Director of Alumni Engagement

Reporting to the Vice President for Alumni and Donor Engagement, the Director of Alumni Engagement serves as the chief friend-raiser and maintains an active role in implementing the comprehensive fundraising and friend-raising plan for alumni, donors, and other constituencies in order to meet and exceed departmental goals. This position celebrates alumni and deepens their connection with their alma mater.

Duties and Responsibilities
– Design and implement an alumni engagement program that follows the four pillars of engagement (volunteerism, experiential opportunities, communication, and philanthropy) and works to increase engagement in all areas via events, supporting fundraising initiatives, and collaborating with departmental and cross-campus partners

Events:
– Plan and execute on-campus events such as Homecoming and Commencement, as well as special reunion gatherings in collaboration with cross-campus partners
– Celebrate milestones via reunions every 5 years for each graduating class
– Coordinate regional alumni events and other unique engagement opportunities including affinity-based programs
– Assist with executing designated Days of Giving (1890 Challenge, Home Among the Hills Challenge, etc.) including corresponding events

Supporting Fundraising:
– Develop and implement strategies to increase the annual alumni participation rate for giving
– Implement a strategic approach for engaging young alumni and explore the creation of a GOLD Society (Graduates of the Last Decade)
– Cultivate and solicit funds from a portfolio of assigned current and/or prospective donors through visits and regular, intentional communication, in addition to conducting external visits with alumni to assist with general cultivation and stewardship

Collaboration:
– Assist and collaborate with the coordinator of the Emeritus Club as needed
– Serve as co-chair of the Athletic Hall of Fame committee and assist with related projects
– Collaborate with campus partners to develop and execute a philanthropic program for current students/future alumni and co-advise Senior Class Officers and the Senior Class

Gift Program
– Partner with a variety of departments across campus in order to meet institutional goals and priorities (enrollment, career services, etc.) through alumni engagement with those areas
– Guide and work collaboratively with the Alumni Council on its initiatives including the annual Alumni Awards program

Other Tasks:
– Supervise coordinator-level staff related to event planning and other associated alumni engagement functions
– Collaborate with departmental colleagues to maintain a database of current contact information for all alumni
– Work collaboratively with the philanthropic communication specialist to produce the Sundial alumni magazine, monthly e-newsletters, social media content, alumni spotlights, and other communicative outreach
– Recruit volunteers to assist with programming
– Assist with the distribution of alumni satisfaction surveys when requested
– Remain current on best practices, trends, and emerging ideas for higher education alumni engagement and philanthropic support
– Maintain active participation in campus activities and a comprehensive working knowledge of the College, including mission, vision, history, and current fundraising and friend-raising priorities ensuring effective representation of all opportunities and priorities for philanthropic support of the College; and
– Other duties as assigned and requested by the Vice President for Alumni and Donor Engagement, and President of the College.

This is a full-time, 12 month position with minimum job requirements and skills to include, but not be limited to:
– bachelor’s degree with 5-8 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities outlined above;
– previous supervisory experience preferred;
– thorough knowledge and use of personal computers and related software applications;
– excellent project management and organizational skills with high attention to detail;
– high level of integrity and ability to maintain confidences with utmost discretion;
– ability to think critically, creatively, and strategically and work collaboratively;
– proactive with ability to meet firm deadlines while multitasking;
– articulate with excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills;
– ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies and diverse communities; and,
– ability to travel and work flexible hours.

To apply: Interested candidates shall submit a letter of interest, resume, and the names and contact information of three references to wvwcjobapp@wvwc.edu. On the subject of the email, please enter: ##16## – Director of Alumni Engagement. The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

West Virginia Wesleyan College does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin, creed, ancestry, marital/family status, veteran status, sexual orientation, sex characteristics, pregnancy, religion, age, disability or blindness, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law , to include Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 504, and the Age Discrimination Act, in the administration of its admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, educational programs, employment, athletic programs, co-curricular activities, or other College administered programs. WVWC’s nondiscrimination polices may be accessed at https://www.wvwc.edu/title-ix/. For inquiries about the application of these laws in WVWC’s programs activities or to file a report, contact the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@wvwc.edu or 304-62