Assistant Director of Alumni & Community Engagement

National Association of Independent Schools; Bellevue (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart seeks an Assistant Director of Alumni and Community Engagement. This full-time role focuses on strengthening alumni networks and fostering meaningful community experiences. A candidate with 3-5+ years of relevant experience in educational settings is ideal for this impactful position.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Flexible spending account (FSA)

Retirement savings plan with employer match

Paid time off for personal and sick leave

50% tuition remission

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of experience in alumni relations or community engagement.
• Experience in educational or mission-driven settings preferred.
• Experience with independent schools or nonprofits highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a comprehensive alumni engagement plan.
• Manage alumni communications and oversee alumni data entry.
• Plan and execute community-building events.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Emotional intelligence

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Social media management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Canva

Constant Contact

Google Workspace

Job description

WHO WE ARE

At Forest Ridge, our intentional approach to excellence in education inspires students to explore intellectually, spiritually and personally as they embrace challenge, feed their curiosity, build their confidence and prepare for a lifelong pursuit of much more than just success, but a life of meaning.

Our dynamic and challenging academic environment is filled with immersive, experiential learning opportunities, designed to help students discover their own sense of purpose. Our students learn to regard the world both intellectually and spiritually, blending faith with logic, combining thoughtful reflection with energetic debate, and focusing on both individual wellbeing and the good of the global community.

Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, an independent school for girls in grades 5-12, welcomes students, adults and families into an inclusive global learning environment which respects and strives for diversity, openness, understanding and acceptance of all human beings.

As a member of a global network of more than 150 schools, our educational mission is deeply rooted in the 200-year tradition of the Society of the Sacred Heart and shared with the Network of Sacred Heart Schools located in 30 countries; including 25 schools in the United States and Canada. The essence of this tradition is the total development of each child: spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional and physical.

THE ROLE

Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart seeks a strategic, relationship-driven, and highly collaborative Assistant Director of Alumni and Community Engagement to strengthen and expand the school’s alumni network and lead inclusive, mission-aligned community experiences that deepen connection and inspire philanthropy.

As a vital member of the Advancement team, the Assistant Director plays a central role in cultivating a lifelong culture of belonging—connecting students and alumni across generations and designing experiences that bring together current families, alumni, past parents, and friends of Forest Ridge. This individual will develop and implement engagement strategies, drive compelling alumni communications across digital platforms, manage volunteer outreach, and help plan signature community events that foster pride, celebration, and shared purpose.

We’re looking for someone who combines thoughtful planning with dynamic execution—someone who thrives on meaningful relationships, understands the power of storytelling, and can translate connection into action. This is an exciting opportunity for a mission-aligned professional to make a lasting impact at a school rooted in Sacred Heart values and committed to forming leaders of conscience.

Key Responsibilities

Alumni Relations:

• Design and implement a comprehensive alumni engagement plan focused on increasing alumni involvement, building brand affinity, and enhancing philanthropic participation.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for Forest Ridge alumni, supporting their continued connection through regular communication, events, and volunteer opportunities.
• Manage all alumni-facing communications, including class notes, email campaigns, and newsletters, ensuring a consistent voice and mission-aligned tone.
• Lead the school’s alumni presence on Instagram and LinkedIn—developing platform-specific content, growing engagement, and highlighting stories that reinforce community and impact.
• Oversee alumni data entry and reporting to ensure accurate records for outreach and engagement.
• Cultivate and support alumni volunteer leaders, including class reps and the Alumni Board, providing them with the tools and resources to build strong class communities.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to create opportunities for alumni to engage with current students through mentoring, classroom visits, panels, and career events.
• Serve as a key partner in Reunion planning and other alumni events, ensuring meaningful experiences for all generations of graduates.

Community Engagement:

• Partner with the Advancement team and other departments to design and execute community-building events that foster meaningful connections among students, parents, alumni, grandparents, and friends of the school.
• Ensure that all events—from large-scale summits to smaller social gatherings—reflect Forest Ridge’s values and create opportunities for engagement, gratitude, and celebration.
• Manage event logistics including planning timelines, communications, vendor coordination, volunteer support, and day-of execution.
• Collaborate closely with the Marketing & Communications team to promote events and capture visual and written stories that extend community experiences beyond the day itself.
• Support post-event stewardship efforts, including personalized follow-up, donor acknowledgment, and digital content recaps that drive future engagement.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 3–5+ years of experience in alumni relations, advancement, event planning, or community engagement, preferably in an educational or mission-driven setting.
• Experience working with independent schools or nonprofits is highly desirable.

Key Skills and Attributes

• Deep appreciation for the role of community in education and a belief in the lifelong value of a Sacred Heart experience.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence; able to build rapport and trust with a diverse range of constituents.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to different audiences and channels.
• Experience managing social media platforms with a strategic, content-driven approach—especially Instagram and LinkedIn.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities with grace and follow-through.
• Proficient in advancement and communication tools such as Raiser’s Edge, Canva, Constant Contact, and Google Workspace.
• Collaborative, flexible team player who is energized by both planning and in-the-moment event work.

Additional Information:

• Occasional evening and weekend work is required for alumni and school events.
• This position is full-time and based on-site at Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart.

SALARY/BENEFITS

Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding employees through a competitive compensation and benefits package to benefits-eligible employees. Benefits include: medical/dental/vision insurance (based on FTE); flexible spending account (FSA); employee assistance program (EAP); retirement savings plan with employer match after 1 year of employment; paid time off for sick, personal, bereavement, jury/witness duty; vacation time off for staff; family leave; life and disability insurance; professional development opportunities; 50% tuition remission.

The salary range for this position is $65,000–$80,000 , based on education and experience.

TO APPLY

Qualified applicants should email the following documents to [e-mail] :

• Cover letter
• Updated CV/Resume

Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart does not discriminate in its employment decisions or practices on the basis of gender, age, race, color, marital status, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation or any disability that can be reasonably accommodated in the administration of its educational policies and school-administered programs.