Director of Alumni Engagement

CP01 Chatham University; United States; On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Chatham University seeks a Director of Alumni Engagement to design and deliver engagement experiences that strengthen alumni and donor relationships and inspire philanthropic support.

This hands-on leadership role combines strategy and execution, leading programs, events, communications, and volunteer initiatives to weave alumni into the fabric of the university across three campuses.

Qualifications

• At least five years in an alumni relations office.
• Experience managing diverse groups of volunteers, boards, and alumni networks.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Familiarity with advancement CRMs, preferably Virtuous.
• Willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends.
• Bachelor's degree required; Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop programs aligned with the university's strategic plan and budget.
• Coordinate fundraising activities to identify and cultivate major gift prospects.
• Ensure events are mission-driven and aligned with engagement goals.
• Establish relationships with alumni regionally and nationally; maintain regular alumni communications.
• Develop alumni programs across geographic and affinity groups via events and gatherings.
• Plan and coordinate alumni volunteer efforts with other university departments.

Skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Interpersonal communication

Volunteer management

Evenings/weekends availability

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Virtuous CRM

Job description

Director of Alumni Engagement

Chatham University welcomes your interest in employment opportunities and encourages you to review open positions. Please note that Chatham does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Advancement, this role is responsible for designing and delivering meaningful engagement experiences that strengthen relationships with alumni and donors and inspire philanthropic support. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys both strategy and execution, developing engagement programs while actively managing events, communications, and volunteer initiatives. The Director will play a key role in building a vibrant, connected alumni community and enhancing the donor experience across the institution.

The Director of Alumni Engagement oversees and directs all aspects of alumni programming that seek to engage alumni with the University and to develop relationships that encourage alumni to advance the university's mission by volunteering, mentoring, attending events, and making financial contributions. The Director will play a vital role in developing distinct alumni engagement programs relevant for Chatham's diverse alumni population: alumnae from its time as an undergraduate women's college, graduates of its professional and graduate degree programs, and now alumni as an all-gender institution served on three campuses. Specifically, the Director of Alumni Engagement directs, manages, and administers all matters that enhance the university's ability to weave alumni into the fabric of the University, from managing reunion programs and event planning to growing and overseeing volunteer engagement opportunities to encouraging alumni to become mentors to students and to financially support the university. The Director of Alumni Engagement will build effective relationships with departments including enrollment management, student affairs and career development, and marketing and communications to effectively engage alumni.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop programs consistent with the University's strategic plan and ensure that programs effectively address objectives and priorities, operate within budget limitations, and comply with appropriate policies.
• Coordinate activities with fundraising staff in order to identify and cultivate major gift prospects and to build programming opportunities that encourage philanthropic support.
• Ensure that events are well executed, mission-driven, and aligned with engagement and fundraising goals.
• Establish and build relationships with alumni locally, regionally, and nationally; maintain regular communication with alumni via direct contact and the coordination of alumni communication programs such as e-mail, the website, and print communications.
• Develop and enhance geographic, academic, and affinity group alumni programs through the planning and implementation of events and other alumni gatherings and engagement.
• Conceptualize, plan, and coordinate alumni volunteer efforts in conjunction with other university departments.

Qualifications

• At least five years’ experience working in an effective, comprehensive alumni relations office.
• Experience managing diverse groups of volunteers, boards, and alumni networks.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Familiarity with advancement CRM’s, preferably Virtuous.
• Willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends.
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.

Salary Range: $55,000 - 60,000. 40-hour work week. Exact compensation based on candidate skills and experience.

Chatham University strives to promote a campus environment that understands and embraces multiculturalism while increasing individuals' intercultural competence. We actively work to build and sustain a diverse and culturally vibrant campus, which promotes employee and student success and retention.

Chatham University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Chatham University does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, age, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital or family status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Our Work Experience is the combination of everything that's unique about our culture, our core values, our company meetings, our commitment to success, our recognition programs, but most importantly, it's our people. Our employees are self-disciplined, hardworking, curious, trustworthy, humble and truthful. They make choices according to what is best for the team, they live for opportunities to collaborate and make a difference, and they make us the #1 Top Workplace in our area.