College-Wide Director of Alumni Relations

DUTIES: The College-Wide Alumni Relations Director is responsible for the creation, execution, and evaluation of a comprehensive array of programs and activities that build engagement with St. John's College alumni to advance alumni advocacy, volunteerism, and philanthropy. Leveraging relationships across the campuses and beyond, with the executive leadership of the Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations, the Alumni Director builds a deep sense of lifelong commitment to the college among alumni and enables them to act upon it, giving back to the institution, their peers, and current and future students.

An associate member of the faculty, the Alumni Relations Director is a catalyst in the college community, providing means by which alumni may participate meaningfully in the intellectual and communal life of the college, on-campus and from afar. The Director develops and leads a strong team of alumni professionals and is a key member of the leadership matrix for the division of Advancement/Development and Alumni Relations. The Director ensures alignment with Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) best-practices and the Board of Visitors and Governors (BVG), while supporting the college's strategic priorities, to include enrollment and retention, diversity and inclusion, and our philanthropy-centered financial model in partnership with the VP for Advancement, annual giving, and prospect management.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop, execute, oversee, and evaluate programs, activities, and events to increase alumni engagement, defined by CASE as demonstrated outcomes in communications, experiences, volunteerism, and philanthropy, with particular attention to intellectual engagement and improving large-scale impact. Ensure high level of quality across all efforts in building a right-sized, annual alumni engagement program with effective ROI.
• Lead the college-wide Alumni Relations Office, developing, supervising, and motivating a high-performing team of skilled professional staff. Work closely with fellow Advancement and Development Directors to provide effective division leadership and productive culture. Consult and collaborate with peer institutions for benchmarking and creative problem-solving. Manage vendors and contractors.
• Ensure alignment with college/BVG strategic priorities, including working closely with colleagues in other offices, the faculty, and college leadership as appropriate to support enrollment and retention, personal and professional development, diversity and inclusion, and the philanthropy-centered financial model. Build effective structures for alumni to take action to help the college meet its objectives, and communicate these opportunities via a major annual publication to the alumni community, effective webpages, and an integrated communications plan.
• Facilitate partnership with the BVG, especially the Advancement committee’s Alumni Relations Working Group and special task forces. Serve as the college’s liaison to the independent Alumni Association Board of Directors, representing the college at its formal and informal meetings.
• In partnership with Advancement Services, the Registrars, and Institutional Research, ensure accuracy and completeness of alumni records in college database(s), gather and record program and activity data, generate Key Performance Indicator tracking mechanisms, and coordinate submission of metric data to CASE and other external entities.
• Support other offices on priority projects as needed, including crisis communications. Other duties as assigned.

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS:

• Meet or exceed annual and specific goals for key performance indicators as established by the college’s leadership and Board of Visitors and Governors, with a focus on alumni philanthropy and volunteerism.
• Increase engagement in experiences, volunteerism, communications, and philanthropy, according to CASE metrics and other measures as determined.
• Demonstrate success in fostering a positive workplace culture and collaborating with staff, faculty, volunteers, college and Alumni Association board members, and college leadership, particularly with regard to effective and productive conflict management and support for a diverse and inclusive community.
• Maintain a high-performing team of alumni engagement professionals.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

• 7-10 years of experience in Alumni Relations or Development, preferably in a Higher Education context, or similar experience. Team leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree required, Master's or above preferred.
• Ability both to work independently and to collaborate effectively in a complex, matrix-managed team structure. Adept at navigating ambiguity in a fast-paced environment and able confidently to make decisions with significant impact. Must be able to motivate and influence others. Superior judgment, diplomacy, and tact are fundamental requirements for this role due to extensive personal contact with students and alumni. Must be able to handle highly confidential information appropriately.
• Broad knowledge of alumni relations best practice. Understanding of the distinctive education provided by St. John's College and an ability to adapt strategy to its unique needs. Budgeting, program and project management skills, oral and written communication skills, and highly developed customer service skills required. Experience with managing employees remotely is desirable. Must travel domestically, especially to the other campus, with frequent night and weekend obligations.
• On-campus office, remote location, and travel.
• The selected candidate will have the option of location between either the Santa Fe, NM or Annapolis, MD campus.

COMPENSATION: Grade 15 (Minimum salary $64,355) Excellent benefits package.

To Apply:  Send a resume, letter of intent, salary history and a list of professional references.

St. John’s College is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We invite applications from candidates with unique backgrounds and strive to create and maintain an environment that is inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER