Assistant Director, Strategic Engagement Initiatives

Position Summary:

The University of Dayton is a top-tier Catholic, Marianist research university with academic offerings from the undergraduate to the doctoral levels. Our mission is to educate the whole person and link learning and scholarship with leadership and service. University Advancement promotes a culture of philanthropy, volunteer engagement and lifelong relationships in support of the University’s mission. As we enter into a comprehensive fundraising campaign, we are growing our exceptional team of passionate, mission-driven Advancement professionals, looking for an Assistant Director, Strategic Engagement Initiatives.

The Assistant Director, working with the Alumni Relations and Engagement team, will play a key role in advancing relationships with alumni and constituents that strengthen UD’s brand and advances its engagement within our full alumni community, with a specific focus on emerging markets and inclusivity.

A recent assessment of five years of data showing growing and emerging markets has led to creating a position that will coordinate with alumni, parents, and students in those markets to activate engagement and strengthen our continued commitment to inclusive excellence that aligns with our Marianist values and the alumni association’s commitment to inclusivity. Using best practices, this position will support and expand existing value propositions and engagement efforts for in person and digital programs that support meaningful relationships. This role will build upon our work that focuses on connecting alumni in geographic areas, strengthening alumni affinity to the university as well as developing a pipeline of diverse, engaged alumni and volunteer leaders resulting in increased engagement in support of current and future students.

The assistant director will anticipate and respond to alumni interests and desired programs and be attentive to effective communication methods of outreach that reflects our dedication to the diverse and global UD alumni community. This person will collaborate with and provide support to colleagues in the alumni relations and engagement team.

The Assistant Director will:
● collaborate with alumni and advancement staff members to support emerging markets and underrepresented constituents.
● create and implement several projects simultaneously.
● have strong organizational and time-management skills with an understanding of, and interest in, developing relationships and moving them towards deeper engagement
● help expand the number of volunteers within our communities to reflect the diversity and depth of our current student population
● build upon and create new programming that engages constituents in support of the goals and initiatives of alumni relations and engagement and advancement.

This full-time position reports directly to the Associate Director, Alumni Volunteer Engagement within the University of Dayton’s Department of Alumni Relations and Engagement.

At the University of Dayton, we value inclusive excellence because we recognize that diversity, equity and inclusion are fundamental to academic and institutional excellence. Inclusive excellence requires a comprehensive, cohesive and collaborative alignment of infrastructure, resources and actions. We strive to be active, intentional, and sustain engagement with and celebrate diversity in every dimension of institutional life. Because we seek a community with a wide range of perspectives and experiences, we encourage all interested candidates to apply.

Minimum Qualifications:

● Bachelor’s degree OR five years of experience in marketing, communications or related field.
● Three years of experience in planning, evaluating and building programs in alumni relations OR three years work in any of the following areas: diversity equity and inclusion, marketing, Communications or project management.
● Proven skills in relationship building, recruiting, training and stewarding volunteer leaders.
● Successful experience working with people from socially and culturally diverse communities.
● Strong written and verbal communication skills.
● Proficiency in software applications (i.e. MS Office and CRM database)
● Willingness and ability to travel and work evenings and weekends with some frequency
● Valid driver’s license, with a low risk driving record and be insurable by the University

Preferred Qualifications:

While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:

● Four+ years of experience in alumni relations, development, and/or related field.
● Management of volunteers within a comprehensive fundraising effort.
● Demonstrated success in collaborating with colleagues in various areas of responsibility.
● Effective interpersonal communication skills to support work with alumni, volunteers and university staff
● Commitment to the University’s Catholic Marianist character, personal integrity and strong work ethic.
● Graduate of the University of Dayton.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

To apply please submit a cover letter addressing each minimum qualification and any applicable preferred qualifications that you meet.

A federal court on December 7, 2021, issued a ruling that suspends the COVID-19 vaccine requirement that applies to federal contractors nationwide. With this development, the University will pause any enforcement action against employees who have not complied with the requirement to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8, 2021 or to have requested an exemption to maintain their employment status.

The University will continue to monitor the state of the pandemic on campus and in the community as well as developments in federal and state requirements, and also will continue to regularly consult with public health officials and our medical panel. As has been the case throughout the pandemic, our protocols and requirements are subject to change depending on conditions on campus or in our community, and government requirements.

Closing Statement:

Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity, achieve equitable outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. As an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, we will not discriminate against minorities, women, protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, or on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.