Director of Alumni Engagement

Alumni are essential partners in Goshen College’s mission and future. This role exists to cultivate alumni engagement that is relational, purposeful and enduring rather than episodic or transactional—strengthening the college and its community for generations to come. It serves as the strategic hub for alumni engagement—developing pathways for alumni involvement, activating alumni leaders and volunteers, and partnering closely with campus partners to ensure alumni engagement strengthens institutional priorities while protecting alumni trust.

In particular, the director will facilitate the organization of reunion programs, regional and affinity groups, special alumni events or gatherings on or off campus, the Alumni Council and other alumni volunteer/leadership opportunities. The director does not execute all programs or events, but instead orchestrates engagement by aligning people, stories and opportunities across the institution.

Essential Functions: (Core Job Responsibilities)

• Strategic Leadership & Vision
  • Lead the implementation of Goshen College’s alumni engagement vision, guiding principles and engagement pathways
  • Translate institutional mission and strategy into clear alumni engagement priorities
  • Regularly assess alumni engagement efforts and recommend where to invest, adapt, pause or stop
• Alumni Relationship & Pathway Development
  • Design and steward multiple alumni engagement pathways (belonging, learning and vocation, connection and mentoring, leadership and service, stewardship and advocacy)
  • Ensure engagement opportunities are inclusive of diverse identities, life stages (ie. young career professionals, mid-career professionals and families, retirees and grandparents) and geographies (ie. regional volunteer leaders, alumni-hosted gatherings and Goshen-on-the-road opportunities).
  • Supervise the development of special programming to introduce current students and young alumni to the opportunities afforded to them as alumni of the college.
  • Identify potential vehicles and activities for the engagement of alumni, including programming for affinity and advisory groups.
  • Seek ways to involve alumni in the intellectual life of the college
  • Build trust-based relationships with alumni leaders and key constituencies
• Story-Centered Engagement
  • Use storytelling as a primary engagement tool—listening to alumni experiences and inviting alumni to share their stories
  • Partner with Communications & Marketing to ensure alumni stories are reflected authentically across platforms (social media, email, magazine, etc.)
  • Ensure alumni stories inform engagement strategy, not just communications outputs
  • Develop, recommend and implement strategies for marketing and promoting alumni activities, programs and services to promote alumni involvement and participation
• Alumni Leadership & Volunteer Activation
  • Provide strategic leadership for a vibrant five-year reunion program and Homecoming Weekend, partnering with campus colleagues and alumni volunteers to ensure these experiences advance engagement pathways and alumni leadership development.
  • Identify, invite and support alumni leaders, hosts, mentors and advisors. Cultivate leadership within regional chapters, affinity groups and advisory bodies.
  • Provide leadership and support for the convening of and programming of the Alumni Council. Partner with Alumni Council and other alumni advisory groups to support institutional priorities.
  • Empower alumni to co-create engagement experiences and represent Goshen College in their communities
  • Provide clear roles, training, communication and stewardship for volunteer leaders.
• Cross-Campus Partnership
  • Serve as a primary liaison between alumni and campus partners. Work with the campus community to build communication and to clarify the benefits offered to alumni and strengthen personal contact.
  • Ensure alumni engagement strengthens student belonging, leadership, vocational discernment and preparation for lifelong connection to Goshen College. Partner with Student Life and Academic Affairs to create intentional transition experiences that help graduating seniors understand their evolving identity as alumni.
  • Collaborate closely with:
    • Communications & Marketing on storytelling and amplification
    • Development on stewardship pathways and relationship handoffs, ensuring that alumni engagement builds trust and connection that may lead to generosity over time
    • Enrollment on values-aligned alumni involvement that supports recruitment and yield
• Measurement & Continuous Improvement
  • Define and track meaningful alumni engagement metrics, including relationship depth, volunteer activation, pathway participation and long-term alumni movement
  • Use qualitative and quantitative insights to refine strategy and demonstrate impact
  • Develop and manage departmental budgets, track events, alumni correspondence, and inquiries
• Other
  • Support departmental and institutional activities that overlap with the college’s alumni population, including donor events, Giving Tuesday, Connect Goshen Day, Mennonite Church USA Convention, choir tour

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred
• At least five years of progressive experience required in alumni engagement, development, higher education, nonprofit leadership, communications, marketing, sales, public relations or a related field. Preferred: Experience in a mission-driven or faith-based organization, a liberal arts college and working with volunteers or advisory groups.

Skills and Competencies: Required:

• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships across diverse religious, cultural and generational constituencies
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving and organizational judgment
• Excellent listening, facilitation and communication skills (both oral and written)
• Comfort working collaboratively across teams and navigating ambiguity
• Superior management, organization and planning skills.

Preferred:

• Fluency with storytelling as a relational and strategic tool
• Experience successfully leveraging AI and digital tools to expand reach, analyze data, support communication and create efficiencies
• Demonstrated ability to influence across departments without direct supervisory authority
• Bilingual

Note: The Director of Alumni Engagement does not need to be an alum, but they must be someone who can enter this unique community with humility, learn its story and help many others see themselves in it.

Special Requirements:

Position requires some travel and a commitment to working some evenings and weekends.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to lift light loads (up to 25 pounds)
• Prolonged sitting and use of keyboard
• Ability to complete primary tasks by viewing computer screen(s) for the majority of any given work day (extensive use of computer technology)
• Considerable phone use and operation of the copier and other standard office equipment

Work Environment/Environmental Conditions:

• Work will primarily take place in a standard indoor office environment
• Some travel for alumni gatherings in a variety of environments (indoor/outdoor, private/public spaces)
• Reasonable accommodations will be made as needed

All of the essential job functions are subject to reasonable accommodation. All listed job requirements indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Individuals may be required to perform other job-related instructions as requested by the supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation. This position description is not all-inclusive and may be modified at the supervisor's discretion. Any major change will result in the position being reviewed for reclassification.

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