Associate Director, Alumni and Volunteer Experience

Department
ADV College Experience

Job Summary
The Associate Director, Alumni and Volunteer Experience, will serve in a role focused on developing innovative strategies for building and strengthening class-based undergraduate alumni engagement. They will be responsible for identifying and executing initiatives that strengthen alumni affinity during and between milestone reunion years. The University's undergraduate College has seen significant growth and change in the past two decades, resulting in diversity of identity and campus experiences in the undergraduate alumni population. This role will be responsible for responding to this diversity by taking an entrepreneurial and proactive approach to tailoring class-based experiences.

This role uses best practices and knowledge within Alumni Relations and leads a program designed to engage the alumni community worldwide, increase participation, and advance the objectives of the College and the University. Researches, executes, and implements best practices in alumni relationship management.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements strategic engagement plans for College Reunion classes, with specific and measurable goals, aligned with the University's alumni engagement and fundraising priorities and tailored to the unique needs of each class.
• Identifies, creates, and executes opportunities for meaningful class-based engagement during and between reunion years, with a focus on strengthening connections between alumni and the University and among alumni themselves; deepening alumni pride; and enhancing and expanding engagement opportunities for the global UChicago undergraduate alumni community.
• Partners closely with Reunion volunteer committee staff leads to support volunteers in the development of class-based programs and initiatives aligned with community and University priorities.
• Collaborates with key stakeholders in planning and executing strategic class-based experiences, including College Alumni Weekend programming and Reunion dinners.
• Develops and implements strategies for leveraging existing alumni programs to engage Reunion classes and for increasing touchpoints with the broad community of Reunion alumni.
• Partners with colleagues across the University and the College, including College reunion fundraising leads, to develop and implement strategies to increase cross-campus collaboration on class-based engagement strategies and goals.
• Builds a culture of philanthropy across alumni communities, supporting divisional qualification, cultivation, and solicitation strategies and ensuring that volunteer boards meet philanthropic goals.
• Continually evaluates, assess, and reports on class-based alumni engagement strategies for ongoing improvement and growth, with a particular focus on driving Advancement goals.
• Identifies and integrates strategies for increasing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across programs and experiences.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions and with an eye towards broadly diversifying the advancement profession.
• Assists in leading and coordinating the planning, organization, and management of events, programs, and services designed to cultivate and maintain ties between the University of Chicago and key constituent groups. May assist in or individually create a marketing plan to maximize participation and engagement of alumni, parents, and friends.
• Has a deep understanding of strategic planning, data management, the creation and tracking of metrics, and the creation and implementation of new constituent relations programs worldwide. Measures, tracks, and reports participation and success of initiatives.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree.

Experience:

• Minimum five years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales, or similar professional field.
• Minimum one year of experience developing and monitoring budgets.
• Background providing responsive, professional, and customer-focused service to internal and external stakeholders.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to Advancement, including Phoenix, the University's Donor Relationship Management Salesforce System.
• Proficient in a Microsoft Windows computer environment, especially Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.

Preferred Competencies

• A strong commitment to personal and professional development, and the ability to foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships and engage effectively with alumni and volunteers.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
• Self-motivated and take initiative.

Working Conditions

• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
• Standard office environment.
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.
• This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
Alumni Relations & Development

Role Impact
Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours
37.5

Drug Test Required
No

Health Screen Required
No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No

Pay Rate Type
Salary

FLSA Status
Exempt

Pay Range
$76,500.00 - $90,000.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.