Description

Strategic Planning and Implementation, Governance, and Advancement Integration

The Director of Alumni Relations and Strategic Engagement is responsible for creating and sustaining lifelong relationships between alumni and their alma mater through planning and implementing programs that strategically engage alumni in strengthening their connection to Wheaton College. The Director provides strategic leadership for alumni programs, events, and volunteers that complement and support the mission of the College and the Advancement Division’s goals and objectives. The Director is responsible for overall management and administration of programs including strategic, planning, fiscal management, staffing, and program development. The position strengthens relationships between alumni and the programs for which they have an affinity.

KEY RESPONSIBLITIES:
Set and drive the overall alumni engagement strategy aligned with institutional and advancement priorities including defining priorities across:

Fall Fest/Reunion
Regional engagement (5 top markets)
Alumni leadership pathways
 
Manage top-tier alumni volunteers and key institutional relationships
Act as the bridge to Annual Fund and Major Gifts:Align engagement activity with donor pipeline development
Partner on leadership annual giving and volunteer solicitation strategy
Serve as primary staff lead for the Alumni Board of Directors (in partnership with support staff for logistics)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provides leadership for the Alumni Relations and Strategic Engagement staff, establishing performance goals, measures of success, and standards of excellence to ensure optimal programming and engagement results as well as quality service to alumni and volunteers.
Serves as a strategic and thought partner to the Vice President for Advancement in matters pertaining to friend-raising, fundraising, engagement, stewardship, and events; leads key departments responsible for helping division achieve short- and long-term goals and objectives.
Oversees the Alumni Board of Directors
Serves as one of the key leadership liaisons between alumni leadership and major donors and the college
Oversees ongoing assessment of all alumni programs and seeks to be innovative, introducing new concepts and program features; leverages program metrics to develop engagement strategies to appeal to diverse audience segments and increase engagement overall.
Assists Advancement Marketing and Communications to develop and implement an alumni communications strategy, to include social media applications, the design and development of consistent branding to be reflected in marketing, promotional materials, and alumni web pages.
Collaborates with college leadership including the President, Vice President for Advancement, Vice President of Admissions, Vice President of Student Affairs, Provost, AVP of Life and Career Design and AVP of Individual Giving to spearhead outreach and networking opportunities for matriculating students and alumni.
Administers the advancement and college policies; oversees budgets of Alumni Relations and Strategic Engagement
Represents the college at alumni functions and the alumni at official college program both on and off campus
Travels to local, regional, and national engagements, often with the President, Alumni Board of Director’s President, selected other trustees and senior administrators

Requirements

A Bachelor’s Degree  and a minimum 5-7 years of demonstrated leadership/managerial experience and development of strategic plans and implementing programs, preferably in higher education within Advancement and/or alumni relations, or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

Experience:
Proven managerial track record in building an efficient and effective team, ability to train and mentor staff, as well as have a proven ability to motivate, engage, and work with varied audiences including but not limited to alumni, parents, students, faculty and staff.
Highly a motivated self-starter with strong leadership, volunteer management, project development, fundraising knowledge, strategic planning, and relationship/client management skills and experience
Prior experience developing innovative programming, managing alumni events, and managing and developing volunteer leaders.
Prior experience in developing strategies for implementing virtual programs, as well as have the ability to use technology to further alumni relations programming including a strong grasp of alumni/development information and program platforms and an understanding of processes related to those systems.
Strategic, well-organized and goal-oriented and possess an outgoing and positive personality, strong interpersonal skills, and a collaborative work-style.
Ability to work and communicate effectively with diverse groups internal and external to Wheaton College.
Excellent writing and oral and interpersonal skills
Must be able to travel and work evenings and weekends as required.