Associate Director, Alumni and Volunteer Engagement
Skidmore College

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Associate Director of Volunteer and Alumni Engagement plays a pivotal role in maintaining and fostering strong relationships among alumni, volunteers, parents, families, and friends with Skidmore College.  This position is responsible for planning, coordinating and executing events, managing volunteers, connecting with recent graduates, and overseeing communications tailored for alumni. 

Primary Job Duties

1. Event Management 
   1. Plan, coordinate, and execute new, fresh, and annual events aimed at engaging alumni, volunteers, parents, families and friends. 
   2. Work closely with various departments and stakeholders to ensure seamless event logistics, including venue booking, catering, audiovisual support, and marketing materials.
   3. Evaluate the success of events through feedback mechanisms and analytics, and use insights to continuously improve future events.
2. Volunteer Management 
   1. Recruit, train, and manage volunteers to support alumni engagement initiatives, ensuring they are well-equipped to represent the College and contribute effectively.
   2. Develop strategies to identify and cultivate volunteer leaders within the alumni community, fostering a sense of ownership and commitment to Skidmore's mission.
   3. Provide ongoing support, recognition, and appreciation to volunteers, fostering a positive and rewarding experience for their contributions.
   4. Collaborate with Office of Advancement colleagues in the management of fundraising volunteers and engagement volunteers.
3. Engaging Recent Alumni
   1. Develop targeted strategies to effectively engage young alumni (typically within 0-10 years post-graduation), recognizing their unique needs, interests, and communication preferences.
   2. Utilize social media platforms to reach recent alumni where they are most active, creating relevant content that resonates with their experiences and aspirations.
   3. Foster a sense of community and belonging among recent alumni through targeted outreach efforts, personal connections, and opportunities for involvement in alumni programming and leadership roles.
   4. Leverage the enthusiasm and energy of recent alumni to inspire broader participation in alumni engagement initiatives and strengthen overall alumni involvement with the institution.
4. Communications
   1. Develop and implement communication strategies to effectively engage alumni through various channels, including email newsletters, social media platforms, website updates, and print materials.
   2. Collaborate with the Office of Communications and Marketing to create compelling content that highlights alumni achievements, campus news, and opportunities for involvement.
   3. Utilize analytics and feedback to measure the impact of communications efforts, making data-driven adjustments to optimize engagement and reach.

Qualifications and Competencies

Excellent management, communication, and organizational skills are extremely important in this position. Function well as part of a team, be motivated to manage job responsibilities, and exercise sound judgement with the ability to manage and respond to multiple tasks and complex situations. 

The ability to balance and prioritize a multitude of deadline-driven details and to delegate responsibilities appropriately. Creativity, flexibility and the ability to visualize and conceive events in a strategic manner that underscore Skidmore's mission and strategic priorities. Outstanding communication skills both written and verbal are a must. Collaboration with the Skidmore Fund team, College Events and Stewardship, and the Development team is crucial.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and collaborate with diverse stakeholders. 
• Possess a demonstrated ability to enact contingency planning and make real time decisions in fluid situations that arise during large scale campus-based events. 
• Analyze the needs and interests of alumni, parents, family, and other constituent groups and possess the creativity to devise appropriately responsive programming. 
• Outstanding ability to work well with and motivate alumni volunteers who are vital to the health of the alumni association and the College. 
• Must be able to communicate with a vast group of constituents both inside and outside of the College, Community, Senior Leadership, and the Office of the President. 

Education: Bachelor's degree required

Level: Minimum 5-7 years of experience in alumni engagement, event management, or related fields

Experience: Non-Profit, Advancement/Development, Alumni Relations, Event Planning, and Leadership TrainingStrong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and collaborate with diverse stakeholders. Strong commitment to DEI. Must demonstrate knowledge of volunteer management and engagement, fundraising, and stewardship. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, CRM systems and social media platforms.  Demonstrated creativity, initiative, and resourcefulness in developing innovative engagement strategies.  Commitment to the mission and values of Skidmore College, with a genuine passion for alumni relations and community building. This position will work on-campus and must be able to lift a minimum of 10lbs in support of events. Some travel required and nights and weekends are a requirement of this position. Salary range: $60,500-$70,000

Required documents needed to apply:

• On-line application
• Cover Letter
• Resume
• List of Three References

 

EEO STATEMENT

Skidmore College is committed to being an inclusive campus community and, as an Equal Opportunity Employer, does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, familial status, dating violence, or stalking, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Employment at Skidmore College is contingent upon an acceptable background check result.

CREATIVE THOUGHT MATTERS.

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