Alumni Engagement Manager

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Alumni Engagement Manager plays a pivotal role in helping small business owners and nonprofit leaders reach their next stage of growth, coaching them to grow their revenue, expand their impact, and stay connected to the New Orleans entrepreneurial community. This role leads our Propeller Alumni experience by designing and delivering programming that supports ventures as they take their businesses to the next level.

The Alumni Engagement Manager will lead the execution of Propeller’s key initiatives to support the development of our Alumni, including the Catalyst Collective for Executive Directors and Alumni Homecoming Week. This role will also coach entrepreneurs through Propeller’s Impact Accelerator and Open Door to the Ecosystem programming. Beyond coaching, this person will be a champion for our entrepreneurs, serving as a key representative of our support programs both inside and outside the organization. They’ll cultivate meaningful relationships, build community among Alumni, and ensure our ventures remain supported long after a program’s ends.

The ideal candidate is a natural collaborator who enjoys working alongside teammates and partners to ease access to the New Orleans entrepreneurial ecosystem. Most importantly, this role is perfect for someone who loves inspiring others, building community, and helping business leaders achieve bold visions for growth and impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & OUTCOMES 

Entrepreneur Coaching & Curriculum

• Maintain a strong understanding of the needs and challenges facing entrepreneurs across different sectors and business stages to design tailored learning and coaching solutions.
• Conduct intake assessments and develop comprehensive profiles capturing each entrepreneur’s background, skills, stage of development, market opportunities, and growth goals.
• Create individualized strategy plans that connect entrepreneurs to targeted support organizations, mentors, and resources to drive measurable progress in capital access, revenue growth, job creation, and impact within Propeller’s focus areas.
• Facilitate effective mentor and consultant pairings, and provide consistent follow-up to track project milestones and ensure entrepreneur satisfaction.
• Manage technical assistance budget and oversee contracts with subject matter experts, ensuring quality and accountability with minimal supervision.
• Lead recruitment of entrepreneurs in alignment with annual portfolio goals and focus area priorities.
• Design and administer high-value consultant and executive mentor networks that provide meaningful support to entrepreneurs.
• Provide administrative and communication support to ensure a seamless and high-quality experience for all entrepreneurs served.

Nonprofit Program Development & Support

• Design and deliver workshops and resources for Alumni nonprofit organizations participating in Propeller’s Catalyst Collective for Executive Directors program focused on:
• Annual giving campaigns and donor retention strategies.
• Financial goal setting and sustainability planning
• Fundraiser calendar development and campaign pacing.
• Donor prospecting, cultivation, and stewardship best practices.
• Board engagement in fundraising and community networking.
• Volunteer engagement strategies to strengthen organizational reach.
• Coordinate and provide one-on-one or small-group technical assistance  to nonprofits on these topics.
• Manage technical assistance budget and oversee contracts with subject matter experts, ensuring quality and accountability with minimal supervision.
• Develop toolkits, templates, and guides that help participants apply program content and track progress over time.

Alumni Relations

• Lead conceptualization and execution of Alumni Homecoming Week of events and other major Alumni events, ensuring smooth execution of planning and logistics with strong attention to detail and delivery of high-level customer service to stakeholders, including Alumni, vendors, sponsors, etc.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to ensure Alumni receive timely, accurate, and engaging updates about opportunities, events, and Propeller initiatives.
• Design and execute high impact Alumni events, workshops, and convenings keep Alumni engaged with Propeller.
• Manage the Alumni engagement budget and oversee contractors to ensure projects are completed efficiently and within scope
• Collaborate with Impact team to meet or exceed annual Alumni data collection goals
• Consistently share Alumni success stories that highlight measurable growth in capital raised, revenue generated, jobs created, and overall community impact.

Organization Liaison

• Represent Propeller at meetings, community events, and speaking engagements to promote our programs, share impact stories, and strengthen relationships across the ecosystem.
• Develop and cultivate partnerships with like-minded organizations while taking the lead for health-focused organizations to support recruitment goals and foster interconnectivity among Propeller and values-aligned organizations
• Build and maintain a network of subject matter experts and mentors with expertise in key business and nonprofit development topics along with topics specific to Propeller’s focus areas.

Travel with some evening and weekend work required. 

CRITICAL COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrates emotional intelligence, maturity, humility, and an unwavering commitment to Propeller’s mission
• Written and verbal familiarity in the history of structural racism in the US and its current manifestations in New Orleans and nationally, particularly in the area of business development. Fluency in this area is highly desired
• Excellent communicator with strong writing, facilitation, and interpersonal skills
• Strong project management skills to ensure smooth execution of programming events and effectively manage project consultants and contractors
• Strong interest and passion in supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses in New Orleans
• Proficiency in being able to quickly assess small business and entrepreneurs needs and opportunities, and develop and communicate effective guidance
• Proficiency in analyzing small business financial statements, budgets, and projections 
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and credibility in relationships by demonstrating consistency between words and actions
• Excellent communication and customer service skills, both verbally and written
• Excels in collaboration, working with partner organizations to identify shared goals and execute collective impact initiatives
• Self-motivated, innovative, and able to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's related to business or equivalent knowledge +4-6 years or Master of Business Administration or equivalent knowledge + 2-4  years’ experience
• 1–2 years of supervisory experience, including oversight of contractors, consultants, or volunteers
• Experience in business coaching, training, or other adult education
• Experience navigating professional networks in Propeller’s focus areas, particularly in the area of health, and ability to build and maintain professional relationships
• Familiarity with event planning, program management, or community engagement within a small business development setting
• Experience working in an organization with a values-driven culture that prioritizes racial equity, diversity, and inclusion

Manager: Director of Entrepreneurship, Erik Paskewich

Compensation: $73,355.00 - $85,005.50. Propeller offers a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance; short- and long-term disability coverage; retirement plan; paid time off; and professional development opportunities.

Location: New Orleans, LA, with the option for hybrid remote work. Candidates should be based in or willing to relocate to the Greater New Orleans area.

Start Date: March 2026

TO APPLY
Application Deadline: January 9, 2026

Application Directions: Apply here presenting your resume, cover letter, and responses to the questions below. In your cover letter, please explain how you heard about Propeller and your interest and qualifications in the position. You can address a cover letter to Erik Paskewich who is the hiring manager for this position.

• What will be your greatest strength in this role? In what way will you need to grow the most to be successful in this role? (2-4 sentences)
• What gives you energy in your current work? What drains your energy in your current work? (2-4 sentences)
• Please share a successful project or initiative you led that illustrates your passion for, and effectiveness in, connecting business owners of color with the resources or networks that supported their business launch or growth. (3-5 sentences) 
• The salary range for this position is $73,355.00 - $85,005.50 based on preferred experience and competencies. Does this range satisfy your salary requirement? (1-2 sentences)