Director of Alumni Engagement

The Director of Alumni Engagement is responsible for orchestrating an annual plan for engaging the alumni community. The Director will create and execute a strategic plan for supporting the School’s alumni that instills pride in Collegiate, connects alumni to each other and back to the School in meaningful ways. Reporting to the Associate Director of Development, the Director of Alumni Engagement will also have fundraising responsibilities, including reunion fundraising and carrying a portfolio of prospects. This position requires vision, leadership, coordination and professionalism. This is a full-time, 12-month position. 

General responsibilities will include:

Alumni Special Events and Alumni Board Responsibilities

• Creates and implements a strategic engagement plan for the School’s alumni through special events, communications, volunteer activities, and other programming. Stays current on best practices related to alumni engagement.
• Works with Special Event Manager to implement a calendar of alumni events and activities, including Reunion Weekend, regional reunions, networking events and other alumni functions. 
• Manages and oversees activity of the Alumni Board and their activities. Engages volunteers in activities and programs that support the School and are sustainable and impactful for both the volunteer and the School. 
• Connects alumni to the student experience through mentoring and shadowing opportunities such as Trailblaze (in Richmond and key cities), Junior Career Fair and Senior Transition Program. 
• Oversees alumni communications and newsletters, including highlights in Spark (alumni news such as weddings, deaths, births, promotions), alumni spotlights, online features and social media. Sends Alumni Board Corresponding Secretary notices. Ensures alumni social media and LinkedIn accounts feature content that is meaningful and connects them back to the School. 
• Oversees other aspects of the alumni program including alumni awards (such as Distinguished Alumni Awards), Athletic and Arts Hall of Fame, and special events and projects as they arise. 
• Identifies, cultivates and engages potential alumni leaders in the life of the School as speakers, volunteers, hosts, committee members, board members, and donors.
• Creates methods for tracking and analyzing alumni engagement programs. Analyzes traditional engagement programs and seeks innovative ways to further strengthen and support existing programs. 
• Benchmarks with peer institutions to determine best practices to engage alumni in impactful ways.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically 3–5 times per year for alumni reunions and fundraising initiatives.

Fundraising Responsibilities

• Manages a donor portfolio of approximately 25-50 alumni prospects. Communicates the School’s mission, vision, and values to inspire greater engagement and giving. Cultivates donors and potential donors through personal visits, ongoing communication and small gatherings.
• Works with Collegiate Fund Director to create alumni annual giving strategy, recruit and train alumni volunteers. Supports reunion giving program and manages 50th Reunion class giving program, with specific fundraising goal.
• Works with development colleagues to oversee the collection and verification of lost alumni and improve industry and employment information in the School’s database.

Successful candidates will possess the following qualifications and competencies:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Previous experience in Development/Fundraising/Alumni Relations/Volunteer Relations
• Ability to build strong relationships with colleagues and alumni by creating a caring and inclusive community in which all members are respected and valued
• Passion for independent school education
• Individual who is trusted, known, and respected in the alumni community and can encourage others to be involved and feel a part of the community
• Understanding and belief in Collegiate’s mission and goals
• Leadership skills to organize, support, recruit and direct key alumni volunteers
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal skills
• Strong technology skills including Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience in Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge or other Relationship Management System (RMS) preferred
• Knowledge of best practice trends related to alumni relations and fundraising

It is critical that candidates demonstrate a commitment to the School’s Core Values and Mission

HONOR

Personal integrity and devotion to the truth, which make one trustworthy, forthright, responsible and fair.

LOVE OF LEARNING

A creative spirit that promotes intellectual and personal growth through exploration, inquiry and openness to change.

EXCELLENCE

A sustained commitment to meeting high standards of character, achievement and personal accountability.

RESPECT

Fundamental regard for the dignity and worth of each individual.

COMMUNITY

A commitment to responsive and compassionate citizenship and service on campus, in the local community and in the broader world.

Required Competencies:

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate the School’s shared purpose; builds trust among colleagues; is accountable; lives up to commitments.
• Proven cross cultural competency skills demonstrating self awareness, awareness of others and the ability to adopt inclusive perspectives, attitudes and behaviors to drive inclusion and belonging in the ongoing development and maintenance of an inclusive campus community.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to a servant leadership model focusing on the growth and development of the team to successfully fulfill shared goals.
• Understands the big picture and handles areas of responsibility in a manner consistent with the School’s mission and values. Offers assistance within the office especially during busy times.
• Relates to the Collegiate community including faculty, staff, students, parents and applicants in a cooperative manner.
• Meets deadlines, demonstrates effective use of time and handles multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Understands the need for growth and is receptive to constructive feedback.
• Maintains confidentiality at all times.

Who we are

Collegiate School is a co-educational, independent day school located in Henrico County, within 20 minutes of downtown Richmond, Virginia, for students in Junior Kindergarten through 12th grade. For more than 100 years, Collegiate has nurtured inquisitive thinkers, responsible citizens, and compassionate leaders. Grounded in the values that have sustained it over the course of more than a century, Collegiate provides its nearly 1,700 students with an engaging academic environment dedicated to preparing them for a globally connected and changing world.

The essence of Collegiate School is the richness of relationships among students, faculty, parents, administrators, and alumni in a dynamic learning community with high personal and academic expectations. This exceptional educational environment enables students to develop their potential for intellectual growth, leadership, and service.

Why Collegiate? 

Collegiate School is well-regarded for developing students into citizens who lead, serve and shape the world. We do so with the help of a caring faculty and staff who also have opportunities to lead, serve and shape the world, through the young lives they touch.

Below are just a few examples of some of the great advantages of working at Collegiate:

• Excellent professional development opportunities for faculty and staff
• Collaborative working environment
• A rich employee benefits package (which includes free lunch!)
• Opportunities for growth and leadership
• An environment that fosters creative and innovative instruction

The School is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender (including pregnancy), age, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, veteran or military status, marital status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law. Employment decisions at the School are based on merit, qualifications and skills.