Job Details

Chief Alumni Officer

Executive Director of the Wheaton College Alumni Association

Job Overview

This position is responsible for the effective management of two areas: Alumni & Parent Engagement and the Wheaton College Alumni Association. As Executive Director of the Wheaton College Alumni Association, this person is responsible for the work of the Association, governed by an independent 18-member Alumni Association Board of Directors and its Constitution and Bylaws. The Alumni Association administers a budget of nearly $150K/year. Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, Vocation & Alumni Engagement, this position pays in the range of $125,000 - $145,000 annually.

Duties and Responsibilities

Alumni & Parent Engagement:

• Recruits, directs, and provides leadership to the Alumni & Parent Engagement staff by overseeing the following programs: reunions, young alumni and student programs, regional events, affinity groups, parent engagement, communication, and social media.
• Incorporates best practices in higher education alumni and parent engagement in order to enhance Wheaton’s ability to serve its alumni and parents, resulting in mutually beneficial relationships.
• Models and fosters a commitment to collaboration and communication across the division and the College as a whole.
• Serves as Editorial Advisor to Wheaton magazine and provides support and counsel to the editor by suggesting content, direction, and tone for future issues.

Alumni Association:

• Recruits and supports Alumni Association Board of Directors by planning and attending quarterly meetings, and by providing information and direction to enable them to fulfill their duties (meetings, communications, distinguished service awards, faculty and student grants, etc.).
• Partners with Alumni Association Board President to plan strategic and informative meetings; encourages and empowers President in his/her responsibilities and duties.
• Works closely with President and Nominating Committee to recruit effective volunteers for service on Association Board.

This job description is intended to represent key areas of responsibilities; specific assignments may vary from time to time, and other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications:

• A college degree required (Wheaton College preferred) and at least ten years’ experience in higher education alumni relations/advancement.
• Comparable experience in management/service-oriented work will be considered.
• Deep understanding of, and appreciation for, the historic mission of both Wheaton College and the Wheaton College Alumni Association.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills.
• Excellent public speaking ability.
• Demonstrated success in leading a team and managing a complex, fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to diffuse difficult situations by responding to constituents in a positive, proactive way.
• Demonstrated ability to work with students, alumni, and parents from varying ethnicities, cultural strata and denominations in all facets of life and career pursuits.
• Willingness to travel.
• Commitment to working closely with campus partners, including faculty, Student Development, Conservatory, athletics, President’s office, and student groups.

Physical Requirements

The employee is regularly required to sit, talk, or hear; frequently required to use repetitive hand motion, handle or feel, and to stand, walk, reach, bend or lift up to 10 pounds.

FLSA Status –Exempt

As a Christ-centered community, Wheaton College faculty and staff must affirm the College’s Statement of Faith as expressing their own theological convictions and agree to live by the moral standards in Wheaton’s Community Covenant, modeling these commitments for the Christian formation of our students. Wheaton College faculty and staff also support the Christ-Centered Diversity Commitment which highlights our desire to treat all individuals as equal image-bearers of Jesus Christ through diversity, inclusion, justice and unity.