Director of Alumni and Volunteer Engagement The Director of Alumni and Volunteer Engagement reports to the AVP of Engagement and Annual Giving and is responsible for managing all aspects of volunteer management, including creating a robust volunteer pipeline, developing and leading volunteer training initiatives, building a continuum of volunteer opportunities ranging from one hour to several year commitments, providing oversight for the Lafayette College Alumni Association Board, leading affinity programs, as well as any initiatives determined by the AVP of Engagement and Annual Giving. They will lead efforts to empower volunteers to represent their voices as a part of the Lafayette College community and fabric, and they will work to make sure more diverse voices are heard and represent the demographic of the current Lafayette College community. They work closely with the individual staff members for each group and work collectively with those staff members to establish standard procedures across all alumni volunteer programs. This position will also work collaboratively with all members of the alumni engagement team, leveraging a strong alumni base highly motivated to connect back to their alma mater, as well as embrace an integrated engagement and annual giving model by proactively identifying and executing volunteer opportunities within the alumni journey to drive participation in the Lafayette College Annual Fund. The ideal candidate for this role has experience in volunteer management; marketing, advertising, or public relations/account management. Expertise on how to manipulate data and develop actionable analytics is critical. Attention to detail, familiarity with new technologies, ability to manage several high-visibility projects simultaneously, and an entrepreneurial mindset are imperative. Digital and social media fluency is an expectation for all alumni engagement professionals. All members of the team are expected to support Lafayette College and the Advancement Team's key initiatives, major events, projects, and strategic goals.
Job Duties and Responsibilities:
Essential roles and responsibilities for this position include creation and oversight of the following areas:
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Provide high-level engagement opportunities for alumni, parents, and friends who are not currently part of the volunteer group
- Grow high-level engagement opportunities for volunteers currently part of the volunteer pipeline and steward them towards larger volunteer commitments
- Identify and match volunteers with high-reward/high-impact activities based on their professional expertise, their alumni connections, and their personal preferences
- Develop trusting relationships with alumni to help advance their relationships with Lafayette College
- Conduct external visits with current and prospective volunteersCreate and facilitate unique opportunities for each volunteer and groups of like-minded volunteers to engage and remain excited about Lafayette College
- Work with the Gateway Career Center, Admissions and Provost's office to generate high touch volunteer experiences for alumni
- Develop and implement volunteer engagement metrics
- Volunteer Pipeline
- Work with internal and campus-wide colleagues to create a model for managing the volunteer pipeline
- Use metrics to determine key areas of need and opportunities for volunteer engagement
- Represent alumni and family engagement in discussions around volunteer management, and through these discussions determine how to best support their needs and the needs of Lafayette alumni
- Cultivate relationships to build a pipeline of volunteers that represent the diverse backgrounds and needs of Lafayette College
- Volunteer Training
- Build a program that works with the advancement division to identify key volunteers
- Establish and maintain a training program, including a volunteer handbook, that is used to welcome and onboard all new volunteersCreate a regular management process for all volunteers, whether new or returning
Ensure that web content is up to date with current officers, programs, meeting schedules and notes, etc.
Maintain and grow an online volunteer experience educating alumni about volunteer opportunities, time commitments, and growth pathways
Design and maintain a robust relationship management system
Alumni Association BoardWork in collaboration with the AVP of Engagement and Annual Giving in strategic and logistical needs of the Alumni Association Board (AAB)
Lead strategy within the AAB to build a nominations committee, process and selection criteria for new members
Oversee the membership committee of the AABCultivate relationships to help identify new members to the AABAffinitiesBuild strategic support of affinity programming volunteers and support members of the alumni engagement team in their respective oversight areas
Identify lead volunteers for cultural and professional affinities
Manage all logistical needs of key affinities as identified by the AVP of Engagement and Annual GivingGrow engagement opportunities and build volunteer support within these key affinities
Volunteer Awards
Coordinate annual award nominations and selection process with Advancement colleagues
Develop a standardized vetting and interview process that could use Zoom or other communication technologies
Lead the volunteer awards committee of the AABOversee and implement awards ceremonies
Annual Giving Strategic Alignment
Collaborates with Annual Giving staff to translate engagement data into personalized follow-up, utilizing event touchpoints to demonstrate the tangible impact of donor support
Cultivates relationships that align alumni passions with specific campus needs, partnering with Annual Giving colleagues to transition those connections into philanthropic commitments
Participates in joint strategy sessions with the Annual Giving team to ensure engagement activities are synchronized with the broader fundraising calendar and donor-segmentation goals
Align volunteer strategies and objectives with annual giving as a larger team initiative
Team Leadership
Build and sustain a high-performing team culture by implementing consistent coaching, professional development plans, and performance metrics that align individual growth with departmental objectives
Direct the planning and execution of core initiatives by optimizing workflows, delegating responsibilities effectively, and ensuring all team activities remain within budgetary and timeline constraints
Oversee onboarding and retention initiatives reflective of sustaining and growing a high performing and connected team
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree, Masters preferred, in a relevant field (such as Communications, Marketing, or Event Management) Five to seven years of higher education experience preferred, or equivalent experience.
Key Competencies:
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Experience in event planning and coordination. Ability to work collaboratively across departments. Financial acumen and budget management experience. Familiarity with alumni engagement strategies and best practices. Proficiency in using relevant software and tools (Microsoft Office, CRM systems, Google suite, budgeting software, etc.). Flexibility to work evenings and weekends, as needed.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:
This position requires an individual to be able to support the set-up and oversight of events both on and off campus. The ability to travel independently, lift up to 30 lbs and work nights and weekends is required. Lafayette College is committed to creating a diverse community, one that is inclusive and responsive, and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. All members of the College community share a responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced. All Lafayette operations reflect the College's commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) initiatives, and Lafayette welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.
