Senior Associate Director of Alumni Relations & Strategic Engagement

Wheaton College Massachusetts; Norton (MA); Sur place; USD 90 000 - 120 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Wheaton College Massachusetts seeks a Senior Associate Director of Alumni Engagement to lead flagship alumni experiences and volunteer programs that strengthen connections to the College and to one another. The role focuses on Reunion, Homecoming, and related engagement activities, with responsibility for program development, logistics, communications, and evaluation.

It requires strategic thinking, data-driven planning, and collaboration across Advancement and campus partners.

Qualifications

• Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in alumni relations, advancement, higher education, or related field.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience acceptable.
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple programs and events with stakeholders.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends for events.

Responsabilités

• Lead Wheaton College's major on-campus alumni experiences, including Reunion and Homecoming, and manage volunteer engagement structures.
• Develop programs that promote meaningful alumni involvement and align with institutional goals.
• Collaborate across Advancement and campus partners to integrate priorities into alumni programming.
• Use data and feedback to evaluate effectiveness and identify opportunities for ongoing involvement.
• Identify opportunities to deepen alumni engagement beyond events and build long-term relationships.

Connaissances

Relationship building

Program management

Communication

Project management

Strategic thinking

Data analysis

Collaboration

Event planning

Formation

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Description du poste

The Senior Associate Director of Alumni Engagement serves as a key member of the Alumni Relations & Strategic Engagement team and is responsible for developing and executing meaningful alumni experiences that strengthen alumni connections to Wheaton and to one another.

The Senior Associate Director provides leadership for Wheaton’s signature alumni programs and volunteer engagement efforts, with a focus on creating high-quality experiences, cultivating relationships, and developing pathways that move alumni toward deeper and more sustained involvement with the College. This role leads major on-campus alumni experiences, including Reunion and Homecoming, while building and strengthening volunteer structures that extend Wheaton’s reach and foster ongoing alumni involvement.

Working collaboratively across Advancement and with campus partners, the Senior Associate Director ensures that alumni programs and volunteer opportunities support the College’s broader engagement, relationship-building, and philanthropic goals.

Signature Alumni Engagement

• Lead the strategy, planning, development, and execution of Wheaton’s major on-campus alumni experiences, including Reunion, Homecoming, and other high-profile alumni programs and gatherings.
• Develop programs that create meaningful alumni experiences while supporting broader engagement and relationship-building goals.
• Manage all aspects of signature alumni programs, including program development, logistics, volunteer involvement, communications coordination, and evaluation.
• Partner with colleagues across Advancement and the College to integrate institutional priorities, giving opportunities, faculty and student participation, and other strategic engagement opportunities into alumni programming.
• Use participation, engagement, feedback, and other relevant data to evaluate program effectiveness and identify opportunities for continued alumni involvement.
• Identify opportunities to engage alumni beyond individual events and strengthen their ongoing connection to Wheaton.

Volunteer & Relationship Engagement

• Develop and strengthen alumni volunteer structures that extend Wheaton’s reach and create opportunities for sustained alumni involvement.
• Recruit, onboard, support, steward, and retain alumni volunteers, including reunion committees, class officers and ambassadors, event volunteers, alumni connectors, and other emerging volunteer roles.
• Build intentional pathways that encourage alumni to move from participation to repeat participation, volunteer leadership, and deeper engagement with the College.
• Cultivate relationships with alumni volunteers and engaged alumni, identifying interests and opportunities for continued involvement.
• Partner with Individual Giving, Major Gifts, and other Advancement colleagues to connect alumni engagement and volunteer activity with broader relationship-building and philanthropic opportunities.
• Develop resources, communications, and engagement opportunities that equip alumni volunteers to serve as effective ambassadors for Wheaton.
• Track volunteer participation and engagement to evaluate effectiveness and identify opportunities for increased involvement.

Expanding Engagement Pathways

• Identify opportunities to connect alumni around shared interests and experiences when they support broader engagement goals, including professional and industry interests, athletics, academics, clubs, and other affinities.
• Develop select opportunities to connect current students with alumni and the Alumni Association, helping students become familiar with the alumni community and understand the value of staying connected to Wheaton beyond graduation.
• Collaborate with the Life and Career Design Institute and other campus partners where natural opportunities exist to bring students and alumni together.
• Explore emerging engagement opportunities based on alumni interests, institutional priorities, participation trends, and feedback.
• Ensure affinity and student engagement initiatives are strategic and opportunity-driven and complement the broader alumni engagement program.

Other Duties

• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned in support of Alumni Relations & Strategic Engagement and the goals of the Advancement division.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience: Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in alumni relations, advancement, higher education, volunteer engagement, constituent engagement, event/program management, or a related field. Demonstrated experience leading complex programs, cultivating relationships with volunteers or constituents, and collaborating across departments or functional areas.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

Skills:

• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with alumni, volunteers, colleagues, campus partners, and other constituents.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute complex programs and events from strategy through implementation and evaluation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders.
• Ability to think strategically about alumni engagement and translate strategy into effective programs and engagement opportunities.
• Ability to use participation data, feedback, and engagement information to evaluate effectiveness and inform future strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments and build productive partnerships.
• Ability and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends and travel as required for alumni programs and events.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in alumni relations, advancement, development, or external relations within higher education.
• Experience managing major alumni, constituent, or institutional events such as Reunion or Homecoming.
• Familiarity with advancement databases or constituent relationship management systems.
• Experience working in a relationship-based advancement environment and partnering with fundraising colleagues.