Director of Alumni Relations

Director of Alumni Relations

James Madison University


Mission

We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision

To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are

Located in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

James Madison University (JMU) is accepting applications for a Director of Alumni Relations to lead the 155,000+ amazing alumni that are a vital part of the JMU Nation. JMU's alumni hail from a culture that produces a freshman retention rate of 90%, an 82% graduation rate and is ranked the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities. This position, which also serves as the Executive Director of the Alumni Association, requires a proven record of successful leadership, an ability to manage budgets, the implementation of leading edge, innovative programs, a desire to build strong pipelines with engagement that lead to philanthropy, and working with external JMU volunteers. Candidates must be able to take JMU alumni and staff through strategic planning, continually move programs to the next level and direct the Alumni Association with creativity, energy, and strong leadership.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides vision, leadership, and oversight to the Office of Alumni Relations, the JMU Alumni Association Board of Directors and its committees, and other partners and committees to plan and execute the vision and strategy of the university related to alumni engagement.
• Engages alumni in the life of the university through consistent and positive communication using electronic, print and social media, exceptional customer service and meaningful opportunities for volunteerism, service, personal and professional development and events and programs.
• Provides leadership and/or supervision to five full-time professional staff, one share staff with annual giving, one part-time staff member and one graduate assistant. Areas of supervisory focus include communications and marketing, career networking, student alumni and legacy programming, reunions and homecoming and nationwide alumni chapters.
• In conjunction with the AVP, facilitate a comprehensive Volunteer Resource and Training program that develops orientations, trainings, and evaluations for JMU external volunteers.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships and programs with university units, including Admissions, Career & Academic Planning, Development, the Office of Annual Giving, Family Engagement, Athletics, Student Affairs, Communications and Marketing and academic colleges and departments.
• Partner with University Advancement to identify and launch programs providing a benefit or service to alumni to cultivate volunteers and donors and generates funds for university priorities.
• Facilitates a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
• Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as directed by the supervisor.
• Contributes to the overall success of the Office of Alumni Relations by working on special projects and performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Associate Vice President for Constituent Engagement and/or Vice President for University Advancement.

Required

• Bachelors' degree in a related field and/or equivalent work experience (3-5+ years with mid-senior level experience in higher education, advancement and/or alumni relations) experience in public relations, advancement, or a related field in which the candidate can demonstrate a successful track record of pertinent leadership, fundraising, management, and programmatic skills may be substituted.
• Experience supervising and developing full time staff.
• Demonstrated exceptional communication skills, including the ability to give presentations to diverse audiences through a variety of media and means, comfort in public speaking, and ability to have difficult conversations.
• Proactive approach to work effectively with administration, faculty, volunteers, alumni, and students.
• Excellent and dynamic interpersonal skills as well as a positive attitude and customer-service mindset.
• Skills and demonstrated experience in leadership, teamwork, problem solving, time management, and successfully planning and implementing multiple projects at one time.
• Significant experience developing effective strategies for planning events to enhance philanthropic support.
• Strong commitment to building an engagement to investment pipeline model with alumni for next comprehensive campaign.
• Ability to travel and attendance at evening and/or weekend activities, meetings, events, seminars, and workshops.
• License to operate a state vehicle.

Preferred

• Master's degree in a related field and/or equivalent work experience
• Experience in fundraising.
• A proficiency with data management systems or the ability to quickly learn current JMU systems.
• Technological knowledge, particularly in platforms designed around alumni engagement and constituent data collection is preferred.
• Experience working with students and young alumni.
• Experience working with volunteer boards, as well as the ability to engage with volunteers and other constituents, including senior administrators.



To apply go to https://joblink.jmu.edu/postings/15185 or visit JobLink.jmu.edu and reference posting number F2238. Pay Range: Commensurate with Experience.
James Madison University is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

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