Director of Alumni Engagement & Affinity Programs

Description

The Director will spearhead efforts to strengthen and enrich communication with alumni, aiming to foster enduring connections. Additionally, they will focus on elevating and sustaining flagship events such as Reunion, Homecoming, and Family Weekend, along with ongoing engagement initiatives, to offer alumni rewarding and meaningful experiences. Working closely with the Executive Director of Alumni Relations, the Director will be instrumental in executing effective engagement strategies within the Alumni Relations sphere.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist the Executive Director in developing and executing a regular schedule of engagement initiatives for alumni on campus and around the country. This includes organizing regional events, off-campus lectures and discussions with faculty, the annual Reunion Weekend, Homecoming, and events influenced by the Capital Campaign.
• Help guide Alumni and Alumnae Associations' leadership and programs to support volunteer groups (except for Reunion Fundraising), including affinity groups such as the LGBTQIA Network, Afro Latino Alumni Association, Class Correspondents, Greek alumni, regional volunteers, etc.
• Oversee the program to maintain timely acknowledgement and communication of alumni life events, such as births, deaths, marriages, and new jobs.
• Respond to requests from campus staff and faculty, such as providing a list of alums to connect with students for research projects, potential speakers, connecting alums and students for outreach, and connecting alums and prospective students.
• Maintain the alumni webpages as well as class pages and regional pages on Facebook and other social media platforms.
• Ensure social media presence to promote alumni achievement.
• Supervise the Assistant Director of Alumni and Alumnae Relations and the Assistant Director of Engagement Programming.
• Travel on behalf of the Colleges.
• Responsible for managing a balanced budget.

OTHER INFORMATION

This administrative position is full time (12 months/37.5 hours per week) and benefits eligible. Normal hours of work are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the academic year with a possible shortened workweek during the scheduled summer hours. Evening and weekend work is required. Must be able to lift and carry up to 40 lbs. Annual salary is $75,000.

This position description is not all-inclusive; other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned.

Qualifications

Candidate should have 5-7 years of experience in public relations or a related field such as higher education development, alumni relations, or communications. Excellent oral and written communication skills as well as interpersonal skills are necessary. Candidate should be proactive, flexible, highly organized, detail-oriented, energetic, creative, and able to work under tight deadlines while managing multiple tasks at once. It's important to be able to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team. Candidate should also have demonstrated experience in volunteer management. Proficiency in working with databases, Word, Excel, and other e-resources is essential. A bachelor's degree is required, and a master's degree is preferred, or equivalent experience.

About HWS

A liberal arts and sciences institution, Hobart and William Smith is known for consistent success in preparing students for meaningful lives and fulfilling careers through an outcomes-based focus on their futures. Our nationally ranked faculty are accessible teachers and scholars known for the impact of their research and distinguished by the depth of their mentorship. World challenges are studied in the classroom where critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills are honed. In the field, knowledge turns into discovery. In office hours, plans are carefully crafted to tie interests and talents to an academic path that motivates beyond graduation.

Our location in the heart of the Finger Lakes allows faculty, staff and students to live and work collaboratively on the banks of a resource-rich lake. Student-athletes play for 30 varsity teams boasting 24 national titles, including the 2023 and 2024 NCAA DIII Men's Ice Hockey Championships. With three graduate programs, students can build on their undergraduate degree with a Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership, Master of Arts in Teaching, or a Master of Science in Management. Together, the experiences and mentorship at HWS prepare students to lead lives of consequence.