Director of Alumni Engagement
FLSA EMPLOYMENT CATEGORY: Salaried; Exempt; Administrative; 12 months
Department: Advancement
SUMMARY:
With a proud history and traditions that extend back to 1886, Alma College is a leading liberal arts college in the Midwest Region with an alumni base of 14,000, most of whom reside in Michigan. Alma alumni of every era whose lives have been enriched by their experiences on campus have a collective power to ensure that future generations of students can share that transforming bond. The Director has the opportunity to provide the strategic guidance alumni desire for a sustained and substantive lifelong partnership with the college. Alongside both the president of the college and vice president of advancement, the director of alumni engagement serves a visible leader of the alumni base. The position reports to Alma College’s vice president of advancement and is a key leader on the advancement team. The director supervises one direct report, the assistant director of alumni engagement, and partners with the director of career and personal development, a joint report position with the vice president for student affairs
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Planning (20%)
• In collaboration with advancement teammates, develop, pursue, and execute a
comprehensive, strategic, multi-year plan for alumni engagement including annual giving and identification of major gift prospects.
• Create a regional engagement strategy for alumni, parents, and other affinity groups who are instrumental in advancing the mission of Alma College including enrollment, philanthropy, career and internships, and communications.
• Revise and refine the CASE award-winning Alma Ambassador Program™ so that it further empowers current alumni leaders, identifies the next generation of alumni leadership, and creates meaningful engagement opportunities.
• Develop and manage an annual budget.
Event Execution, Network Development, and Volunteer Leadership (50%)
• Support lifelong connections amongst alumni and engage them in advancing Alma College toward its goals by planning and executing Alma College’s most important annual traditions, including:
o Homecoming, which is a 3-day “all hands on deck” event each Fall that involves
hundreds of alumni, a dozen programs, and includes three class reunions (10th, 25th,and 50th)
o Academic and Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremonies as appropriate and in
collaboration with Athletics Director and other key stakeholders.
• Serve as the College’s main contact person and leader in support of the Alumni
Association Board and Student Advancement Association.
o Continue empowering Alumni Association Board, their Executive Committee, and
other key alumni leaders to plan, host, and execute alumni engagement events where appropriate.
o Strategically recruit dynamic and dedicated stakeholders who enhance alumni
engagement across different communities, academic departments, and networks
(e.g. regional champions, student recruiters, internship sponsors, student mentors)
• Plan and execute a portfolio of alumni and friends in partnership with advancement team and other college wide external partners that will further cultivate relationships with dedicated alumni and prospective donors.
• Manage the Alma Ambassador network of volunteers and support the Alumni Association Board in its efforts to provide visible leadership for all alumni initiatives.
Written and Digital Communication (20%)
• Manage and execute an effective communication strategy that will ensure alumni are consistently well-informed about the College.
• Consistently partner with colleagues on social media, websites, print, and online
marketing campaigns.
• Respond in a timely manner to communications from internal and external constituents.
• Support Athletics teams coaches and advancement liaisons with their outreach efforts to keep former student-athletes and athletics families engaged via written and digital communication pieces such as newsletters.
• Support the Advancement Office’s Annual Fund team in initiatives that seek to build the tradition of alumni philanthropic participation (e.g., Alma Day, Traditions Dinner, Annual Giving messaging, etc.).
Other Duties as Assigned (10%)
• As needed, contribute to the overall success of the Advancement Office by stepping up in
key moments to provide assistance on special projects while still performing main
responsibilities of the role
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s degree
• Excellent organizational skills, including attention to details and ability to multi-task and meet deadlines
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills
• Ability to travel in and out of state
• Ability to work weekends and evenings
• Ability to handle confidential information
• Experience with technology
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Graduate degree
• Significant event-planning experience and/or experience in alumni relations in higher education.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Travel independently in and out of state via car, airplane, or train
• Sitting at a desk for up to eight hours
• Lifting up to 20 pounds
Interested candidates shall submit an Alma College application and a cover letter, current resume, and the names of three professional references via email to careers@alma.edu. For an Alma College application, please go to: https://www.alma.edu/live/files/3085-application-for-employment.
Alma College is a selective, baccalaureate liberal arts college committed to academic excellence and development of responsible leaders. Alma’s undergraduate and graduate students thrive on challenging academic programs in a supportive, small-college environment emphasizing active, collaborative learning and close student-faculty interaction. Alma is a private Phi Beta Kappa institution located in the center of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
Alma College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff and student body.
Alma College recognizes that we are all transformed when we celebrate and value the varied identities backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives in our campus community. We are committed to recognizing and removing barriers to success and providing equitable access to opportunities through education and advocacy. In our increasingly diverse campus and world, we pledge to create a climate where everyone is safe and free to grow intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally.