Assistant/Associate Director for Yale College Classes

Overview

The Yale Alumni Association (YAA) is responsible for university-wide alumni relations programs and for organizing and supporting events, programs, initiatives, and other opportunities to strengthen alumni relationships with Yale. Reporting to the Senior Director for Yale College Classes, this position supports a portfolio of undergraduate alumni classes, their volunteer leadership, and their five-year reunions and other programming. Manages a portfolio of approximately 15-20 Yale College classes, including class activities and financial planning for class treasuries. Provides class volunteer management, including governance, volunteer recruitment and retention, communications, and leadership development and training. Provides project management and volunteer support for five-year reunions of the classes in the portfolio (e.g., 40th and 45th reunions), including comprehensive event management and coordination with staff responsible for reunion logistics, relationship management of reunion planning volunteers, and collaboration with reunion giving staff in the Office of Development for those classes. Develops and implements programs for Yale College class portfolio, in collaboration with relevant alumni volunteers, including content development, budgeting, logistics, promotions, oversight of registration process, and staffing events on and off campus. Plays an integral role on the planning team for Yale College Reunions (held on campus in late May and early June) and may have direct responsibility for specific reunion programming projects or aspects of onsite management of reunion events. May perform other duties, including staffing alumni association programs like the YAA Assembly/Alumni Fund Convocation, organizing class volunteer trainings/workshops, and collaborating with YAA colleagues on cross-functional training curricula.

Note that business title and salary will be commensurate with experience.

The information provided in the Essential Duties below is generic in nature; prospective applicants will find the information in this Position Focus to be most relevant.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Success in managing projects from conception to completion with exceptional attention to detail. Sound judgment regarding need for consultation vs. independent decision-making. Able to prioritize and meet competing responsibilities and manage timelines with multiple stakeholders.
2. Demonstrated ability in live and virtual event planning, program development, and logistics and ability to prioritize and meet multiple, competing responsibilities. Strong customer service orientation and problem-solving skills. Willingness to assume responsibility for all aspects of specific programs, including travel and irregular hours.
3. Superior interpersonal skills. Ability to build productive relationships with staff and volunteers to contribute to YAA’s mission. Commitment to an inclusive workplace.
4. Outstanding verbal and written communications skills. Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain strict confidentiality. Demonstrated facility with social media in a professional context, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
5. Demonstrated flexibility and agility in responding to changing demands and priorities in a fast-paced and changing environment. Ability to work creatively and to keep priorities aligned while maintaining professionalism and a sense of humor.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

Experience in higher education, nonprofits, alumni relations, or related field. Knowledge of the University and its academic programs.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Provides professional level nonprofit management for a portfolio of College class alumni organizations, which are 501(c)3 organizations, including nonprofit governance, long term financial planning, volunteer recruitment and engagement, and guidance regarding University and federal policies. Guides classes in developing financial strategies and class programs and events that support the class’ strategic goals and objectives. Advises class volunteers on matters of class management, including best practices in volunteer recruitment and retention, communications, and leadership development and training.
2. Works as planning consultant with College Class portfolio on five-year Reunion events in New Haven. Includes managing reunion chairs and planning committees, budgeting, program development, and marketing. Creates collaborative partnerships with on-campus departments and outside vendors who provide logistical support for reunion events. Trains and supervises student assistants. Collaborates with alumni colleagues in developing creative and innovative programming and participates in continual improvement efforts.
3. Provides expert advice on the organization of class programs and events in New Haven and around the country, both with and without the collaboration of alumni volunteers. Organizational efforts include strategic planning on the nature of the events, marketing and promotion, and logistical planning advice.
4. Provides expert advice on the publication of reunion classbooks, including the identification and cultivation of potential vendors and the design and printing process, as well as relevant University policies regarding privacy and access to alumni data.
5. Develops policies and models for class programs and activities in line with the University’s alumni relations objectives. Presents information to both University personnel and alumni volunteers. Attends professional conferences for benchmarking and market research.
6. Leads or collaborates on a variety of projects, such as class programs geared to particular age cohorts, all-alumni reunion programming including faculty speaker recruitment, database development, budgeting models and templates, and desktop publishing of promotional materials. Partners with other alumni functional groups and other university departments.
7. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor's Degree in a related field and four years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of experience and education.