Director of Alumni Engagement

University of the Ozarks; Clarksville (AR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR seeks a Director of Alumni Engagement to lead fundraising efforts and serve as a liaison with alumni. The role reports to the Vice President for Advancement & Alumni Engagement and collaborates with the President, VP for Advancement, and other university officers.

The position involves strategy, donor cultivation, special events (Homecoming and regional gatherings), content creation for alumni communications, and managing a budget.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of development or external relations experience.
• Experience with capital campaigns.
• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to cultivate donors.
• Knowledge of cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies related to fundraising.

Responsibilities

• Develop annual goals aligned with Development Staff for fundraising and evaluation of goal attainment.
• Solicit gifts and commitments to support the University’s mission and strategic initiatives.
• Manage a portfolio of annual fund solicitations and upgrade donors to higher giving levels.
• Coordinate with the President and other officers to plan Association meetings and prepare agendas/materials.
• Maintain permanent records for the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
• Plan and execute Homecoming events in collaboration with Marketing and Student Life teams.
• Manage the Alumni Office and Alumni Board budget.
• Create alumni content for emails, newsletters, digital communications, website, and social media.
• Plan regional alumni events to connect alumni with the University.
• Plan events for the senior class in connection with graduation.
• Maintain alumni files and track Walton International Scholars Program alumni.
• Demonstrate professionalism, initiative, organization and time management; uphold University policies; adapt as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

CRM systems

Donor cultivation

Event planning

Relationship building

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

CRM Advance

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

The Director of Alumni Engagement at the University of the Ozarks is a fund-raising position as well as encompassing the role of being one of the liaisons of the University with the alumni. The Director of Alumni Engagement reports to the Vice President for Advancement & Alumni Engagement. The Director of Alumni Engagement strategically involves the President, VP for Advancement as well as other key University officers in connecting with alumni and philanthropic opportunities.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop annual goals that are in concert with the University’s Development Staff for fund raising and evaluation of annual goal attainment.
• Solicit gifts and formal gift commitments for which the purpose of the gifts supports the mission and strategic initiatives of the University and do not pose a risk to the well-being of the University.
• Manage a portfolio of annual fund personal solicitations with a goal of upgrading donors to higher levels of annual giving.
• In concert with President of the Alumni Association and administration of the University, develop an annual schedule of Association meetings, board meetings and committee meetings that will support the work of the association; assist with the development of agendas and other materials needed for these meetings in a timely and efficient manner; disseminate materials in an appropriate and efficient manner.
• Maintain current and permanent records for the Alumni Association Board of Directors that will reflect the work of the Association and the Board.
• Plan, organize, and prepare the Homecoming events for the Alumni Engagement Office, working directly with Marketing, Student Life and those who are involved with planning.
• Manage budget for the Alumni Office and Alumni Board of Directors.
• In coordination with Marketing, develop alumni content for email, newsletters, digital communications, website and social media that re timely and consistent with the University’s brand, mission and priorities.
• Plan, organize, and prepare regional events that will help bring alumni together and connect to the University.
• Plan, organize and implement events for the senior class in connection with graduation.
• Maintain electronic files related to alumni relations.Gather data on alumni and friends through various means and include it in alumni files.
• Work with Director of Career Services and Director of Walton Scholars Program to maintain the Walton International Scholars Program alumni tracker.
• Possess personal work habits that include judgment, initiative, organization and time management, communication, reliability, positive work relations with others, knowledge of University policies and procedures; adaptability and flexibility and attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Experience working with CRMAdvance, Raiser’s Edge, Microsoft Office Word Pro, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent organizational ability, high level of accuracy, attention to detail.
• Able to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Enjoy working with college students.
• Travel is required, as is evening and weekend work as necessary.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of three years of development, external relations or relevant experience required.
• High level of project management and organizational skills required.
• Experience working with capital campaigns.
• Experience building relationships based on trust and respect.
• Knowledge of cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies/ techniques related to fundraising.