Assistant Director of Advancement Programs

Bennington College; Bennington (VT); On-site; USD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life

Long‑term disability insurance

Retirement

Tuition benefits, including Tuition Ex

On-site fitness center

Generous time off benefits

Job summary

Bennington College invites applications for an Assistant Director of Advancement Programs to join its Institutional Advancement team. The role oversees cross-functional initiatives advancing annual giving, alumni engagement, and special events, translating priorities into actionable plans, and managing timelines and communications.

Under the Director of Annual Giving, you will lead student and alumni philanthropy programs, manage communications and outreach, and coordinate volunteer leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related fields.
• Minimum of two years of progressive experience in advancement, development, alumni relations, constituent engagement, communications, event management, higher education, nonprofit organizations, or a related field.
• Valid/current drivers license.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines with accuracy.
• Strong organizational, time-management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in an environment with changing priorities and overlapping deadlines.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and customer-service skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with sound judgment and professionalism.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to engage effectively with a diverse range of constituents.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned projects and initiatives across Annual Giving, Alumni and Constituent Engagement, and Special Events.
• Lead programs for student philanthropy and engagement with alumni networks.
• Develop targeted solicitation and engagement strategies for annual giving audiences.
• Recruit, train, and oversee volunteers supporting Advancement programs.
• Track and analyze fundraising and engagement results and report progress.
• Build relationships with alumni, donors, families, students, volunteers, and vendors.
• Ensure confidential donor and alumnus information is handled appropriately.

Skills

Project coordination

Stakeholder communication

Event management

Alumni relations

Customer service

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Raiser's Edge

MyEmma

CRM software

Job description

Bennington College welcomes applications for an Assistant Director of Advancement Programs to join its Institutional Advancement team. Managing cross-functional projects and initiatives that advance annual giving, alumni and constituent engagement, and special events, the Assistant Director works collaboratively with program directors, translating divisional priorities into actionable plans, overseeing project timelines and communications, and managing implementation and assessment of assigned initiatives. This role exercises independent judgment in coordinating resources, resolving operational challenges, and recommending improvements that strengthen program effectiveness and constituent engagement.

In this role under the Director of Annual Giving, the Assistant Director spearheads initiatives to grow student and alumni philanthropy, build volunteer leadership, and strengthen constituent networks. Key responsibilities include leading programs for the Student Philanthropy Council and the Alumni Association, crafting targeted communications and outreach, and identifying strategic pathways to boost participation, philanthropic support, and long‑term connection with the College.

This position is based primarily on-site, with hybrid working considerations at the managers discretion to meet the operational demands of Institutional Advancement. Full‑time hours may adjust depending on advancement events and initiatives, including occasional evening or weekend commitments. Periodic overnight travel may also be required for donor, alumni, and college functions.

Bennington serves a diverse student population inclusive of members of ethnically/racially minoritized, international, LGBTQIA+, and disability communities, as well as diverse gender identities, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, and political beliefs. Our staff and faculty also reflect diverse and intersecting backgrounds and identities. All employees are expected to be respectful and responsive to these differences in the service of building a community that promotes student and employee success and community cohesiveness. Each individual (faculty, staff and students) will be accountable for upholding these values. The College’s approach to pluralism and inclusivity—both as fields of inquiry and practice—is to prioritize flexible thought, and to invite the examination of access, value, power, and privilege through its institutional policies and areas of study. We encourage applicants from diverse realms of interest, backgrounds, experience, and accomplishment to apply.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in related fields, including but not limited to liberal arts, communications, and business.
2. Minimum of two years of progressive experience in advancement, development, alumni relations, constituent engagement, communications, event management, higher education, nonprofit organizations, or a related field.
3. Valid/current drivers license.
4. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
5. Strong organizational, time-management, project-coordination, and problem-solving skills.
6. Ability to work effectively in an environment with changing priorities, overlapping deadlines, and occasional last‑minute needs.
7. Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and customer‑service skills.
8. Demonstrated initiative, sound judgment, professionalism, and ability to handle confidential information appropriately.
9. Ability to work independently on assigned responsibilities while collaborating effectively as part of a team.
10. Ability to represent the College with confidence, diplomacy, and professionalism and to engage effectively with a diverse range of constituents.
11. Proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
12. Familiarity with social media, digital communications, and online engagement tools.
13. Experience with constituent relationship management, fundraising, email marketing, event management, or project management systems preferred. Experience with Raiser's Edge, MyEmma, or similar platforms is desirable.
14. Commitment to providing exceptional service to alumni, donors, volunteers, students, parents and families, and campus partners.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion and acceptable results of a background check.

Compensation:

The annual salary for this position starts at $58,000.

Bennington College offers a comprehensive benefits program that includes medical, dental, vision, life, and long‑term disability insurance, retirement, and tuition benefits, including Tuition Exchange scholarships. The College also offers an on‑site fitness center as well as generous time off benefits.

• medical
• dental
• vision
• life
• long‑term disability insurance
• retirement
• tuition benefits, including Tuition Exchange scholarships
• on‑site fitness center
• generous time off benefits

General Responsibilities

• Manage assigned projects and initiatives across Annual Giving, Alumni and Constituent Engagement, and Special Events, translating program priorities into work plans, timelines, communications, and deliverables. Exercise independent judgment in managing implementation, resolving challenges, and recommending improvements.
• In partnership with the Director of Annual Giving, develop and implement student and recent alumni philanthropy initiatives to strengthen participation and build lasting connections to the College. Lead the Student Philanthropy Council, student class giving campaigns, and related communications, engagement events, peer‑to‑peer outreach, and stewardship activities.
• Develop and implement targeted solicitation and engagement strategies for assigned annual giving audiences, with an emphasis on students, recent alumni, and affinity groups. Use segmentation, giving history, and engagement data to acquire new donors, renew support, and encourage increased participation in the Bennington Fund.
• Manage assigned alumni volunteer and engagement initiatives in partnership with the Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement, including projects associated with the Alumni Association and its Executive Committee, regional chapters, and class‑based programs. Recruit, orient, and support volunteers; establish project goals and timelines; and maintain regular communication to advance their work.
• Develop and manage outreach and programming that expand alumni‑student mentoring, career connections, and networking opportunities. Collaborate with campus partners to recruit participants, promote engagement platforms, and create communications and events that sustain meaningful connections.
• Manage assigned components of alumni, donor, and institutional events, including regional and virtual programs, cultivation and stewardship events, Commencement, Convocation, The 24 Hour Plays, Reunion, Inauguration, and other signature College events. Develop and oversee project timelines, logistics, constituent communications, registration and attendee management, vendor coordination, and follow‑up in collaboration with the Special Events team.
• In partnership with Communications and advancement program directors, develop and execute communications plans for assigned fundraising, engagement, and event initiatives. Manage content development, audience segmentation, production schedules, and distribution across newsletters, social media, video, websites, and other relevant channels; assess response and recommend adjustments.
• Manage designated shared advancement email accounts and outreach processes, ensuring timely, accurate, and constituent‑centered communication. Establish workflows for responding to inquiries, coordinating follow‑up, and maintaining consistent messaging across programs.
• Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate student workers and ambassadors supporting Institutional Advancement programs. Establish assignments and expectations, provide ongoing guidance, and foster their development as representatives of the College.
• Track and analyze fundraising, engagement, communications, and event results for assigned initiatives. In collaboration with program directors and Advancement Services, establish appropriate measures of success, prepare progress reports, and recommend changes to strengthen participation, effectiveness, and use of resources.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with alumni, donors, parents and families, students, volunteers, campus partners, and vendors. Serve as a primary contact for assigned initiatives and coordinate across departments to advance shared objectives.
• Exercise discretion and sound judgment in handling confidential donor, alumni, student, and institutional information, and ensure that assigned communications and activities follow College policies and established advancement practices.
• Undertake additional responsibilities and special projects that advance divisional priorities.

The College

Bennington College is a small residential liberal arts college in southern Vermont, long distinguished for its progressive approach to higher education. The College was founded in 1932 on the principle of active engagement in learning, which is manifest in individualized plans of study developed by students together with faculty. We serve a diverse student population, and our faculty and staff also reflect diverse backgrounds and identities. Our aim is to educate students towards self‑fulfillment and constructive social purposes, and we believe that equity, diversity, and inclusivity—in community and in curriculum—are vital to achieving those aims.

Nestled at the foot of the Green Mountains in Vermont, the campus consists of approximately 370 acres. The College was named one of ten with the best architecture by Architectural Digest. From campus, it is a short drive to the cultural offerings of the northern Berkshires in Massachusetts, Albany, New York, and many of Vermont’s top recreational centers. New York City, Boston, and Burlington, Vermont are all within three and a half hours by car.