Ask HN: Emailing a potential company contact

I have found a contact at a very senior managerial level at a big consulting firm. We graduated under the same professor, albeit with a 5 year difference.

There is an opening at his company, and I want to write him an email asking how to get an interview for this position. Or maybe a general advice on how to be a successful applicant. What should be the content? How should i frame the email?

Thank you for your help. I am not a native North American, so i am unfamiliar with corporate culture here, hence I want the email to be within acceptable norms.