Associate Director, Alumni Volunteer Experience

The University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 76,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established institution seeks a passionate Associate Director to enhance alumni engagement and participation. This role involves developing strategic plans, managing a diverse portfolio of alumni communities, and collaborating with various partners to drive fundraising initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in nonprofit management and alumni relations, with a commitment to fostering lifelong relationships. Join a dynamic team dedicated to creating impactful experiences for alumni and supporting the University’s mission. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a vibrant community and make a difference.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Retirement Plans

Paid Time Off

Professional Development Opportunities

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in alumni engagement or related fields.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage alumni communities and develop engagement strategies.
• Plan and coordinate events to strengthen alumni ties.

Skills

Alumni Engagement

Nonprofit Management

Public Relations

Volunteer Management

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Advanced Degree

Tools

Salesforce CRM

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Department

ARD Alumni Experience

About the Department

Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. ARD raises $600 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.

Within the Office of Alumni Relations and Development, the Alumni and Volunteer Experience team oversees a diverse set of programs and initiatives designed to increase participation and engagement among alumni, parents, and friends of the University, with a focus on driving key University priorities. Under the direction of the Executive Director, Alumni and Volunteer Experience, this team is responsible for achieving ambitious participation, engagement, and fundraising goals within the College and broader University.

Job Summary

This role uses best practices and knowledge within Alumni Relations and leads a program designed to engage the alumni community worldwide, increase participation, and advance the objectives of the Alumni Association and the broader University. Researches, executes, and implements best practices in alumni relationship management. Works with the Alumni Board of Governors to create and implement guidelines to govern shared interest groups.

The Associate Director, Alumni Volunteer Experience, is an integral part of a team focused on the University’s regional alumni engagement strategy. The position is responsible for programs and fundraisers designed to engage the alumni community worldwide, increase participation, and advance the objectives of UChicago Alumni, divisional alumni initiatives, and the broader University.

Responsibilities

• Serves as primary University liaison to a diverse portfolio of alumni communities.
• Develops and implements strategic plans for a portfolio of regional alumni communities, with specific and measurable engagement goals, aligned with the University's alumni engagement and fundraising priorities and tailored to the unique needs of individual markets.
• Travels to assigned regions to build and strengthen engagement and participation.
• Manages all aspects of engagement for assigned alumni communities, including programming, communications/marketing, and budget.
• Partners with departmental leadership to implement strategies to recruit, retain, train, support, and steward volunteer leadership across regions, with an emphasis on deepening volunteer and alumni engagement.
• Manages a portfolio of engaged alumni, stewarding their volunteer experience and engagement with a focus on identifying opportunities to deepen engagement.
• Collaborates with partners across the division and the University to align and maximize the impact of programs and services for alumni, students, parents, and friends. Identifies opportunities to strategically engage assigned alumni communities in support of signature UChicago Alumni engagement and fundraising initiatives.
• Builds a culture of philanthropy across assigned alumni communities, supporting divisional qualification, cultivation, and solicitation strategies and ensuring that volunteer boards meet philanthropic goals.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions and with an eye towards broadly diversifying the advancement profession.
• Is part of the strategy of the Alumni Association in order to provide peerless service to alumni worldwide and develop lifelong relationships in a manner consistent with sound business practices and overarching University and development goals.
• Assists in leading and coordinating the planning, organization, and management of events, programs, and services designed to cultivate and maintain ties between the University of Chicago and key constituent groups. May assist in or individually create a marketing plan to maximize participation and engagement of alumni, parents, and friends.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree.

Experience:

• Minimum five years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni engagement, marketing, public relations, sales, or similar field.
• Managing volunteers, alumni or similar constituent group.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to the Office of Alumni Relations and Development, including the University's donor relationship management system.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Basic Salesforce CRM.

Preferred Competencies

• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
• Self-motivated and take initiative.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
• Strong commitment to customer service.

Working Conditions

• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
• Standard office environment.
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Alumni Relations & Development

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$76,500.00 - $90,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook .

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu .Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.