Associate/Assistant Director of Engagement

Job Details

The Assistant/Associate Director of Engagement supports efforts to engage alumni, parents, former faculty/staff, volunteers, and other members of the Interlochen community in meaningful ways that reinforce a culture of connection, advocacy, and philanthropy. This role supports and advances strategic engagement initiatives that strengthen relationships with the institution, enhance the Interlochen brand, and create meaningful opportunities for lifelong involvement with the Interlochen community.

This position collaborates closely with colleagues across campus to support engagement programming, alumni and parent outreach, volunteer initiatives, regional events, communications, and community-building efforts. Depending on experience and qualifications, the position may be filled at either the Assistant Director or Associate Director level. While both levels support the institution’s engagement strategy, the Associate Director role carries greater responsibility for strategic planning, program leadership, regional outreach, volunteer cultivation, and independent project management.

Assistant Director Level

• Delivers exceptional customer service and day-to-day support as a point of contact in the department via in-person meetings, phone, email, and social media.
• Builds and strengthens relationships with alumni, parents, former faculty/staff, volunteers, and other members of the Interlochen community.
• Assists with regional outreach efforts and supports engagement activities in assigned cities and markets.
• Supports the coordination and communication of alumni and parent volunteer initiatives and ambassador programs.
• Assists with the planning, execution, and evaluation of engagement programs and events, including Academy Reunion Weekend, Summer Alumni Series, regional gatherings, centennial events, and on-campus programming.
• Coordinates event logistics, including invitation lists, vendor communications, registration, attendee tracking, and event follow-up.
• Supports content development and communication efforts for alumni-focused social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Assists with maintaining and tracking constituent information in Salesforce CRM, HubSpot CRM, Asana, Google Workspace, and other departmental systems.
• Prepares reports, dashboards, and tracking materials to support the evaluation of engagement efforts.
• Collaborates with colleagues across Admission, Education, Hospitality, IT, Marketing, Philanthropy, Presents, and other departments to support engagement initiatives and enhance the customer experience.
• Supports community engagement strategies that strengthen Interlochen’s visibility and reputation throughout northwest Michigan.

Associate Director Level

• Serves as a lead relationship manager for alumni, parents, former faculty/staff, volunteers, and other key members of the Interlochen community.
• Develops and oversees strategic engagement initiatives designed to strengthen relationships, deepen institutional connections, and increase community advocacy and participation.
• Conducts regional outreach in assigned cities and independently cultivates regional ambassadors, volunteers, and institutional advocates.
• Leads the development, implementation, and ongoing oversight of alumni and parent volunteer engagement programs and ambassador initiatives.
• Oversees strategic engagement and volunteer programs that may include alumni referral initiatives, Academy Class Ambassadors, Camp Ambassadors, Parent Enrollment Ambassadors, alumni professional development programming, and student engagement efforts.
• Leads the planning, execution, and evaluation of major engagement events and regional programming, including management of timelines, budgets, vendors, communications, staffing, and post-event assessment.
• Serves as a technical lead for departmental data and communications platforms, including CRM systems, event management tools, communications platforms, and engagement tracking systems.
• Analyzes engagement data, trends, participation metrics, and constituent activity to inform departmental strategy and decision-making.
• Represents the Engagement department in cross-functional collaborations with colleagues across campus and external stakeholders.
• Provides oversight and mentorship for interns, student workers, and volunteers supporting engagement initiatives.

Both Levels

• Seeks the best use of materials, equipment, and staff to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
• Complies with Interlochen policies/procedures and acts as a good steward of Interlochen finances.
• Respects the culture, diversity, and rights of all students, their families, and the community.
• Prioritizes duties in line with organizational objectives and growth.
• Supports additional Office of Engagement and institutional initiatives as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 2-4 years of related work experience for the Assistant Director level or 5+ years of related work experience for the Associate Director level.
• Familiarity with Mac operating system, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining a high level of customer service.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to exercise discretion and professionalism with sensitive information.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships across a diverse community of internal and external stakeholders.
• Commitment to the Interlochen mission, values, and culture.
• Respect for cultural, ethnic, spiritual, and linguistic diversity and values, including differences in personal goals, lifestyle choices, and varying family backgrounds and histories.
• Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends, particularly during the summer months, and availability for occasional overnight travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Additional education or training in communications, event management, volunteer management, relationship management, or nonprofit leadership.
• Experience working with alumni, donors, volunteers, or constituents within an academic, nonprofit, or arts environment.
• Experience working with Salesforce CRM, HubSpot CRM, Asana, or similar engagement and communications platforms.
• Experience planning and executing events, engagement programming, or volunteer initiatives.
• Experience managing social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Experience analyzing engagement data or preparing reports and dashboards to support strategic decision-making.

Application Materials Required:

• Resume
• Cover Letter