutually beneficial ​relationships with its alumni. Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations, the Assistant Vice President ​promotes interaction with and among alumni through engaging and meaningful in-person and online programming, highlights the ​achievements of its alumni through award-winning programs and communications, and provides alumni with rewarding ​opportunities to engage with the Institute’s groundbreaking research through direct student and faculty engagement.

Success in this role will position Caltech’s alumni relations as a model program nationally grounded in the exemplary programming ​delivered by the alumni relations office. The continued growth and global impact of Caltech is dependent upon a strong and ​prideful alumni population actively engaged as advocates and supporters of the Institute.

The ideal candidate will be a highly experienced professional with a Bachelor’s degree and over seven years of leadership ​experience in alumni relations, external affairs, or nonprofit organizations. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in ​fostering productive relationships, developing volunteer leadership, and working effectively within an integrated advancement ​environment alongside fundraising and communications professionals. This role demands a visionary individual with strong ​interpersonal skills, a commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence, and the ability to manage multiple priorities efficiently. The ​candidate should demonstrate strong managerial acumen, a passion for STEM, and an understanding of Caltech's unique mission ​and goals. Exceptional communication skills, the flexibility to adapt to changing priorities, and the willingness to travel are ​essential. Preferred qualifications include an advanced degree, experience in higher education or research settings, familiarity with ​CRM systems, and a history of successful audience-engagement initiatives.

Application Instructions

Caltech has partnered with Higher Talent to assist in this recruitment. Please contact President Mindy Cohen to share your resume ​and cover letter via email at ms@highertalentinc.com

Caltech does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, ​national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, ​pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any ​other characteristic or condition protected by state and federal law. It is Caltech's policy to provide a work and academic ​environment free of discrimination as required by federal and state law and to provide equal opportunity in matters of employment ​and in education programs, services, and activities, including the administration of its admissions policies and other university-​administered activities, programs, or funds.