Posted: 07-Mar-25
Location: Fredonia, New York
Salary: $75,000-$90,000
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Internal Number: 186203
Reporting to the Vice President of University Advancement, the Director of Alumni Engagement plays an important role in maintaining and fostering strong relationships among alumni, volunteers, parents, families, and friends with the State University of New York at Fredonia. The Alumni Engagement Director ensures that all Fredonia alumni are engaged, involved, represented, and encouraged to be active with, informed about, and supportive of the University. This position is responsible for strategic planning, budget oversight; coordinating and executing events and other initiatives that enhance constituent engagement; managing volunteers, connecting with recent graduates, leading the work of the Alumni Association Board; overseeing communications tailored for alumni; and strengthening the philanthropic pipeline.
The Director is a member of the Advancement leadership team partnering with Major Gift Officers; the Associate Director of Annual Giving; the Director of Donor Relations, Stewardship, and Scholarships; the Director of Development, the Fredonia College Foundation Controller; and the Director of Marketing and Communications; as well as numerous professional and support staff within the division to foster a positive, collaborative, results-driven team culture in service to the University's mission and vision.
The Director of Alumni Engagement will actively create meaningful pathways for alumni engagement with each other and the University through signature activities which include homecoming, regional events, and appropriate fundraising initiatives.
Rewards & Benefits
- Competitive compensation plus comprehensive benefits plan including health, dental, and vision insurance and retirement plan options including a fixed pension plan or a 401(A) with generous employer contributions;
- Paid leave provisions including sick and holiday leave; impressive educational benefits including tuition-free study plus supplemental tuition aid;
- A rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of their personal life, including professional development programs and services, employee EAP and wellness programs, discounted membership to the on-campus fitness center, and access to the Campus and Community Child Care Center.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership
- Develop goals and objectives for the Alumni Engagement function that align with the Division of Advancement strategic plan and the overall strategic plan of the University.
- Manage the Alumni Engagement department budget; and the Alumni Association budget, which includes management of Alumni Association funds.
- Supervise the Alumni Administrative Assistant.
- Ensure alumni engagement activities/interactions are documented in Banner CRM.
- Build strategic partnerships with campus stakeholders, including deans, faculty, staff and advisory boards, admissions, career services.
- Support engagement goals by attending key campus events as required.
- Oversee the recruitment, training, scheduling and compensation of student ambassadors.
Event Management
- Plan, coordinate, and execute new, fresh, annual virtual and in-person events aimed at engaging alumni, volunteers, parents, families and friends, inclusive of homecoming, reunions, and other signature on-campus and regional events that provide meaningful engagement opportunities for alumni and help inspire philanthropic support.
- Create, plan, implement, and evaluate virtual and in-person regional alumni engagement activities that provide meaningful engagement opportunities for alumni and help to inspire philanthropic support to the University.
- Work closely with various departments and stakeholders to ensure seamless event logistics, including venue booking, catering, audiovisual support, and marketing materials.
- Evaluate the success of events through feedback mechanisms and analytics, and use insights to continuously improve future events.
Volunteer Management
- Provide strategic leadership to the Alumni Association (AA) Board that promotes volunteer engagement and fully leverages their time and talents to foster alumni connectedness and philanthropy to the University.
- Ensure AA follows by-laws and is aligned with CASE best practices.
- Recruit, train, and manage volunteers to support alumni engagement initiatives, ensuring they are well-equipped to represent the University and contribute effectively.
- Develop strategies to identify and cultivate volunteer leaders within the alumni community, fostering a sense of ownership and commitment to Fredonia's mission.
- Provide ongoing support, recognition, and appreciation to volunteers, fostering a positive and rewarding experience for their contributions.
- Collaborate with Office of Advancement colleagues in the management of fundraising volunteers and engagement volunteers.
Communications
- Develop and implement communication strategies to effectively engage alumni through various channels, including email newsletters, social media platforms, website updates, and print materials.
- Collaborate with the Office of Marketing and Communications to create compelling content that highlights alumni achievements, campus news, and opportunities for involvement.
- Utilize analytics and feedback to measure the impact of communications efforts, making data-driven adjustments to optimize engagement and reach.
Engaging Recent Alumni
- Develop targeted strategies to effectively engage young alumni (typically within 0-10 years post-graduation), recognizing their unique needs, interests, and communication preferences.
- Utilize social media platforms to reach recent alumni where they are most active, creating relevant content that resonates with their experiences and aspirations.
- 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.
- Leverage the enthusiasm and energy of recent alumni to inspire broader participation in alumni engagement initiatives and strengthen overall alumni involvement with the institution.
This is a full-time, UUP represented position (SL4, Appendix A title) beginning May 30, 2025 with a salary range of $75,000-$90,000, commensurate with experience.
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree required
- Minimum 5-7 years of experience in alumni/constituent engagement, event management, or related fields, with demonstrated experience in creating and managing events
- Ability to manage complex relationships, and proven collaboration and teamwork skills to leverage activities, initiatives, and programs for multiple purposes
- Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills; and ability to work with people across a wide range of levels of authority and influence inside and outside of the University, including vendors, community, senior leadership, and the office of the President
- Self-motivated; ability to work independently as well as collaboratively and constructively with a broad range of constituents including colleagues, boards, and other external entities
- Ability to balance and prioritize a multitude of deadline-driven details and delegate responsibilities appropriately
- Willingness and ability to travel and work outside or normal business hours as needed (i.e. some nights and weekends)
- Strong computer skills as well as an interest in and ability to learn new computer programs as needed
- Previous experience supervising staff and/or leading volunteers
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's Degree
- Experience in Higher Education
- Working knowledge of fundraising principles