Associate Director, Alumni Relations

Hamilton College - New York; Town of Kirkland (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Hamilton College - New York is seeking an Associate Director of Alumni Relations to lead volunteer engagement, reunion planning, and programming with faculty and campus partners. You will build durable relationships, guide committees, and advance strategic priorities while representing the College with professionalism and warmth.

This on-site role in New York requires strong leadership, exceptional communication, and a commitment to service.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Five+ years in alumni relations or related field.
• Experience building relationships with volunteers or partners.
• Higher education, nonprofits, or communications experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead liaison to Alumni Council committees, supporting chairs and volunteers.
• Guide reunion planning and coordinate with volunteers, campus partners, and timelines.
• Develop alumni programming with faculty and Advancement colleagues.
• Manage alumni lists and promote programs across class years and regions.
• Provide constituent service and represent the College with professionalism.

Skills

Relationship-building

Volunteer management

Organizational skills

Communication

Meeting facilitation

Project coordination

Problem-solving

Constituent service

Adaptability

Discretion

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Google Workspace

Job description

Job Description:Position SummaryThe Associate Director, Alumni Relations plays a key leadership role in Alumni Relations, building relationships, developing programming, facilitating volunteer leadership, and driving strategic initiatives across volunteer engagement, reunion planning, and alumni programming. In addition, this position acts as a trusted resource to the Director, using sound judgment to advance departmental priorities and continuity. Ideal candidates are strong relationship-builders who are comfortable both taking initiative independently and collaborating on broader team goals.ResponsibilitiesVolunteer & Committee LeadershipServe as primary staff liaison to assigned Alumni Council committees (Community Engagement Committee, Hamilton Career Network), supporting chairs and volunteers in meeting annual goalsGuide reunion committees through the full planning cycle, balancing volunteer creativity with Reunion traditions, institutional priorities, and timelinesCapture volunteer vision and partner with colleagues on execution; coordinate meeting follow-up (notes, action items, deadlines) to keep volunteers engaged and on scheduleIdentify, cultivate, and lead talent for volunteer roles and eventsProgramming & EngagementSupport development of alumni programming and engagement initiatives with volunteers, faculty, campus partners, and Advancement colleaguesAssist with shaping programming that reflects volunteer interests, institutional priorities, and philanthropic opportunitiesManage alumni listservs to promote programs and drive participation across class years, affinities, and regionsConstituent Service & AmbassadorshipServe as a trusted, responsive resource for alumni and volunteers, answering questions, resolving concerns, connecting them to the right campus partnersRepresent the College with professionalism, warmth, and sound judgment as an Alumni Office ambassadorTeam & Departmental SupportSupport the Director in advancing departmental goals through leadership of assigned initiatives and projectsTrain and provide day-to-day direction to Alumni Relations intern(s) including but not limited to, assigning work, performance feedback, supporting development (in coordination with the Alumni Office intern manager)Perform other duties as assignedEducation & ExperienceRequiredBachelor's degreeFive-plus years in alumni relations, volunteer management, higher education, nonprofits, communications, events, or a related fieldDemonstrated experience building successful relationships with volunteers, constituents, or community partnersPreferredExperience facilitating committees, volunteer groups, or collaborative projectsExperience mentoring or directing student employees or internsBackground in higher education, advancement, or nonprofit organizationsKnowledge, Skills, & AbilitiesExceptional interpersonal, relationship-building, and volunteer management skillsStrong organizational skills, balancing multiple priorities, deadlines, and volunteer-driven initiativesExcellent written, verbal, presentation, and meeting-facilitation skillsAbility to build consensus and foster productive relationships among diverse stakeholdersStrong initiative, flexibility, sound judgment, and a solutions-oriented approach to problem-solvingCommitment to exceptional constituent service — professionalism, empathy, patience, discretionProficiency with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive, shared drives)Ability to learn alumni engagement and enterprise systemsAbility to travel occasionally, staff events, and work evenings/weekends as neededCompensation Range:$65,000 - $70,000 per yearEEO Policy:Hamilton College is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an accessible, supportive environment and an educational experience that recognizes a wide array of experiences, backgrounds and viewpoints as integral components of academic excellence. Candidates who can contribute to those goals are encouraged to apply and identify their strengths in these areas.Benefits:For Benefits Information, please navigate to the following link:Employment - Work at Hamilton - Hamilton College