Assistant Director of Alumni Affinity Programs

Job Description:

The Assistant Director of Alumni Affinity Programs is a member of Washington and Lee University’s Alumni Engagement team. The Assistant Director will develop and implement creative and focused programming to a diverse range of alumni groups nationwide. The Assistant Director will work within the Office of Alumni Engagement to develop affinity programs for recent classes and a range of alumni groups including underrepresented communities, academic programs, career and industry groups, athletics and student organizations. The Assistant Director will offer programs through on-campus reunions and events, virtual programs, social media, and local and/or alumni chapter events. They will collaborate with the university’s Offices of Inclusion and Engagement, Lifelong Learning, and Career and Professional Development, as well as campus-based affinity groups. The department is seeking candidates who will successfully engage and collaborate with alumni, university staff, and students to offer dynamic and inclusive programs and events.

Washington and Lee University actively promotes a dynamic and inclusive environment that allows students and employees of multiple backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to learn, work, and thrive together. Successful candidates will contribute to that environment and exhibit potential for excellence in their areas of expertise.

Essential Functions:

• Responsible for developing and organizing events, gatherings, and alumni affinity engagement opportunities on and off campus and virtually. An affinity group is any set of alumni who share a common prior student experience, interest, identity or purpose, career, etc. who can be brought together in person or digitally to engage with each other and with the University.
  
  
• Actively engages and listens to W&L alumni, faculty, staff, and students to develop creative methods for fostering alumni affinity groups. Collaborates with offices on campus such as the Offices of Inclusion and Engagement, Lifelong Learning, and Career and Professional Development to develop joint programming and to bring together current students and alumni with shared interests and identity.
  
  
• Uses data and input from key university partners and volunteers to identify and encourage diverse affinity groups with potential for high engagement, valuable and meaningful experiences, and associations with each other and with the University. These gatherings can be based on: a) prior student affinities in academics, clubs, athletic teams, Greek life, or other extracurricular activities; b) identity within historically underrepresented communities at W&L; c) lifelong learning interests based on careers, avocations, and cultural events.
  
  
• Uses Raiser’s Edge (database software for University Advancement) to create queries to identify affinity group prospects. Maintains event information and enters RSVP lists in the applicable systems. Maintains affinity events calendar, online calendar, and program records in Raiser’s Edge. Uses analytical skills to identify and correct missing or incorrect information, pull data, and maximize the database to benefit alumni affinity group members.
  
  
• Maintains internal master affinity programs calendar and collaborates closely with other University Advancement colleagues to ensure efficiency and avoid overlap.
  
  
• Works with the Alumni and Career Services marketing team and the Office of Communications and Public Affairs to create effective communications strategies to engage alumni around their affinities. Coordinates a high volume of accurate and appealing communications to generate alumni interest and participation in affinity programs and events.
  
  
• Collaborates closely with the Assistant Director of Alumni Chapter Programs, participating in the management of an extensive network of local alumni chapters, including some event planning.
  
  
• Oversees budgeting and all other aspects of affinity event planning and execution, including, venue selection, hotels, entertainment, meals, etc. Works with other staff to ensure high quality, meaningful experiences.
  
  
• Provides input for inclusion and affinities in the written Young Alumni Engagement Plan, as revised annually in partnership with University Development.
  
  
• Uses data to analyze program engagement and contributes to strategy development for overall affinity programs initiatives.
  
  
• Staffs major campus reunions and other events. Pays careful attention to the alumni experience, resolving issues and concerns as they arise.
  
  
• Additional related duties as assigned.
  
  

Work Schedule: 8:30am-4:30pm, M-F. This position requires work during nights and weekends, during alumni events and travel opportunities.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree is required. Experience in a Higher Ed setting and event planning will be preferred. Knowledge of issues and best practices related to diversity and inclusion is advantageous. Experience and creativity working with different forms of digital communications is required, including Web content management, email, and basic social media applications. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office software. Experience with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge database system is a significant plus. Must be a self-starter and have the ability to work independently, and to work collaboratively on a team to engage all segments of the increasingly diverse alumni and friends of the University. Must be available to occasionally travel overnight and perform some evening and weekend work.

Application Instructions: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Resume and cover letter are required. Upload both required documents to the Resume/CV upload section of the application. You will be asked to provide names and contact information for three professional references.

External Applicants: Application instructions for external applicants are located on the jobs.wlu.edu or here .

Current W&L Employees: Apply from your existing Workday account. Instructions are located at jobs.wlu.edu or here .

Physical Requirements:

• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling.
  
  
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
  
  
• Repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
  
  

Working Conditions:

• The worker is subject to inside environmental conditions: Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.
  
  
• The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions: No effective protection from weather.
  
  

Types of Work: Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Position Type:

Exempt, Full Time, Benefit Eligible

Minimum Pay:

$49,514.19 - Pay Commensurate with Experience

The university requires employees to become fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and new employees must provide proof of at least their first shot prior to the first day of employment. Boosters are required. Individuals may seek a medical or a religious exemption to the vaccination requirement.