Skip to main content

This job has expired

Alumni Engagement Officer



Welcome to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) … a world unlike any other. We combine learning, research, creativity, service and discovery with a commitment to inclusive excellence. Ranked by U.S. News as one of the 30 “most innovative” public universities in the country, VCU is a premier, urban, public research university home to multiple nationally ranked programs. Here, your success is supported, and your career can thrive. VCU offers a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay and mission-driven work. We advance a conscientious drive to support a climate where excellence and success for all people are valued and differences are celebrated. Together, we can be unstoppable.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations, the Alumni Engagement Officer leads and manages alumni engagement for a designated college, school or unit (CSU). This position works in close collaboration and communication with the Development team within the CSU to elevate the caliber of the alumni engagement opportunities within and outside of Richmond, Virginia. The Alumni Engagement Officer will develop and execute a strategy to increase alumni engagement for the CSU through alumni engagement programming and meaningful volunteer opportunities. The position will also support CSU alumni constituent organizations (if applicable) to support the goals and priorities of the CSU.

This is a pooled posting for the following opportunities:
- Alumni Engagement Officer for School of Nursing and School of Pharmacy
- Alumni Engagement Officer for School of Dentistry and College of Health Professions
- Alumni Engagement Officer for VCUarts
- Alumni Engagement Officer for School of Business and College of Engineering
- Alumni Engagement Officer for School of Education, School of Social Work and Wilder School

Interested applicants are required to submit a cover letter identifying the role or roles they are interested in and include an order of preference. Hiring preference will be given to current VCU employees impacted by VCU’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations’ campaign reorganization, then to other current VCU employees. The deadline for current VCU employees to apply is June 16, 2023.

Primary responsibilities:
- Serve as the primary liaison between the VCU Office of Alumni Relations and the assigned CSU, and the volunteer leadership of the unit’s alumni academic chapters (if applicable) to ensure mutual understanding and achievement of goals and priorities;
- Host academic webinars/in-person programs with faculty/alumni experts on current and timely topics;
- Create and lead in-person and virtual lifelong learning, industry and affinity programming for alumni; provide suggestions and content for alumni communications; lead event logistics; and recommend marketing messages and communication channels to promote;
- Create programming to support the transition from student to alumni, working to educate students and recent graduates about the power and importance of lifelong engagement with the CSU;
- Provide metrics and evaluation around all alumni initiatives to guide programming decisions and track all alumni interactions in the constituent database, including areas such as: ROI, attendance lists, number of active volunteers recruited. Provide quarterly alumni engagement metric reporting to the VCU Office of Alumni Relations;
- Serve as strategic leader for the CSU regional alumni presence; support alumni volunteers who aim to connect the CSU community in a region; and source alumni leaders for the VCU Alumni Council;
- Oversee and expand faculty involvement in programs, including recruiting faculty volunteers, stewardship of past faculty leaders, and collaborating with advancement colleagues to make best use of faculty resources for the CSU;
- Implements new programmatic initiatives and/or leverage existing activities within the college to grow alumni participation for the CSU;
- Executes events from inception through implementation.

Minimum Hiring Standards:
- Degree in related field, or equivalent experience in higher education, corporate, or non-profit environment.
- Professional experience in a higher education setting, including experience in development, institutional advancement, or a related field such as event planning/management, communications, marketing, or public relations.
- Demonstrated ability to strategize, implement, and build constituency programs and activities, along with a talent for motivating volunteers.
- Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills required; significant administrative experience in detail-oriented office with high level of interaction with outside community and University academic and medical communities.
- Ability to interact personably within a complex administrative organization, as well as with external groups.
- Maintain confidentiality – ability to work in a confidential environment with all levels of internal and external customers.
- Uses sound judgment.
- Ability to prioritize, focus, work independently and be a self-starter.
- Ability to travel both locally and regionally as determined necessary.
- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so at VCU.
- Ability to work frequent evenings and occasional weekend events.

Preferred Hiring Standards:
- Experience in working with volunteers is desired.
- Experience and/or expertise and interest in the related academic field
- Ability to organize and complete numerous tasks simultaneously with close attention to detail and prioritization to meet deadlines.
- Personal commitment to the fundraising and alumni engagement field as evidenced through a strong work ethic and high standards.

Position Details:
Department: Development and Alumni Relations
VCU Job Title: Sr. Specialist 1 -3
Salary Range: $55,000 - $65,000 (Commensurate with experience)
Employment Type: University and Academic Professional
ORP Eligible: No
Hybrid Work Available: Yes; Must be within commuting distance to Richmond, VA and available to come into the office when needed.
Restricted Status: N/A
FTE: 1.0
Exemption Status: Exempt

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Izzy Kane
Contact Email: irkane@vcu.edu




Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert